The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-31
THROUGH IgY SEgS.
The Terrible Weather Experienced
by the Ocean steamers.
8 SHIPS CONPgSSES FROZEN
one ofthe Most Remarkable occur.
Fepsss Ever Heard Of In the Mari
Tim World Reported by the Cap.
tain OF the Steamship I~aurcstina.
The Vessel steered by the Sun and
the stars.

NEw YoRK, Dec. sO-one Of the
strangest occarrencest that has ever been
heard Of in the maritime world was
brought to light yesterday, when Cap.
tain Gavin, the commander Of the Brit
ish tramp steamship Laurestina, re-
ported at this port that for three days
be was unable to use his compass, the
alcohot having frozen. aud rendered
hem useless. Many weird tales Of the
deep were told yesterday by the cap
tains Of the large fleet Of ocean and
coasting vessels which for days had
been compelled to steer far out Of their
courses in order to escape the fury Of
the elements but it was left to Captain
Gavin TO tell the most thrilling exper-
iehce.
When tho particulars Of his tempes-
tuols voyage were made known many
oldseamen hurried to his vessel to in
Specific coTnpasses which had broken
all records and refused to work in hur-
ricane. The brass instruments werely-
ing on the table Of Captain Gavln's
cabin, a coat Of ice topping the head Of
each. The steering compasses, oil
which there were two, we're still calked
with Ice, while the standard compass
was Just thGwin2 out.
The Laurestina left Bremen on De-
eember 13, She had proceeded within
Eixty mics Of the Georgia shoalswhen
the bnrombter dropped. The wind
came from the northwest and blew
with such force that at times the
Hteamer did not seem to be making any
Roadway. Rain and snow fell, coating
the:Hhip with ice. The small halyards,
scarcely an inch in thickness, were in
crnsted until they were as large as a six
ihch haweer.
Dodgers were put up, in the shape of
canvas coverings, TO protect the look
outs and the crew from the wind. All
went we'll until one week ago last Sat-
ufday, when the wind became.so strong
thatthe dodgers were carried away and
the vessel blown to the southwark. in
order to escape the storm Captain Gavin
headed to the northward so ga to get
onlythe edge OF the cyclone The fur
ther north he got, the colder became
tie the weather, and on the night Of
December % the helmsman reported
the compasses as being out OF order. A
hSsty examination Of the steering conn
passes showed that they were freezing,
and on going to the bridge compass
Captain Gavin found that it, too, had
frozen, and that there was no way OF
getting to port except by trusting tothe
sun and stars.
"Well, let them Freeze remarked
Captain Gavin to his first officer. "lf
we can only keep to the west We are
bound to strike America some time.
We will have to play Christopher Col
umbus and steer by the aid Of the sun
by day and the stars by night"
On Saturday night a terrible storm
ragged, and when south OF Halifax tho
Laurestina sighted pilot boat E. F.
Williams, No. IA. of New York, hove to.
The steamship signaled for a pilot, and
one was put on board after a dangerous
trip. Bygood fortune the pilot brought
the steamship into port yesterday after
noon.
Captain Gavin said that for the
twenty-seven years he has followed the
sea he never met with such an expert
nnaa DIX -aN"- H I'll. rH "