The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-15
:. ANDREWS CARGO OF YARN
Cut q Whale In Two, and Shot
Waterspout.


Waterspout.
"I'd very we'll dislike to ship on a
vessel named Saint JONAH" said Mac
Spice of the good ship st. Andrew
Phenix Line, which arrived at New
York, recently with merchandise
and yarn-from Antwerp
The first officers opening remarks
were in the nature Of a joke, Mr..
Spice explained. The St. Andrew had
hit a whale on the trip over, he ex-
planned further Still further, 1t hit
whale on trip this way several
months ago, and Mr.. Spice opinions
that whales have a fondness for ships
named after the saints. He told of
other ships thus named that were ev-
erlastingly running down whales
"In twelve hours" said Mr.. Spice,
eve ran into whale and a water
spout-not the whales waterspout.
They say that It never rains but it
pours but prefer my whales without
waterspouts or my waterspouts with
out whales.
"It was just breaking day, and 1
was on the bridge. What was I do
ing? / was scanning the western hor-
lion. The ship shuddered My stom-
ech (Mr Spice isn't thin) was jam
med against the bridge rail The
grunt that came from me greatly
startled the skipper, who had already
been tossed from his bunk.
"A derelict, think, SIR" piped the
lookout. | sent man over the bow
TO examine our injuries. He reported
plates intact, and also brought back
the information that the wreck we
hit must have held a large cargo Of
red paint. We saw the water Grim
son streaked on all sides Of us. We
had not only run down a whale, but
had run through It. Part OF It was
fouled in our propeller"
Mr.. Spice told how they had dis
covered the head and yanked it up on
deck, SO as to present 1t to the Mus
cum OF Natural History.
But now for the waterspout-"
he began, when the heavy hand of
Capt Fitzgerald was laid on his
shoulder.
"The water spout's mine" said tho
skipper. along In that afternoon |
was on the bridge. scanned the
northern horizon saw an enormous
waterspout headed straight for us. We
We're then IN latitude 47.45 north and
longitude $3.50 west. have seen
some waterspouts in my time, but
nothing like this one. 1t was on our
starboard bow and approached us rap
idly. Mr.. Spice and | watched 1t,
and our estimate Is that the spout was
about 1000 feet in circumference at
the base and the Lord only knows how
wide at the top, where the black
clouds and vapors were rolling and
twisting with great velocity and was
accompanied by a humming sound,
which became great roar as 1t
neared the ship. We veered, stood
off and did every bit of clever sea
foot work | know Of, but that pesky
spout seemed bent on rambastlng u.s.
I'VE fired the ships six-pounder
three times at the spout. The third
time was hit and the spout col
lapsad and fell away to nothing For
little time the sea around US was n
queer one. 1t was uncommonly chop
by and every here and there little
geysers sprang up. The black vapors
disappeared, and in a short time the
sea was as smooth as glass while
the sun came out in fine shape"
"The skipper Is at loss to think
just what would have happened had
the third shot from the six-pounder
fell short. 1t was suggested to him
that he might have sent a sailor out
to the tip of the clipper bowsprit
armed with a cutlass, and in this
way have disconnected the spout.
Such things have been told by sail
OTIS. Capt. Fitzgerald however, shook
his head and said that 1t was fortu-
nate that the ship had a six-pounder.
Sometimes such ships carry only salty
razors and fire salutes with the cap
tains boots"