Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16


perience proved that there was at
sas come ONE fa'eP o to this 6.b be By
the Florida reef down the outer
keys, famous place for waterspouts,
when several appeared in the west.
We bent to the to reach the key, faESgsE@s
having had disagreeable encounters SgSSSRaasS
with these aquatic monsters before MssssSS
Away to the west about three miles, SS
a deep black cloud hung in the air, sSsSkssEE
seemingly supported by stupendous ESSSsssa
column from eight hundred to fifteen N
hundred feet in height. Already it af- MSSs# IAN
fected the atmosphere, for the strong MS I'M
west wind dropped and dead calm N@s NE
ensued. The gulf as far as the eye ES8 Ns
could see, vast shield of steel EsS Ms
without movement, of a Furnished SSsa NI
copper color. The cloud moving ESM
toward us, and presently a wind be- sSs&
came apparent and the great watery sss5sssssas
pillar to take the form of $3.50
bent bow. 1t directly for So
island, which had reached, 80
which surrounded by moat and -
sea wall about eight feet high, six
feet across and half a mile long.
So fascinating the spectacle that
my companion, Indian boatman,
and stood and watched the marvellous Five
transformation scene that going
1t grew rapidly darker and the
big cloud appeared to encompass us. Fitfu1 gusts
of wind from various directions yet looking
up | could that the clouds were moving in
a northeasterly direction
The spout on-a copper-hued tower of
extraordinary bulk. 1t crossed the shallow reef
and l could distinctly the foam in its wake,
while its altitude such that it could not be de-
termined accurately. 1t now entered a lagoon
where the bottom pure-white sand, and ad-
vanced at rate that 1 should compare to that of
a steamer under full head of steam. An eighth
OF mile ahead in its course was Long Key-a strip
of sand about mile long and one hundred eject
wide at that point-and fully expecting that here
we should witness the collapse of the waterspout
We continued to watch it with straining eyes,
On it came, of the most marvellous spectacles
the eye of looked upon. | remember
that the thought flashed through my mind that it
was artificial IN appearance, appearing like g-
gantlC property of a spectacular play. Hauled up
on the beach lay thirty-ton schooner which sew
eral men had been engaged in calking and who,
fortunately, had left her and aiming directly for
this by some uncanny chance the spout came on.
1t struck the island fairly, travelled on through
the sand, and | saw it strike the schooner knock
ing her from the supports which held her, whirling
her about, never breaking or showing any change
crossing the sandy waste quickly that before we
realized 1t, it in rnid-channel.
Its going to hit the key sir cried my boat
man, grasping my arm.
| must have been lost in the sub1imity of the
spectacle for | felt rooted to the spot and stood
and watched the advance. If the waterspout
had struck the massive brick structure of our
island it would go to pieces-there was no u1es-
ton about that-but somehow | thought that
1t would not strike u.s. in any event. l determined
to take the chances and see at short range one
OF the most interesting of Natures phenomena
The spectacle sufficient to demoralize
one, and l was told later that the negroes out of
the spouts range were wild with fear and ran
tor the ample cement and-stone cisterns some
falling on their knees, thinking the Day of Tudg-
1nent had come. Certainly they were justified
Tor more terrifying outlook it has never been