Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
BERMUDA WEATHER.
There Is No Place Like Home

At three q. M, June 18th, we entered
the Gulf stream. At one a. m. the
weather became very threatening, with
high sea running ; we took in the
main. sail and flying jib and set the main
try.sail. This change was followed by a
crash of crockery in the galley, with a
good second played in the cabin by
glass and china, and o rumbling bass
accompaniment executed by bananas,
lines, and oranges, that had fetched
away" and were chasing one another
over the floor and bringing up against
the lockers on each side as the vessel
rolled. Even apart from these sounds,
sleep at such time is an elegant ac-
complishment, feat requiring such
courage and skill as to warrant its ex-
hibition in public. The performer starts
from the side of his bunk nearest the
skin of the vessel, and revolving three
times after the manner of a rolling pin,
brings up against tho bunk's outer rail,
thence returning, revolving in the same
manner, to the point OF departure. 10
do this in deep sleep for seven consec.
utive hours and not to obllterate any
OF the features of the face is to be an
athletic genius and to possess talent
for sleep.
All day it was rough and threatening,
with water flying from starboard to port
over the deck, and high sea running.
We shipped much broken water. At
three p. M, wind and sea increasing,
fierce squalls of wind arose, and there
was lightning in the west, with black
banks of clouds to windward. We took
in the main.sail and hying.jib and set
the storm try.sail.
At eight p. M, the wind still blowing
heavily in squalls, we reefed the sails
and made all snug for heavy weather in
the night. At eleven p. m. we came
out Of the Gulf stream, and the weather
moderated.
Getting north of the Gulf stream
early the following morning, brought
US into new climate, unlike that
which we had left below: the sea
was smooth, we were on soundings, and
there was the bodily presence OF fog,
with the spiritual presence of Nova
Scotia, in the morning, when the fog.
horn was blown by the lookout stationed
in the bow. After this the weather
remained smoky, with light breeze,
until five p. m, when it began to look
very squally in the west and south, and
we took in the light sails, as we sighted
"Winter Quarter" lightship off Chinco'
teague,-not exactly the land, but buoy
fast to American soil. From this we
stood away on our course, with a light
wind and very squally sky, for Henlo-
pen light, distant sixty miles. The sky
grew more squally, with black clouds to
the west and south, distant thunder, and
vivid lightning. At seven p. m. across
the entire west there stretched broad
band of yellow, perfectly clear, the color
of FURNISHED gold; in this the sun was
shining brightly, while nearit were few
ragged patches OF deep mulberry
colored cloud. Overhead, huge masses
of cumuli were rolled confusedly
together, purple in color, their project
ing volumes tinged deep crimson,
while across them at intervals were
bands of striated cloud, as if the
heavens lay behind bars. The whole
south and southwest was obscured by
heavy curtain of vivid green shading
into olive, a grand sight, which, how
ever, portended heavy blow. This
curtain of cloud was continually rent
from the sea upward by flashes OF chain
lightning, and there was perpetual roll
of thunder. The whole sea astern was
of slaty blue, tinged with green,
flashing into white-caps where the squall
had already struck.
To be prepared for what was coming,
we doused the top-sails and flying jib,
double reefed the main.sail for future
use and took it in, close-reefed the lore
sail and setit, At 7.30 the squall struck
trs, and We settled away all sail and
stood to the northward under bare
poles. Although we had all of us
subscribed TO the marine declaration
that good weather was good enough Tor
us, it was impossible not to enjoy the
grandeur of the scene about us. The
sQuall, being only wind, soon blew itself
out, although the weather remained
threatening, with battling winds from
the northward. To make all snug for
the night, we set storm try-sail on the
lore. mast, the fore stay sail, and close
reefed main.sail and jib, AT four a. m.
we took sudden heavy squall from the
northwest, that carried away the jib
before it could be got in, and would
have done much more damage had it
not been for the warning of the barom-
eter and the untiring vigilance OF the
captain.
The sunrise was superb, the sky
cloudless there was gale of wind
blowing directly ahead, the sea was ex-
ceedingly high and rough, and, as We
were close hauled, it was breaking over
our bow in torrents of foam and flying
over the deck in showers. The poor
Vega in losing her jib had lost her
/ right arm, so far as beating to windward
with head.sea was concerned. When
we unbent and overhauled what was left
Of the jib, it was found beyond repair,
and was consigned to the lazaretto.
While We were wallowing in the sea,
making nothing,-in in fact, heading for
Barnegat on the port tack,-vessels
bound for the south were flying by us
with all the sail they could stagger
under. At eleven a. m. it moderated !;
we wore ship (alas for the Vega, that
had never missed staysD and set full
fore fore sail and 6ying-jib. At five p.
m. we made Fenwick.island light. Land
at last, the Eastern shore,-the first
since st. Thomas. 1t was not mountains
and palms, but it was ours. The wind,
that had been moderating since noon,
considerably died out with the sun, and
when we turned in it was "smooth as a
dish," and Fenwick,island light, Henlo.
pen, and the light ON the Breakwater
were flashing, revolving, and burning
steadily, each after its kind, all about
us.-Lippi"coFs.
How TO Entertain.
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