The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-27
YACHTS CAUGHT
IN BIG SQuALL
Terrific Wind Lashed Bay Into
Foam In Five Minutes.
CAPSIZES WERE NUMEROUS.
Flagship Of R. |. Y. c. Club Carried Away
Headgsar-SaNs Blown 10 Ribbons.
Worst Damage al Potter's Cove.
CApSlzES WERE NUMEROUS.

Yesterday was a day OF extremes. II
marked the highest temperature this
year The violent atmospheric disturb
ances OF the early afternoon gave rise 20
a squall that swept over Narraganset
bay In a fiercer fashion than has been ex-
perierceI by Rhode Island yachtsmen n
recent years.
rhe day opened most auspicously for
the owners OF small craft and In the
morning hours the boats left the moor
ings all along the shore and under sail,
and by other power. soon spread over the
bay In all directions.
Potter's cove which is the mecca for
yachtsmen upon short cruises. was well
filled with craft OF every description yes
terday afternoon when the squail came.
As IL has always been regarded as spe-
cially safe anchorage in which 10 ride out
squalls. many careful skippers put IN for
shelter at the first warning flashes OF
sharp lightning.
The squall came from the west-north
west with suddenness that was appalling
20 the initiated. The cold cutting wind,
sand laden, lashed the sea TO foam In It's
violence. The soapy suds thus formed
were fearful to look at. and the darkness.
the splendid thunder clouds rent asunder
with the livid flashes and the heavy deto-
nations echcing and reverberating over
the troubled waters produced an effect
well calculated TO cause a feeling OF i'm
dauntless
1t all happened so quickly as squalls al
ways do. that complete preparations
could not be made for weathering the
gale.
The rushing, whistling wind struck the
insecure sails, the loose rigging. and
even the iron fastenings with such force
that everything was carried away
The heavy wind threatened 10 swamp
the smaller craft, and the hall and rain
beat mercilessly upon those exposed 10
the violence OF the elements.
In the intense excitement Of the mo-
ment. FEW men were calm enough 10 take
accurate observation. The stories told by
the various boat owners after the danger
had passed all attest that the sauall was
OF the greatest violence. and barred poles.
tattered sails and battered hulls bear out
the testimony.
The Corona. Mr. Blanding's sloop was
anchored. with sails secured. hut the wind
caught her and only by the most lively
work on the part Of her crew was she
saved from capszinf. One ~ the party on
board was struck by lightning While
leaning against door his hand rAsted on
metal hinge and bolt passed be
tween his thumb and fore finger. render
ing his thumb partly useless.
The matches we're blown of the sloop
Mile. owned ny Walter 8 Killey. and
Inc malnS6ll DlOW0 out OF Stops. nR cat
boat Thistle was capsized with fatal re-
suits. Damage vas done on nearly all 81
the Is or more boats In the cove and the
many exciting experiences will make tx.
ceilent material for tales at the club
houses for days 70 come.
Great anxiety was entertained for the
safety OF the many boats known tn be eS-
posed in the squall In the open bay. and
when at midnight. all the craft had
reached their several moorings or had
been heard OF az safely anchored In other
places, the fears were set aside. and all
apprehension relieved.
The flagship Of the Rhode Island Yacht
club. schooner Rusalks. owned by COM
modore Rogers. had her bowsprit carried
away while carrying jib and msinsail
north OF Connimicut and came ;impins
10 the anchorage last night
Narragansett Bay Is is notoriously
treacherous "a 10 It's squalls. and when
old boatmen pronounce yesterdays dis
turbance as the worst experience in
many years, and that means that 1t was
bad. indeed.
II was similar In many respects 20 the
sauail that burst over the bay one no.
Saturday afternoon about six years ago.
when many boats were caught unpre-
pared and cast on rocks and beaches,
save that there was more warning on this
ucca sion.