The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-21
HEMMED IN BY WATERspOUTs.
Thrilling Adventures of the British
Steamship Fcrndene.
From the Philadelphia Press.

a thrilling story Of adventure, as unique
as it was dangerous, was told by Capt.
Milburn, commanding the British steam
ship Ferndene. which arrived here several
days ago from Matanzas. At one time
the vessel was hemmed in by a large
number of waterspouts and all was wild
alarm on board. Subsequently, she was
swept by a whirlwind and all hands to
escape from its fury. as it passed over
the vessel, had to lie down fiat on the
deck. AS it was, the boatswain was
picked mp from the amidship portion of
the flying bridge and carried with terri
itc force into the chart ROOM A large
flock of Mother Carey's chickens, which
had been following the ship, were caught
in the whilrwind and hurled round and
round in left-hand direction for a time
when they reached the center and dropped
exhausted into the sea. They did not
arise again and Capt. Milburn and his
officers say that such was the fury of
the speed with which they were taken
around, the life was out Of them before
they reached the center of the whiri-
wind. The ships escape from total de-
struction, having for a period of sew
eral hours been surrounded by water
spouts and whirlwinds. seems to seafar-
ing men almost miraculous
AS capt. Milburn on the floors of the
maritime exchange on Saturday related
the perils of his voyage north from Gu
ba, he was surrounded by a large num-
Der of seamen. In "a lifetime at sea II
was the oldest and most dangerous pass
age Capt. Milburn ever made and he4has
forwarded to the photographer at Wash
1ngton a detailed account of the winter.
spouts and whirlwinds.
Capt. Millburn says that he left Matan-
zas May p and experienced, until the
MONDAY observation on the 25th, Won
derful run.
on that day the weather was some
what cloudy and at 420 p. m, the ship
being in latitude 3442, longitude $40 the
wind southwest, he saw a large water
spout forming from 1000 to ] 200 yards
ahead of the vessel. 1t Travelled rapidly
toward the ship and her course was alter
ed quickly to avoid destruction. About
twenty minutes afterward the waterspout
broke and Immediately Capt Millburn
noticed within fifty yards of the ship the
approach of a whirlwind, travelling with
great speed. In its path were upward of
100 Mother Carey's chickens which were
hoverpg in the vicinity of the ship since
early morning and they were caught up
and whirled around with tremendous fury
until they dropped lifeless into the sea.
The whirlWind struck the ship on the
port quarter passing along the side with
frightful velocity. To escape injury from
being swept overheard before it, Capt
AllIDurn ana all ms men that were on Geek
dropped fiat down on their backs. The
boatswain, who was standing amidships
on the bridge, was lifted bodily and hurl-
ed over large set of steps into the wheel
house, where he was found afterward I'M
conscious.
After the whirlwind had passed, fearing
a recurve, Capt Millburn had the helm
put hard starboard, but as soon as the
whirlwind had passed waterspout form
ed, breaking 1850 yards from the starboard
bow. From then until before dark several
other waterspouts passed in close prox-
unity to the vessel. but soon the wind
veered TO the westward and the voyage to
Philadelphia was continued without
further incident.