Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-27
VAST SHEET OF FLAME.
THRILLING EXPERIENCE OF
THE CENTURION.
The Vessel IN Terrible Electric storm
Immense Balls Of Fire Hung
About tho Masthcad--Con-
tinuous Flashes.

3 tihuNus AAaHhtns
It was story-toller's day at the
Maritime exchange, according 10 the
Now York sun A group OF storm
bound ship captains gathered there
all day. Stories about the weather
were at premium. Tho members Of
the group changed constantly, as tho
captains came and went, some stop
ping for an hour or two, others Tor
only a few minutes.
Among those who came in late in
the afternoon was Captain Watson
OF the British freight steamship Cen
turion, 5000 tons
Upon his arriva, here Captain
Watson had reported singular elec-
trio storm through which his ship
had passed ON her last trip to the
branch photographic Office IN the
Maritime exchange. He was asked
to give the details Of his experience,
.'In all the thirty years | have
spent on the sea he said, Il never
went through such night as that Of
Sunday, December 25. when We we're
in latitude fifty-twO degrees north
and longitude thirty-hye degrees
west.
I'VE were eight days out from
Tyne. The weather at first was clear
and mild. On Saturday. December
"a. the wind blew hurricane The
barometer sunk 70 27.5O inches. Tho
aurora lighted up the whole northern
sky. The seamen on deck noticed
several balls Of fire at tho masthead
and along the stays during the night
The hurricane which had been blow
ing from the northwest. shifted TO the
southeast, stirring up a nasty cross
sea, which threw us on our beam euds
several times
"On sunday morning the hurricane
continued. The waves rolled as high
the hurricane shifted from the south
east to the northwest. The heavy
rain which had been falling changed
TO hail. The hailstones were almost
as big as eggs. The cross sea was
the worst ever experienced
AT about 8 o'clock in the evening
began the most wonderful electrical
display | have ever seen or heard 81
The ship seemed TO be in the center
OF ii vast sheet Of flame. which was a.
bright as sunlight
"lhe appearance Of tho sea Under
the queer light was awe-inspiring
The heavy cross sea sent waves over
US at intervals OF few minutes
when the waves broke they
looked like liquid fire. The power
of vision seemed maguiGcd As FAR
as we could see, tho immense waves
appeared 10 be crested with dame.
The exhibition sent shiYcrs even
through old sea dogs like myself
The effect Of the heavy hail storm
was magnificent II seemed ~
though the air was filled with balls
of fire. The light was bright enoug h
to read by 1t penetrated through
ont the whole ship and even in the
engine room the light was brilliant.
The brilliaucy varied from a
bright white light to an incaudcscent
yellow Tho light came in flashes. 50
close together a almost TO seem CON
tinuous.
This light kept up for about two
hours. After 8 o'clock II gradually
faded, and was all gone at midnight.
BY day Wight the weather had moder-
ated.
'Some Of the men were badly
: frightened by the electrical disturb
ance. | don't blame them It was
enough to shake the courage Of the
strongest man It took several days
for the bravest Of Us to get over Gus
: nervousness.
.'NO one on the ship felt any elec.
trio shock during the storm. The
g compasses wavered and behaved as
g they usually do under the influence
, Of an electric disturbance.
0 The strain on the ships machin-
cry was terrible. and several OF the
smaller parts OF the engines were
broken. No accident serious enough
e to disable the engines altogether
) happened, however.
n I'VE garc up the attempt TO keep
+ up our course on Sunday, and merely
a let the ship drive before the storm
= We kept up enough steam. however
r to give the vessel Storage way.
r The waves washed over tho docki
n repeatedly The covers Of the life
2 boats were washed away, and tn,
n port bulwarks smashed in, We wcr,
4 thankful to escape with no NOR,
@ serious damage.
@ "On the next night the men OF
. deck reported several balls of thu
4 ordinary St Elmo's fire, and we saw
@ these on several occasions afterward
g The voyage, which we usually mad
G in twelve days, was protracted T.
nineteen