The sun., 1900-07-19
July's Squalls.

Oldest wstermen hereabouts has the month
Of July been accompanied by so many
thunder clouds full Of vicious lightning
and furious winds. High water squalls,
low water squalls and squalls ahead OF
time and behind 1t. regular sky tramps,
have plagued people on land and water.
Boatmen insist that they are flying columns
from the recent great centre Of rainfalls
in the South. Tho scientific men probably
claim for them some more aristocratio
origin. But at all events. here they are,
and tremendous at that. On land they
put umbrellas out Of commission In short
order. and on the water they play the same
trick upon many boats. Only few days
ago near the Orchard Shoals light In the
lower bay ono Of them caught big fishing
schooner. and before the crew could take
in sail. the powerful boat was capsized.
Fortunately no lives were lost
Usually summer squalls in the bay come
from the west or southwest against .
wind from the south or southeast. They
always give ample warning OF their
approach. for the storm clouds take some
time to back up the breeze from the
sea- When a boatman wants TO make a
harbor before the squan bursts upon him,
he may hang on to all sail In perfect safety
80 long as the sea breeze lasts; but when 1t
begins to weaken he cannot be too quick
about getting down all sail and putting
everything in shape to receive the enemy.
When small boats cannot get into shelter.
the best thing to do with them Is to put out
a long line. haul up the board and, when
everything Is ready. take the tiller and
parry as cleverly az possible any slantinG
thrust Of the wind that threatens 10 produce
a dangerous swing. Too many amateurs.
unfortunately fancy that the board helps
to keep the boat right side up with care;-
on the contrary. when a boat Is anchored.
II tends to trip her when she swings. This.
Of course does not apply to lead-loaded
boards. because. like fms. they simply form
ballast, and that too where II can do the
most good under all circumstances in deep
water
With a little caution and common sea-
horse sense a man can be reasonably safe
squall The low water squall Is always
the most violent. but it seldom lasts longer
than twenty minutes, In the night 1t
presents a magnificent picture which the
memory is sure TO frame and hang I'D in
It's art gallery. The advance over the
water Of the immense black cloud whose
dimensions can only be imagined in the
light Of vivid flashes OF lightning followed
by rolling thunder that increases In volume
with each discharge. is splendid in all its
fury. And when at last the full force OF
the storm comes upon the boat. she dances
on little waves whose crests, blown of by
the terrific wind. form a mist that with
every fash looks like great sheet Of blue
flame. Then the headstay and halyards
whistle The Star Spangled Banner" or
Home Sweet Home" according to the in
dividual tastes OF the occupants OF the boat.
and the ill-tempered waves HAS the music.
At last the wind begins 70 lose Its force;
the crests are no longer blown Off the seas,
and they rise to height that keeps the
skipper guessing until they gradually
diminish to form silent procession Of bald
headed swells. the melancholy premonition
Of a white ash breeze
That Ia one way to fight a squall in the
lower bay There is still another way
which may almost be called sort Of forlorn
hope. When the seas run high enough
TO threaten to swamp the boat as she rides
at anchor. the only thing TO do then il to
cut the line and let her fly Of under the
bare stick. The occupants should imme-
diately abandon thwarts or seats and plant
themselves in the bottom Of the boat 10
give her the benefit Of their weight below,
while the skipper holds her straight before
the seas until the squall passes away. At
first thought this seems TO be terrible
predicament for boatmen To get into. but.
after all they don't think that it Is any
worse than crossing Broadway during the
busy hours Of the day,
Changing the order OF things completely,
the late thunderstorms came with the wind
While not one whit less furious than the old
timers. their reach was far longer, and that
n what made them so dangerous TO boat
men, The main body of the thunder cloud
usually seemed far enough away 10 tempt
the boatman to hang on TO his canvas:
but. unfortunately. these new clouds wsFs