The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-09
ON
GULF IN THE
STORM
Str. John Wilson Sailed From
Mobile Day Before the
Hurricane.
The Mobile Register saws:


Captain Hansen Of the steamer
John Wilson just back from a fruit
trip to Central America, tells of a ter.
rible experience in the gulf. the ship
having sailed from Mobile at noon
the day before the great storm, which
she encountered in full force the next
morning short distance out.
And a terrible experience it was.
the ship being in grave danger of be-
ing driven from her course and
wrecked on the shoals off South Pass.
This tianGer was avoided, but its
avoidance necessitated an equally
grave danger, that of laundering and
going down. and this danger was
not averted by margin large enough
for comfort, however much the pleas
ure of narrating dangers past adds
zest to the life of the sailor whose
soul has been tried by the face of
death and whose spirit has been un,
daunted in that grim prestige.
To the landsmen there is some
thing picturesque and exhilarating in
the thought Of waves being mountain
high" To the danger-loving Norwe-
6AelhS Oh luC JOhu WIlOOuf uOWtNSI-
the exhilaration left no opportunity
to admire the picturesqueness of the
angry ocean. For the waves dashed
over the ship, breaking on her sides
and occasionally sweeping, over her
foredecks in such a way as to flood
the forehold and to necessitate the
placing of every man possible on the
pumps. Up on the bridge the danger
was especially great, and the ship
was navigated only with the great
difficulty that presses the mariner
when the greatest danger Is immi-
nent. One OF the great waves, dash
ing high over the side of the ship.
broke in such wise that its full force
fell upon the bridge, damaging it and
wrecking the pinnacle An idea of
the force of this shock may be had
from the fact that the compass was
carried out of its box. and that when
it was replaced as soon as the storm
was over it required the strength. o.
two storm-tired but still brawny sail
ors even to lift 1t from the floor of
the bridge. y
Captain Hansen has been on the
sea since he was - years old and has
been so accustomed to storms that
he rather loves them in a horseman's
fashion, but this one was of the va,
riety that has not yet learned to ap-
peal to his affection. 1T was the
worst blow | was ever in" said he.
IF the wind had blown steadily in
any one direction, it, would have been
quite bad enough, but the very high
seas were made all the worse and
the difficulty of navigating was made
all the greater by the fact that the
wind was squally and violent and
blew with sharp variations from all
directions. While the general trend
of the wind was easterly, and the
handling of the ship was naturally to
be adjusted to this condition, the vio-
lence Of the terrific gusts of wind
that came apparently at random from
any old direction as you Americans
would say, rendered the handling OF
the ship much more difficult and add
ed proportionately to the danger,
which was great enough at it's least.
with the forehold flooded and the
steering of the ship of course affect
ed to an extent"
Capt. Hansen reports the passing
OF the derelict Jenne hulbert about
thirty miles e. S. e. Of Mobile and
drifting eastward. She is in the path
of steamers and sailing vessels and
some means should be taken to get
her out of the way. She is submerg.
ed and cannot be seen at night.