Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
Bv ROBERT II. ROGERS
MOT the least in
~ teresting of the
seas unwritten chap
forc 1rniohf he related

tiers might be related
in connection with unusual cargoes: Conslgn-
ments such asphalt, vegetable hber sugar,
and wheat have resulted IN strange comPhca-
lions because of their presence in the hold.
The steamer Thornley, left Philadelphia on
November "a, 1890. Her cargo consisted OF
the most deadly material ever carried by a
ship on any sea- it contained three thousand
cases of blasting powder and a lot of dynamite
consigned to the Mexican Central Railroad by
way Of Tampico. On December 2, while among
the long chain of keys at the extreme southern
end of Florida, the steamer struck the dreaded
Elbow reef. Fortunately no explosion toll
lowed: but all hands experienced the greatest
scare of their lives. The story is best recounted
in Captain Legg's own words.
lat about six-thirty in the evening we en-
ceuntered the strange phenomenon known as
bah, apparently about foot in diameter and
Of q bright green color which suddenly ma
tsria1ized on the foremost truck. There was
good order on board until the fire ball began
to move 1t was an unearthly spectacle to
sec It, reversing all laws of nature, 60 rolling
up and down the mast and finally to the end
OF q yardarm. Then CONSERVATION seized the
crew, only to be intensified by the appearance
of three similar balls. one on the end OF the
boWsprit, another at the head of the mainmast,
and a third which fell like lightning stroke
on the main hatch under which was the blast
ing powder. Then there was concerted rush
for the boats. l don't know what would have
happened mad IL not Deen LOT tLC pIcStICc VI
mind displayed by our boatswain. He coolly
approached the globe resting on the hatch and
dealt it a vicious kick. Instantly it exploded,
noiselessly, but with a glare of light which eff
fectually blinded all hands for several minutes.
When we recovered our vision we were sailing
along under starlit skies, with no sign OF any
of the previous manifestations.
A Floating Garden
WHEN the Italian bark Rebecca weighed
w anchor in Western Algeria province she
was loaded with vegetable fiber. After leaving
Gibraltar cold and blustery weather was
encountered followed by northeast gales
which eventually swept the bark into the
torrid regions of the equator. Then the wind
died utterly. and she remained becalmed for
MANY DAYS The intense heat soon brought
about some curious developments. The vege-
table fiber began to sprout Small blades
appeared in the deck
Captain Califano Immediately ordered the
hold to be examined. The contents OF the
fore hatch resembled botanical garden.
Long tendrils of green had entwined themselves
around uprights and stanchions. They had
sought every crevice for an opening toward the
sun, and from the apertures in the deck from
which the calking had melted they soon
assumed a rare vigorous growth. Up
the main and foremasts the verdure Crept in
fantastic wreaths and interlacings, while even
the rigging did not escape the invasion, the
whole contributing spectacle terrifying and
unusual The Captain did not disturb the
unsought ornaments for several days,
count of the shade which they afforded from
the rays of the glazing sun but with the coming
Of the wind it became necessary to cut away