The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01
DOWN WENT the MERCURY
And BACK the skipper Took Everything
He Had asid About the Barometer.

And Back the skipper Took ESorythins
lie Had ssid About the Barometer.
1T was on a voyage from New York to
Galveston In a three-masted schooner that
noted the dependence Of the skipper on
the glass; said an amateur mariner. we
were held at anchor OF Communipaw FOR
several days by a bowling northeastern.
The captain did not seem to take much
notice Of the barometer, 20 ] ventured 70
ask him IL he placed much faith in IL.
well he answered, in q confident tone,
not a great deal; sets more store by the
visible signs OF the weather
THAT seemed a somewhat remarkable
statement for a mariner, but dropped the
subject and thought no more OF It. until
one afternoon when we were down IN the
Gulf OF Mexico.
We were sailing before a light easterly
wind at the rate OF about three knots an
hour. A heavy bank Of black thunder
cloud was rising from the western horizon
and frequent flashes OF lightning were
weaving a fiery network over IL. From
time to time the rumble Of distant thunder
rolled over the oily surface OF the sea.
THE captain, who had been below since
dinner, came on deck and stood by the man
al the wheel He scanned the horizon long
and critically, looked aft to note the signs
TO wind ward. leaned over the starboard
rail to guage the speed OF the vessel and
then went below.
Almost Immediately heard a cry OF
mingled astonishment and alarm In the
cabin. / sprang to the compahlonway
and met the captain hurrying up the steps
INV God, mani he exclaimed before
could ask a question, the bottom mas
dropped out OF the glass;
-He shouted All hands on deck and gave
hurried orders TO strip the vessel OF all
sail. The men on deck scurr1ed about ana
the watch below came tumbling on deck.
In a trice the halliards were let go and the
sails came down on the run. nearly all
together, while men scrambled up the
ratlines to furl the topsails.
IN the midst of TINS confusion l went
below to look at the glass. 1t stooc against
tho trunk OF the mizzenmast at the foot OF
the companion steps. The captain had
spoken truly. The mercury had shrunk
out of sight. II was not visible even be
tween the interstices Of the screen at the
base of the instrument.
Il dragged myself back 20 the deck even
more terrified than the captain: The cloud
had risen perceptibly during the few min
utes | was below. The forked lightning
was pla wing fiercely and the ominous rurnb-
ling was growing louder and more frequent
To accentuate our terror was the thought
under the main hatch.
The captain having given all the orders
needed for the moment was leaning de
ipctcdly against tho side OF the cabin with
his eyes fixed on the rising cloud. went
to his side and asked:
Captain, did you ever know the glass
to act that way beforeT
Never, sir. In all my sea going
The occasion was not conducive TO con-
vsrsation 40 il occurred 10 me, after u few
minutes silence, 10 see if could find how
low the mercury had really fallen. ] went
below and after 4 while 10y some trouble
managed 10 remove the screen from the
base Of the barometer. | gave call that
brought the captain headlong into the
cabin
The extraordinary fall of the glass was
explained. II lad not iseen caused by the
weather. The bulb was broken and all OF
the mercury had run out of the tube. =.
THE only mystery was how the bulb
came 20 he broken, and that was never
solved. The captain attributed it to the
clumsiness Of the steward, but the sus-
pected man vehemently disclaimed any
responsibility for the accident. may add
that the storm worked around TO the
north'ard without our getting so much az o
catspaw out OF II.