Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1887-04-16 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

YACHT RACING IN A GALE.  A correspondent of the Heir York Herald, who was Cu board the Coronet, in the recent race from America, gives an interesting account of • periloue moment, when it became necensary to heave to in face of • tremendoue gale. He nays: The veering end hauling of the wind and the fluctuations of the barometer left no doubt that we were approaching the centre of • revolving cyclone, so sail was reduced to fore storm trysail and reefed fore staysail. Under these the schooner scudded the waves, which, with. out any ezaggeration, beget: to run no high that one was almost afraid to look astern and see the mountains of water that seemed at every moment as if they would engulph our tiny craft; at times the ocean seemed to open, and the yacht reeled about as if snared in a whirlpool, while the whole surface of the sea looked like an immense snow irift. Under the force of the wind the water would e snapped up from the surface like spoondrifts and , be driven in clouds of smBke over the vessel and crew, cutting like a knife everything it came in contact with. We were moving through the water with each velocity that our little vessel /teemed scarcely to touch the surface, and it was impossible to form an ides how long the gale would continue ; darkness, too, was coming on, and we were being driven up into the region of icebergs and field ice. Having run so long before the wind, to round to in a sea as high an that then running is an evolution that has caused many large ships either to be swamped: or have their sides stove in; but, ae we had the chance either of being driven among the icebergs in the darkness or of heaving to until the blow pub-: [mica, the latter alternative was chosen. Prepare. tons were made. Extra eheete were secured to the fore storm trysail ; the fore staysail was hauled down, •nd the main storm trysail bent, so that it might be ready in case the fore was blown away. Perforated canveas bags filled with oil were also put over both bows and quarters. The captain and mate took their places at the helm, and the boatswain thundered throughout the length of the vessel, " Look out, everybody ; now hang on for your lives I" Hard down went the helm, and ao the trembling boat came up we stood with bated breath awaiting the dreadful moment when she must pass through the trough of the sea. It was an anxious moment, for we did not know whethel it would roll completely over to or If we would ride upon the crest. As she came up she paused a moment in the trough, and then, with the wind well on the weather bow, palmed the crisis, and rode each wave like • seabird, We lay all night drifting about at the mercy of the wind and the waves, everything in the cabin • confused mass, the sea pouring through the skylight, tires and lights not. Ever and anon huge Rel4l buret against our weather how with the force of • battering-rant. At midnight the wind moderated sufficiently for as to eontome  Mrs. Curtin, whose husband Ma shot dead whilst defending his house in Kerry, from an attack of moonlights/re, Ins received £2OO from the Royal B,unty Fund. Colonel Coetlogon, who will be remembered in oonnection with the defence of Khartoum before Gordon's arrival there WO vacated his appointment on the staff of the Egyptian Gendarmerie Force. A woman named Potts, and • man named Banter, who haa practised as a medical man have been committed for trial from the Soutlwark police-court on. charge of murdering a girl named Calling, in attempting to secure abortion.  At a largely attend. I meeting of the Somerset and Gloucestershire agrioultririste, just held at Bristol, to *Dueller the present condition of agri. culture and what steps should be taken to remedy existing affairs, it was unanimously decided to form an aaeociation in the West of England for the preservation of agriculture end the general Wee of great Britain and Ireland.