Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-08-11
An East Indian Hurricane
By GEORGE II. cooMER.
YETE WERE making "A passage from
w Samarang. in the island Of java,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Oh FllI t!llB, III tllc ISldiiu Vi java
to Singapore, which, as most readers
are aware, lies close OF the southern
extremity of Malaeca, and is enc Of the
greatest commercial emporiums of the
world.
Our ship, the Lion, vessel Of nbcut
700 tons, was loaded with coffee and
pepper, large quantities OF the articles
being carried from Java to Singapore,
and thence reshipped to other ports
upon demand.
We had as passengers an American
physician ard his wife, who brought
with them a large number Of beautiful
Javanesc birds, which they hung in
cages about the deck cabin. In large
cage, placed in The open cir, they had a
wild peacock, with its mate, these SUI
perb fowls being very common in the
deep forests of Java, where they must
often. one would think, meet with un-
pleasant neighbnrs.
On leaving Samarang we were able to
head directly for cur place of deslina-
ton, with the northeast monsoon
squarely on our broadside, blowing a
gentle breeze Of FIVE or six knots an
hour, which, In about five days, brought
us within sight of the tall treetcps OF
Singapore that looked. ms seen through
our glasses at distance Of some 20
miles, as if they sprnng directly out Of
the water.
Here, however, there fell dead calm.
the monsoon being entirely gone. Tie
sky bad an appearance which we did
not like; for, although not cloud was
visible, the whole heaven assumed Il
strange, brassy look that was reflected
on board the ship
The captain ana mate conferred anx-
iously together; the hands forward
squintcd- at the sky and shocl; their
heads, and the two passengers, DR.. Al
ton and his wife, were evidently rot n
little startled. The very peacock failed
to cry out that dag, as was his custom,
and the birds in the cabin were more
than usually quiet.
On the other hand, cat which we
had on board became strangely rest
less, darting hither and thither, and
staring about her in such wild man
ncr as led the second mate to remark
that it must be high water, if there was
anything to be told By cats eyes.
Hurrlcdly The lighter spars were sent
down to the deck, and while this work
was in progress there came sweeping
toward US three prodigious rollers in
close proximity TO each other, the cen
trail wave being, as VIC judged 90 feet
high, while those which accompanied
it, and were merely its consequent al.
juncts, were considerably lower.
There was something almost super
natural in the appearance OF those
three broad nnduIations, as they
coarsed heavily along upon an other
wise smooth sea. The Supplying total
ly becalmed, received them "broadsidc
to-" and 1t was our fear that they would
sweep the decks; but, with three ire
mendous rolls, which threw the very
peacock off his legs, she surmourted
them in safety: The moment they
had gone by the surface CT the China
sea resumed its ordinary appearance.
At the end of an hour, however. we
received q second visitation, precisely
like the first, except that the swci!s were
somewhat heavier. They struck the
ship upon the bows. and, as her position
for the moment was. the most favorable
one possible, she received no injury, al
though pitching "bowsprlt under"
Again succeeded the ordinary aspect
of calm at sea, where the gentle I'M
dulations, although nearly impcrccpti
BILE, are never entirely absent.
Another hour, and we saw third ad
vancing column, which, like the first
and second, consisted of a trio of waves,
but with an increased weight and ter
ror. The ship was now stern on" and
we awaited the result with great anx
iety.
There was terrible grandeur IN the
appearance of the rolling deluge. The
middle wave could not have been less
than 30 feet high, while those in front
and r%ar may have lacked some eight or
ten feet Of this altitude. The combined
line illustrated the military idea Of q
column of attack, formed three deep.
The silence with which this mighty
avalanche glided onward was, in itself
fearful. Upon the top there might be
an occasional break and growl, but be-
low was an utter nosclessness, and
the whole bespoke a weight and power
to mock any effort of the imagination.
The foremost Of these combined seas
swept under the ships counters, throw.
ing her stern in air till the deck lay at 4
most unusual jingle. Then the bow cor
respondlngly rose, while the stern sank,
and now the middle wave hung like a
moving mountain close to the ta!frail.
The good old Lion-aE excellent sea
boat-once more lifted her after part as
the base of the tremendous swell rolled
under her rudder port, and for mo-
ment we thought that even this huge
sea would go harmlessly by.
But it was too steep, and too near its
fellow wave for the ship TO ride it
safely. She had' glided swiftly down
from the smaller, and the larger caught
her at disadvantage.
As the stern began to rise, the top of
the swell broke over the taffrail. 1t
came with incopccivable force upon the
poop deck, which was seven feet high, |
and under which was the cabin. The
boat which: hung at the stern was stove,
the pinnacle broken, the compass
smashed, and the mizzen mast carried |
by the board.
Roaring forward, from the taffrail to
the bowsprit, went the prOdiglous mum
dation, filing the decks to the top Of the
rail, STAYING a great hole in the house
forward, where it deluged ell the berths
Of the sailors, and tearing away many
of the bulwarl1 boards.
Our co0+oir fooro+hor With tba doctor |