Evening journal., 1896-08-17
ANTICS OF LIE SEA.
ra.es of an Electric storm and Of the
Appearance OF Waterspout.


Tales of an Electric storm and Of the
Appearances OF Waterspous.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-Two ships which
lave Just arrived at this port brought
stranger tales of the sea sOne was tho
Neustria, a steamer OF the Fabre line She
had 800 passengers in her tween deck
quarters when she set out from Naples on
July 30. An ugly iumble Of cumulus
stratus cloude boiled up from behind the
western sea line on Aug. II, and soon the
lhip was in semidarkness.
The passengers watched the spreading
PAIL The wind had fallen, the sea was
smooth, and while the passengers peorcd
and looked a sheaf of lightning came along
4nd split the blackness into little strips
Another coil of light stroaked across the
Jet. Then flashes followed in an uninter-
rupted blaze and within few minutes,
Captain Friande says, the ship was in the
worst electric storm he had ever met
Thunder was booming. and. on the iron
stays and mastheads and on the metal tips
Of yards was seen between the flashes the
faint glowworm light Of composants.
But this was only a prelude. The
| lightning faded, the thunder ceased, and
with suish OF watery skirts the star per-
/ former came on. It was a waterspout 1t
was two miles away when first sighted It
neared the ship rapidly, and Captain Fri
lnde stood ready to make shift of helm
! If it ranged too near.
The swirling column is described as
about 80 yards thick at its pyramid shaped
base, tapering TO four foot thickness at
It's thinnest point. Its spreading top was
lost in the clouds. AS il drew abeam and
| about POO yards distant the passengers,
1 "a.
! electric display, became terrified. Some
began to pray. Around the base of the
spout water was boiling, and a loud, swish
ing noise was heard 1t swirled rapidly
by and broke when a little way astern, the
wayering pillar rushing downward in a
watery avalanche, leaving an acre of boil
ing foam. Another spout appeared on the
starboard bow, but it did not approach the
ship.
The ship Ioudon Hill, from Cochin, i2l
days out, met her first waterspout on Aug.
l. Another was sighted two days later
just ahead and going from east to west.
II was heading directly for the ship, which
had barely steerage way. As the spout
seemed bent on a collision, the hatcho.
we're hurriedly battened down and canvas
placed over them.
A mile away the waterspout changed itl
! direction, then came to a standstill ant
| executed what Cruiokshank, the mate
likened to a skirt dance, sans skirt Th.
towering pillar coiled and twisted and un
twisted ITSELF and then, as it began TO wa
scr, it was. almost hidden in drenohing
showers Of spray.
Near the locality where the NeustriS
had her show and on the same day th'
Loudon Hill found something of the sam'
sort. The sky darkened from the west
and. fearing some outfly the captain or
lered sail shortened. The men worke,
quickly and we'll, but nimble as thoy wer
they could not get the light sails IN il
time to save them.
The mate describes the cloud ms might
arch Before 10 had drawn its sable shados
to the zenith the arch of black fell away
dividing into two masses, with long rii
of blue sky between. Out of these rushe
squall Of wind, and In "a few moment
| .ho fore and main topgallant sails, whic
had been clewed down but not furle,
: / swelled out like balloons and then disaI
{ peared from thoir iaokstays Ike whiffs q
, | smoke. The topsails were OF stout canva
} / and hold, though the weight Of wind kee
Sd the big ship over until her lee scuppel
] were In foau