Year: 1873




A volcanic Rraptlon Eight Hours in
Length.


A San Francisco paper says the ship
Debu arrived at this port from Liver
pool Yesterday, after a passage of one


hundred and thirty days. The fol-
lowing narrative of some very re-
markable phenomena which were OBJ
served while the ship was on the
equator, in the Atlantic, is obtained
from the captain: 4
Captain MeKeuzle states that while
the vessel was crossing the equator,


on the 9Th of May, she was seized by


a strong easterly current, which con.
tinued until she reached latitude three


degrees south. In three days the yes


sci was carried two hundred and forty


miles due east. During this time


there were light northwest winds and


calms. Such current is very rare in


that latitude, and Captain Mckenzie


SAYS that he has never before expert


enced it in the whole course of his


sea life. On the 18th of May, about


ten o'clock in the forenoon, and while


the current was still running, q heavy
and confused sea began: to strike the
ship on all sides. The rain was pour
ing in torrents at this time, and con-.
tinued to do so at intervals during the
day. The water from the pumps was
found, on examination, to be very


warm, and q test of the water showed
its temperature to be eighty-four de-
grees. Water ten feet below the sur
face had a temperature of eighty six
degrees. The cap tain at once sur
missed the cause of the phenomena to


be volcanic eruption, and subse-
quent occurrences proved that his sur
misc was correct. The air was at first
very close and sultry, and not breath
of wind was stirring. ItaWas noticed
that the current had suddenly ceased
running. Soon the wind began to
blow in strong gusts all around the
compass.5 and what between the rum
ming sea and tho heavy wind, the
vessel was kept spinning round and
round. The barometer stood very
steady at twenty-liine degrees and
seven minutes. Everybody was on
deck wondering what would come
next, but affairs remained in about the
same condition until six O'Clock. in the
evening, whom a loud, rushing noise
was heard in the air, right over their
heads, instantly followed by heavy
sqall. The noise was not over half
minute in duration, but is described
as being terrific while it lasted. The
captain cannot say from what quarter
the squall came it appeared to him
to strike both sides of the ship at
once. Everything was done in con-
fusion, but the captain hadthe pres
ence of mind to order the sails low
cred, and the ship was soon all snug
under the three lower top-saiis.. The
sqnall did not last long, but settled
into q strong gale from the west and
southwest. In a few minutes the ter
rible noise was heard again, but this
time it did not excite the fright that
it did. The heavens were partially
obseured by light rain-clouds. Pres
emily the confused running of the gale
ceased, and the ship scudded before
the gale. At eleven o'clock in the
evening the gale had snbsided, and all
was quiet. During the heaviest of
the wind and rain large numbers of
small fish were showered upon the
deck. The rushing noise, which. was
the most noticeable feature of the
phenomena, Captain Mckenzie des-
cribes as not at all resembling thun-
der, but seeming rather to be caused
by a commotion under the water.