The San Francisco call., 1896-07-02
Over Twenty Per Cent Reinsur.
ance Was Paid on Her
Last Week.
SHE HAD a TERRIBLE TIME.
Boats Were Smashed, Cargo Shifted
and Nearly all the Railing
Carried Away.

After bucking head winds and cross seas
for Isl days, the British ship Wasdale
finally reached port last evening. She is
from Newcastle, Ene., and for over a week
has been classed among the "overdues. :"
From 20 to 25 per cent reinsurance has
been paid on her. so the gamblers are
pleased.
The story of the Wasdale's trip is most
interesting one, and Captain Fisher tells
it in graphic manner. 1t is as follows:
eve left the Tyne at P. N, January 81,
and had moderate variable winds down
the channel, which continued to 33 deg.
north "a deg. min. west, then northeast
winds very light to the equator, which we
crossed in q deg. west, thirty-six DAYS out
Here we got the southeast trades, which
were very light throughout and were lost
in Is deg. min. south and SO deg. wesr, and
from there to Staten Island we had light
variable winds and remarkably fine
weather, with smooth sea.
''Sighted Staten Island April II, seventy
two days out, from which we had sue
cession of heavy gales from west to west
northwest and very high. dangerous sea.
ION April q, at 10 80 P. NJ, our yard
arms and mastheads were lit up with balls
of fire. and at IL 80 P. NJ. we were struck by
a furious hurricane, which continued for
twenty hours, and which kept the lee side
buried, damaged all our running gear,
smashed both side lights and starboard
poop rail, broke in side ports and deluged
half deck.
'At noon on the 22d bad to cut away the
lower foretopsail to relieve the ship. At
this time the sea was breaking frightfully.
causing the ship TO lurch very heavily.
% Of nEa 20 4
slightly. After 6 P. NJ the gale began to
moderate The lowest reading OF the
barometer and aneroid were both 2756.
Had continuance of very heavy gales
until May 4, latitude 4S.07 south, loneitud
sO.04 west, then more moderate and vari-
aole to May II, latitude 1916 south, Ion
gitude 81 west, when we had furious
gale and terrific cross sea, which com.
menced suddenly from light breeze and
heavy rain at east-northeast. but shifting
rapidly to north and northwest. Having
to keep dead before it to reduce sail, hove
to with ships head to the eastward under
goose-winged fore and miZzen topsails,
when it quickly moderated and had hen
beautiful fine weather and light winds to
the equator, which was crossed on June
in 120 west longitude, 123 days out.
Tuesday, April q, at noon, with the
eneroid and barometer at 1904, had a
strong breeze and rain, with high westerly
seas. Ship under reefed topsails and
foresail. Wind about north and hauling,
at P. NJ, to north-n ortheast, and glass
falling slowly. Weather dark and rainy.
At 7;15 P. M. the glass was 1885, and at
P. NJ 1888, and beginning to fall very
rapidly. Called all hands and put
the ship under two lower topsails
and foretopmast staysail, after which
the weather cleared awav con-
siderably and looked much better,
but at 1920 P. NJ. the glass was PLY ana a
sauall making up in the northwest, the
mastheads and upper yard arms were all
lit up, the squall coming with terrific vio-
ience and striking the ship partly aback
with the helm hard up. but doing no dam
age. At midnight got the foretopmast stay
sail down and made fast; glass 2S.11. Gave
orders to take in fore lower topsail if we
had lull, but dare not attempt to start
1t. At A. NJ. weather still the same and
glass q. SO.
''At 8 A. M. the ship was struck in the
starboard mizzen rigging by a terrific sea,
smashing two side ports in entirely in the