The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-26
STORIES OF GREAT WAVES.


An Ola ssa Captain Tells Of Wonders Per
formed ~ Storm Waves.
New Work Tribune.
Captain Pgrselle, of the White Stal
steamship Adriatic, has been plowine
the boundless main these forty years
He has navigated every ocean and al
most every known body of water large
enough to fioat ia ship. During recent
years he has commanded some one
of the Liverpool steamers of the
White Star Line, and has thousands Of
acquaintances in this city who know
we'll what an honest, bluff, straightfor-
ward old sea dog he is. This introduc-
tion to the Tribune readers would be
wholly unnecessary but for the miracu-
lous nature, of the stories which are to
follow, and which, says Captain Par
selle, Fare as true and sure as that the
sun is now shining at us here on my
deck"
The, conversation which had preceded
these wonderful tales had referred to
the storm wave lately encountered in
mid. ocean by the Germanic. The cap
tain planned what sort of a sea'it was.
The newspapers ,called;i it q tidal wave" !"
hessaid, Hbut it was nothing ofthe sort.
Tidal waves only occur in bays, lfirths,
and rivers which are so situated as to
be peculiarly sensitive to the influences
,of the moon and of gravitation. At
leastthat is how meterologists explain
them. But though I have studied their
theories with laborious' care, Ishaye en-
countsred tidal waves that had an origin
far more subtle than lin the local situa-
tions that make water especially .excit-
able.
For instance, I.saw "a tidal wave
once from high bluff on the banks Of
the Ganges. It was perpendicular
wall of water advancing at the rate Of
about twenty miles an hour. 1T was
perfectly straight, except at the very
top, where it crested into foam that
had not strength enough to fall. 1t
was about seventeen feet high. That
was Pure tidal wave, and / have never
yet been able to work out its origin or
cause.
-"Now a storm wave, such as struck
the Germanic, is very different thing,
and is explicable upon thoroughly we'll
defined meteorological principles. The
wind in a first-class ocean storm is hope
lessly erratic. 4 have known it to blow
from every point Of the compass within
half an hour. It blows with terrific
force and Of course, creates tremend-
,usly heavy secs in every direction
blows. The sea RECEIVERS very
,lowly, 80 that after the wind has
7eered from south to north, the seas
'ome at you inguIfing waves in every
direction. Now, there is Q
,oint where the influence of all these |
eas unite, producing q wave that reach
q Incredible attitudes with force that |
8 simply irresistible. That is storm
gave, and that is what knocked the |
3ermanic. No seaman can locate it,
nd if you happen to be in its path all
ou can do is-take it.
Have I ever encountered one? Well,
should say 80. / don't often tell these
tories, for if man tells many of them
Q is in danger of losing his reputation
'r varacity. The yarn am going to
pin now, however, is true. 1t is my
wn experience, and whether anybody
elieves it or not, it is so. Thirty three
ears ago 1 was the chief officer of
)0-ton ship. We sailed between Lon
On and India. One exening, when a
W hours out from London, in the Eng
III Channel, the time came to relieve
70 watch. That was o'clock. Tho
y was little murky, but not absolute
cloudy. TIE channel waters were
Inn. The breeze was fresh, blowing ]
om the west at such rate as to COM
j us to sail under q reefed mainsail I
d double-reefed topsails. On our lee I
la was brig. My captain and I t
re standing together on deck. 1 had /
zen orders for the watch to be called, O
d they were then assembled on tho n
op deck. The captain said to me, S
r. Parselle, think the light ought ri
be visible by this time'-meaning the h
dystone light. Suppose go aloft W
d look answered. Sc
I went up the rigging till got about m
ty feet aloft, and suddenly, when sc
in that perilous position, I heard a le
rible shout from the deck. looked T.
vn to see what was the matter, and pl
as did 80 . mountain of water p,
1ck us amidships. 1t picked me ht
at off my feet and hurled me clear co
ough the rigging, fattened me 00