The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-05
IERRORs OF The SEA.
CyclonIc, Volcanic and Other Dangerous
Types of Waves.

Cyclonic, Volcanic and Other Dangerous
Types of Waves.
A wave is thing of beauty, but it is
only Joy to those who watch it march,
ing in splendor and foam from the safe
refuge of the shore. 1t is very naus-
eating condition of voyaging. 1t makes
the bones of ships creak rs if they were
full of rheumatism. 1t fills the brain
with sense of chaos, and one moment
swings the moaning traveller to the
stars and the next plunges him into an
abyss hideous with gloom and the hiss
ing as of millions of snakes. To meas
ure waves in a severe tempest is even
more difficult than to mark effects.
When the weather rises to such fury as
makes the seas colossal enough to rem
der the determination of their height
exceedingly important, there is usually
too much anxiety. and even distraction,
for observation. The weight of the
wind is so violent that it is almost i'm
possible to show ones face to it.
For the true Andean sea one must 90
down to Cape Horn-perhaps to as far
as sixty degrees south. There are sail
ors who, standing at the wheel of a ship
running before these seas. will never
willingly look behind them. lest the
sight of the oncoming rampant of
green water, arching toward the taft
rail, should unnerve them. Standing
on deck twenty feet above the water
line, you yet look up at the crest of
these seas rs at the top of 4 mountain.
The gigantic grace, the huge majesty
of these liquid Titans can not be de-
scribed. 1t is necessary to be hove-to
to appreciate their height, volume and
power; to watch from the low broad
side the swelling approach of the mighty
mass, with its freckled front and foam
less head Pickering in bottle green to
the dull light of the gray sky; to feel
the sweep of the ship up the enormous
acclivity, and then, while for the space
of breath only. she hangs poised
with upright masts and shrieking rig
ging on the headlong brow, to look
down and behold the valley beneath.
into which the vessel an instant after
slides like comet.
1t is difficult to write of the seas
which run in heavy weather off the
southern-most point of South America
without risk of being charged with ex-
aggeration; they must be seen, and
little spell of custom will render ad-
miration easy. 1t is impossible to be
tossed by them in such vessels as now
make the passage of the Horn without
wondering by what miracle of luck or
phenomenal merit of seamanship the
old navigators were enabled to beat
against them in their small. half
decked boats. some no bigger than
Deal lugger, without touch of the
weatherly qualities of such craft.
But let it not be supposed that the
high wave is the dangerous one. The
regular running surges may all be as
tall as the biggest hotel in London with
ninth fellow among them as high as
the monument, and yet none prove
nearly so dangerous as the pyramidal
seas of the cyclone. Of all forms of
vexed water the cyclonic agitation is
the worst. Here is whirlwind of as
tOnishing fury so many miles in dame
ter. For little while it runs steady
sea. but presently its gyrations brings
up surge from another quarter, then
comes the lull. followed by a frightful
outfly of storm from direction Opposite
to the point from which the wind
last blew. The seas, coming into
collision. fight like wolves. They snap
and howl. leaping high in conified
shapes in the very similitude of sentient
passion. The staggering of the ship is
indescribable. There is no rhythmic
swing to give her motions something of
the vibrations of the pendulum. Her
decks are filled with water. while her
bows dive into chasm that has opened
under her forefoot, a valley yawns
under her stern and hill of water
flashes up on either side. 1t has not
been suggested that the altitude of the
cyclonic wave should be determined.
Probably there is no eye afloat equal to
such an undertaking.
Another very uncomfortable sea is
the volcanic wave. 1t is not very long
ago that vessel. steaming through
quiet waters on Il dark night, was sud-
denly hurled up by an invisible billow
that was reckoned to be between thirty
and forty feet high. Three such waves
passed under her, the last being the
least in volume. and then all was dead
fiatness of ocean again. The stoutest
heart might well thump to such an en-
counter rs this.-London Telegraph.
n.,.,a1. nr,ioc