The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-20
A Monster Fire ball.

New York Commercial Advertiser
OF the many remarkable eXper'
fences of steam ships and sailing
vessels during the recent hurri
canes off the coast the most thrill
ing is told by Captain Barber, o.
of the British steamship Tr0pic
which arrived this morning from
Progreso.
The Topic left Progreso on March
31st, with cargo of hemp. The
first six days was all that could be
desired. Warm, clear weather
with calm seas and good breezes
prevailed until until Hatteras was
reached on Saturday, April 9th.
At eight o'clock on that morning
Il sudden change took place, clear
skies gave away to clouds and rair,
and the wind increased to gale
Two hours later it took the place
of an electric storm. Peals of
thunder shook the steamship, and
the tightening was dazzling and
incessant. For nearly ten hours
the electric storm lasted, and at
nightfall the sea rose to such
mountainous height that oil was
resorted to as the only means of
riding out what had now become a
hurrican of unprecedented fury.
All night the Topic tossed about
almost helpless, with all hands on
deck. AT five o'clock on Sunday
morning the most startling acci-
dent Of the voyage occurred. Fol.
lowing a flash, more brilliant than
any which had proceeded it, and
thunder clap that deafened the
Topics crew, came an illumination
such as Captain Barber says no
man on his vessel ever saw before.
The sea became fire red and then
darkened to the hue of blood. A
terrible kissing sound was heard
which came apparently from over
head. 1t grew in volume and the
illumination increased until the
light became so brilliant that none
Of the crew could distinguish any
thing but sparks of fire. A huge
red ball of fire appeared overhead,
apparently as large as big balloon
1t came in slanting direction to-
ward the steamer and fell into the
tumultuous ocean only few yards
from the vessel, filling the air with
fakes of fire. Millions of sparks
fell in the wake of the fire ball, ill
uminating the steamer for several
moments.
What this phenomenal appear
ance was, Captain Barber can not
tell, unless it was meteor. For
several minutes after the ball had
sunk into the sea the faces and
eyes of the sailors smarted with
pain, and the side OF the steamer
nearest the fire-ball was warm.
During the disturbance the barom-
eter vibrated ITO each way, indi-
eating that it was a metallic sub
stance.
Two hours after the meteor fell
the Topics engines gave out under
the strain of buffeting with the
waves, and the steamer rolled over
into the trough of the sea where
she lay helpless for nearly forty
eight hours, with seas breaking
over her fore ond aft. During this
time the sea carried away the
weather chains on three different
occasions, smashed the upper bridge
canvass, stanchions and life boat
covers. The foot of the bridge
forward was blown out of its bolts
and stanchiOns clean over the sides
and lost. On Wednesday the
storm suddenly ceased, and with
the aid of all hands the engines
md sails were patched up suf-
ciently to complete her voyage to
his part.
Visiting mOther-in-law-How
,lad / am to see you, my daughter.
Daughter-in-law-l am SO glad
o see you. II is so kind in you to
rayel thai long distance just to