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ZwMinw./W.i«^lf»^

AN ATTEMPT

TO DIYILOP

THE LAW OF STORMS

BY MEANS OF FACTS. ARRANGED ACCORDING TO PLACE AND TIME ;

AND

HENCE TO POINT OUT A CAUSE

FOR

THE VARIABLE WINDS,

WITH THI VIIW TO

PRACTICAL USE IN NAVIGATION.

ILLU8TIATBD BT CHAKT8 AND WOODCUTS.

THIBD EDITION.

o

BY LIBUT.-COLONEL W. piD. C.B, PJl.8.

(Qftke Ropal BngmetnJ)

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN WEALE,

LIBRARY OF CIVIL, MILITARY, AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,

59, HIGH HOLBORN.

1850.

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LONDON: PALMim and Clatton, Printert, 10, Cren* Court

The Second Edition of this Work being out of print, I republish it on account of the value I attach to the Log Books of Ships, and Narratives of Seamen, which formed the basis for "The Law of Storms."

W. R.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

P«ge

An Introductory Chapter. — How this Inquiry originated. — Franklin's North-east Storms. — Capper's Whirl- winds.— Redfield*8 Progressive Gyratory Storms. — Rise and Fall of the Barometer 1

CHAPTER II.

Storms traced by Redfield. — Storm of September, 1821.

— Storm of August, 1830 10

CHAPTER III. The Barbados Hurricane of 1831 24

CHAPTER IV.

Barbados Hurricane, September 3, 1835. — Another at Antigua, August 12th, 1835. — Hurricanes not caused by the Islands. — Ground Swells explained. — ^A Rota- tory Gale 35

CHAPTER V.

On the Hurricanes of 1837. — Five Storms traced in close succession. — How these point out a Cause for the Variable Winds 47

CHAPTER VI.

On Storms in the Southern Hemisphere. — They revolve in the contrary manner to North Latitude. — Ships

Vi CONTENTS.

Tafe

may overtake Storms. — That there are Hurricanes in the P&cific Ocean. — Mauritius Hurricanes of 1818, 1819, 1824, 1834, and 1836.— Two Storms, which were very disastrous to East India Fleets under Convoy of the Albion and Culloden, in 1808 and 1809. — Mauritius Gales of 1811. — The Blenheim's Storm, &c. — Barometrical Records . .144

CHAPTER VII.

On Typhoons in the China Sea, and on the Hurricanes of India.— Extraordinary Change of the Barometer at Cpaton and Macao. — Capper's Whirlwinds. — Pondi- cherry Hurricane of 1 760-1. — ^The Bay of Bengal Hurricanes. — Remarkable Fall of the Barometer . 271

CHAPTER VIII.

The Hurricanes of 1780. — ^That which destroyed Savanna- la-Mar, 3rd of October. — The Great Barbados Hurri- cane, 10th of October. — Solano*s Storm, and of the Winds called Norths 289

CHAPTER IX.

On Storms in High Latitudes. — The Cause of the Baro- meter falling, with a Southerly Wind in the Northern Hemisphere, and with a Northerly Wind in the Southern Hemisphere, explained. — Easterly Storms in Ireland and Westerly of the Coasts of Portugal, in the middle of February, 1838. — ^The way in which Storms appear to pass over the British Islands. — Thr Lighthouse and Coast-guard Reports. — Logs, &c., from the Lisbon Squadron. — Mediterranean Storms. —The Storms of 1838.— Effect of Storms on Chain Bridget. — The Bermuda Hurricane of 1839 403

CONTENTS. Vll

Page

CHAPTER X.

On Measuring the Wind's Force. — Captain Beaufort's Table for denoting the Force of the Wind and the State of the Weather 453

CHAPTER XI.

On Waterspouts and the Smaller Whirlwinds. — Moving

Columns of Sand. — On the Fall of Fish on Land 461

CHAPTER XII.

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

Tornadoes on the West Coast of Africa 5 Pamperos 3 the Barometer ; the Rollers at St. Helena and Ascension 5 the Ripplings in the Straits of Malacca. — Rule for laying Ships to in Hurricanes .... 490

APPENDIX.

Popular Explanation of the Barometer and Sjrmpiesometer 519 General Index 523

1

HAP.

pper.

t

\

,., . -- J*

• ■ ■ *

ON

HURRICANES AND STORMS.

CHAPTER I.

AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

My attention was first directed to the subject of chap. storms from having been employed at Barbados in ' re-establishing the government buildings blown down in the hurricane of 1831 ; when from the violence of the wind 1477 persons lost their lives in the short space of seven hours. I was induced to search every where for accounts of previous storms, in the hope of learning something of their causes and mode of action. West Indian histories, however, contain little beyond a record of the losses in lives and property, and the sufferings of the inhabitants, during the period of these tempests.

The first paper I met with, which appeared to con- vey any just opinion on the nature of hurricanes, was one published in the * American Journal of Science,' by Mr. W. C. Redfield of New York.

The late Colonel James Capper of the East India Cepper. Company's Service, who published a work of the winds and monsoons in 1801, mentions some of the hurricanes which happened on the Coromandel Coast of India ; but he merely reprints very brief statements

B

2 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

CHAP, of their fatal eflfects from *Orme's History of Hin-

'. — dostan.' The following passage is to be found in

Colonel Capper's work :

** It would not, perhaps, be a matter of great diffi- culty to ascertain the situation of a ship in a whirl- wind, by observing the strength and changes of the wind. If the changes are sudden, and the wind violent, in all probability the ship must be near the centre of the vortex of the whirlwind ; whereas if the wind blows a great length of time from the same point, and the changes are gradual, it may be reason- ably supposed the ship is near the extremity of it."

Redfieid. Mr. Redfield, living amidst the records of storms and shipwrecks, had actually done what Colonel Capper was satisfied with merely suggesting, and had come to the same conclusion, without being at all aware of what Colonel Capper had written ; and he has also shown that they are progressive.

In one of the numbers of the * American Journal of Science * above alluded to, in 1 83 1 , I found collected together many records of the same storms; and a chart on a very small scale, showing the progress of one of the storms.

Strongly impressed with the belief that Mr. Red- field's views were correct, I determined to verify them by making charts on a large scale, and on these laying down the different reports of the wind at points given in the * American Journal of Science.' The more exactly this was done, the nearer appeared to be the approximation to the tracks of a progressive whirlwind.

SeeChartB Thesc are Charts I. and II. prefixed to this volume.

Since my object is not to propose a particular theory, but to endeavour to direct attention to the curious facts

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 3

I have collected and arranged (with some degree of c h a p.

labour), I shall do little more than print these as they

are arranged, and set them before the public.

The facts are in themselves however full of interest ; for the records best suited for the purpose are detailed accounts of the greatest storms, and the dangers to which seamen are exposed.

The barometer, as a measure for the atmospheric pressure, will appear more valuable than ever ; and we have a new^ and apparently the true, explanation of the cause of its fall in great storms.

A popular description of the barometer will be found at the end of the volume.

We have at length a clue towards an explanation of Variable

^ I winds,

the VARIABLE WINDS.

The quantity of electricity exhibited during tropical hurricanes is very great ; and this part of the subject deserves great attention.

Many of the storms we call gales, certainly partake of the same nature as tropical hurricanes, and are rota- tory ; and so many of their courses pass over the same track, that the fact is remarkable. They seem to be carried towards the poles in some of the general re- turning atmospheric currents from the equator; and by tracing storms, it seems probable tjiat we may learn something more than we at present know of these upper currents.

Franklin was aware, that what he called north-east Franklin, storms came from the south-west; and the geographical position in which he was placed, probably contributed not a little to lead his inquiring mind to meteorological studies : for it will be seen by the annexed charts, that a great portion of the tropical storms which pass over

B 2

4 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

0 H A P. or near to the West Indies, change their direction, ! about the twenty-fifth degree of latitude, on approach- ing the coast of the American continent, and that they sweep along its eastern coast. Franklin died before he made the next step.

At New York the labouring people remark, that if the haze indicating a storm be first seen over Staten Island (or south-eastward), the wind will come from the north-east ; but if the haze be seen first over the Jersey shore of the Hudson river (or westward), then the wind will come on from the south-east. It is also said to be a seaman's phrase, that a north-wester will never remain long in debt to a south-easter. The cor- rectness of these observations, and the reasons for them, will be understood as we proceed*

In reading the observations, it wiU tend to make them more easily understood if figures like the fol- lowing be constructed on paper and then cut out, so that they may be made to represent progressive whirlwinds.

The fleurs-de-lis in both figures point to the north. The first figure is intended to represent a whirlwind turning firom right to left (supposing yourself in its centre), or in the contrary way to the hands of a watch. The^ letters in the diagram denote the points from whence the wind in the whirlwind blows.

In such a whirlwind as that represented by the upper- most circle, the wind on the northernmost portion of the circumference must be east ; on the southernmost portion it must be west ; on the westernmost portion it must be north ; and on the easternmost portion it must be south — and it is necessary that this should be perfectly understood before proceeding further.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER,

Such a whirlwind storm coming from the south, c B A p.

with its centre passing along the New Jersey side of '.

the Hudson River, would place the city of New York Proper North, WM East.

Proper South, Wad West.

Proper North, Wind West.

Proper South, Wind East.

6

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

CHAP. ]Q the right hand semicircle, and the wind there would

'- — commence at the southward of east ; but if the centre

of the storm were upon the sea and to the eastward of New York, as usually happens, then the inhabitants of that place would have a storm commencing at north- east : and such were Franklin's north-east storms.

A glance at the plates will show, that in the latitude of New York, these gales come usually from the west- ward of south. If they begin at south-east they must end about north-west, which will be understood by a little careful examination of the moveable figure ; and hence " the north-wester seldom remains long in debt to the south-easter.** In the West Indies they come from the eastward, and proceed to the westward inclining northerly: and it is constantly remarked, that the severest hurricanes leave off blowing at the opposite point to which they commence.

The following figure shows that this will occur if they are progressive whirlwinds.

tNTRODUCTORT CHAPTER. 7

Id the last fig^K* such a whirlwind coming from chap. the eastward, is supposed to pass over an island in the — 1 — middle of its course. The wind would at the com- mencement be nearly north ; and it would be at the end nearly south. The direction of the wind is shown by the arrowed heads.

Proper North, Wind Bast.

Proper South, Wind West.

Lines drawn across concentric circles best explain the mode of veering of the wind in these storms; and (for those who may not recollect all the points) a figure of the mariner's compass will be found at the end of this chapter.

Thus in the preceding figure, a pTogressive whirl- wind, turning in the opposite way to the hands of a watch, is supposed to pass over four ships. The wind will veer but little whilst the storm is passing over the ship most to the eastward. With this ship it will commence at east by south, and leave off at about south by east.

8 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

CHAP. The next ship will be further within the centre of

'- — the whirlwind ; with it the gale would commence at

east by north, veering by the east to the south, and ending at south by west.

The fourth, or westernmost ship, would receive the wind first from the north-east by north, veering at first gradually to north ; then more rapidly to north- west, and by degrees it will become west, and the storm will finish with the wind blowing somewhat from the south of west. The tempest will be furious whilst the wind is veering fastest ; for the ship will then be near the centre of the storm : yet in the very centre there is a calm.

The ship in the figure over which the centre passes, will have the wind change but once. This ship will receive the wind at first from the north-east. If the vessel could be supposed to remain stationary and not to drift, the wind would blow over it in the same direc- tion until the centre of the hurricane reached her. She would then have a calm ; and after an interval of calm, she would have the wind as violent as before, but from the south-west ; and there would be no other change of wind until the storm ended.

The gradual fall of the barometric column during the first part of these storms, and its gradual rise during the second part, will be found to be singularly regular; and the nearer a ship is to the centre the greater will be the fall.

The smaller whirlwinds and waterspouts appear to be phenomena of another kind from the great storm.

No part of the subject is more curious than the squalls and gusts ; and their descriptions merit atten- tive consideration.

INTHODUCTOHY CHAPTER.

But by far the most interesting part of the subject chap. is, that we have at length a clue towards an explana- ' tion of the variable winds.

THE MARINER'S COHPABS.

m^

7^ dir^elion qftJu umd at reporUd iy ihipt, I vndartland to nuon U« magmtie dirtetiOH. Tht daieM on ftotn both rn civil and in nautieal Urn*. It iMmU gnatly faeHUatt mteh tnqiaritt at UUfmmt \feM log bookt vera litpl at «imitimt.

10

CHAPTER 11.

STORMS TRACED BY REDFIELD.

CHAP. Charts I. and II. are those which were constructed

II [ from the data published in the * American Journal of

Science ;' these data are here annexed: for it is only by collecting together a number of facts relative to the same storm, and by arranging these facts, that we can hope to arrive at any knowledge of the mode of action of Nature in great storms. The reader is therefore invited to follow the reports step by step, comparing them with the projections on the plans, and correcting the projections where they may be faulty. Charts By taking a general vie^, however, of Charts I.

and II., before examining them in detail, it will be observed, that the arrows which indicate the direction of the wind, come from the southward on the right- hand side of the storm ; and from the north ward on the left-hand side.

Towards the centre of their courses, the arrows appear to fly both east and west ; but on examining the reports in detail, it will be found, that as the storms came from the south and were proceeding to the north, the wind at the commencement of the gales was easterly, and at the end of them westerly.

Violent as these storms were, their rate of progress, on examining the dates, will be found to be no more

redfibld's storms. V 11

than the rate of the ordinary atmospheric currents, c h a^p. and are stated to be at from 7 to 16 miles an hour. !

One of the most remarkable facts recorded of the Hurricane

of 1821.

hurricane of 1821 is, that in the states of Massachusetts Trees and Connecticut, the trees were blown down on the opposite eastern portion of those states with their heads to the nortli-west ; whilst those on the western portion were prostrated with their heads to the south-east.

The progress of the ship Illinois on Chart II., and a Hurricane letter from the master, deserve particular attention. ^It Ship will be seen, that on the 15th of August, 1830, the swell caused by this storm, then to the southward of the ship, reached the vessel ; but as the Illinois had a fair wind and was assisted by the Gulf-stream, whilst the storm made a detour towards Charleston and the coast of Georgia, the ship, for a day, outran the swell: on the 17th, however, the storm overtook her, blowing furiously from the south ; whilst, at the same moment, it was unroofing houses at New York from the north-east.

In following the course of this storm, it will be Change of

, , direction.

found in what a remarkable manner it suddenly changed its course on meeting the continent of America near Charleston. This will afterwards be found to be the case with most of the others which pass over the Bahama Islands, though not of all. It will be seen that they change their direction about the twenty*fifth degree of latitude.

The Blanche, British frigate, commanded by Com- H. m. s. modore Farquhar, having been in the hurricane of isso. 1830, 1 procured her log from the Admiralty; and I have laid down her track from the time she was off Cuba until her arrival at Halifax. The first part of

REDFIELDS STORMS.

. the I(^ is printed in this chapter; the latter part will

. be printed in its proper place further on.

A diagram is given to explain the manner in which this storm most probably passed over the Blanche. This direction is marked by a line cutting the concen- tric circles in the figure ; and the veering of the wind, as given in the Ic^, may be read o£r along this line, from the time when it b^;an at N.E., until it became S.W.

But a ship in her situation must have been affected, and carried on by the current of the Gulf-stream ; and when the frigate made sail, she no doubt kept up with, and kept within the influence of what seamen call the tail of the hurricane. The storm at this period going towards the north-west, the Blanche was left in the eastern half-circle, and therefore had for a time a southerly and fair wind for Halifax.

redfield's storms. 13

The place of the ship Britannia is also marked on chap. Chart II. This vessel left New York on the evening - — ■ — of the 16th, with fine weather. On the night of the Bntannim,

1830

17th she met the huiricane, having the wind first at N.E., then E.N.E., and after midnight she had the wind from S.E. Her course being towards England, she probably crossed the centre of the whirlwind storm's track.

Data on which Chart I. is constructed.

" The earliest supposed trace of this hurricane which has lAn Hurricane obtained^ is from off Turk*s Island in the West Indies, where it - appeared on the 1st of September, 1821^ two days previous to its reaching our coast. It was felt there severely^ but at what hour in the day we are not informed.

"The next account we have is from lat. 23° 43', where the storm was severe on the 1st September, from south-east to south-west. Whether these two accounts are considered as identifying the storm, or otherwise, will not at this time be deemed material.

" Our next report is from lat. 82° 30', long. 77° from Green* which, on the night of the 2nd of September, a hurricane for three hours.

" At 3 A.M. on the 3rd of September, a severe gale was expe- rienced 30 miles outside of the American coast, off Wilmington, N. Carolina.

€<

At Wilmington there was no gale. ^ //■ /^

" At Ocracock Bar, N. C, at daylight on the morning of the 3rd, a severe gale from £. S. E.

"At Edenton, N.C. the gale was at N.E.

" Off Roanoke, on the morning of the 3rd September, a dread* ful gale at E. : then S.W. and N.W.

" A vessel from Charleston, S. Carolina, two days previous to arriving in the Chesapeake, experienced the gale at 4 a.m. on the 3rd, from S. E. to W. S.W.

" A vessel from Bermuda experienced the gale from the west- ward, on the inner edge of the Gulf-stream.

Another vessel from Charleston did not experience the gale. In lat. 37° 30^, on the inner edge of the Gulf-stream, gale from the westward with squalls.

/,r.

14 redfield's storms.

CHAP. "On James' River, Virginia, the gale was severe from the _^' N.W.

Hurricane ""^^ Norfolk, Virginia, the gale raged on the 3rd for five of 1821. hours, from N.N.E. to N.N.W., and terminated at the latter point : greatest violence at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"At sea, forty miles north of Cape Henry, severe at S.E. changing to N.W.

" Off Chincoteagne, coast of Maryland, gale from the S. E. on the 3rd.

" At Snowhill, Maryland, gale commenced at 1 1 a.m.

" In lat. 38° 30', long. 74° 30', gale S. by E.

" A ship from Boston, bound to Norfolk, experienced nothing oi^he gale. On the 3rd was in lat. 40° 19^ weather foggy, and light winds from S.E.

"At Morris River, Jersey, the gale was E.S.E.

" No hurricane was felt at Baltimore.

" At Cape Henlopen, Delaware, the hurricane commenced at half-past eleven a.m. from E.S.E.*; shifted in twenty minutes to E.N.E., and blew very heavy for nearly an hour. A calm of half an hour succeeded, and the wind then shifted to the W.N.W., and blew, if possible, with still greater violence.

"At Cape May, New Jersey, commenced at N.E. at 2 p.m. and veered to S.E. and blew with violence ; after abating fifteen minutes, it again blew with increased violence for two hours, and then abated. The sun set clear with pleasant weather ; at which time not a cloud was to be seen in the western horizon.

"At Bombay Hook, near the mouth of the Delaware River, the gale blew from the N.N.E. and W. N.W.

" At sea, forty miles N.E. of Cape May, the gale was at S.E., and lasted eight hours.

"At Philadelphia, the storm commenced at 1 p.m. on the 3rd from the N.E., and raged with great violence from N.E. to N.W. during the greater part of the afternoon.

"At Trenton, New Jersey, the gale commenced at 3 p.m. with the wind at N.E.

" In lat. 39° 20', long. 73^ 30', the gale blew from the E.S.E. and S.S.E., and lasted eight hours.

"At New York, the gale was from N.E. and E., and com- menced blowing with violence at 5 p.m. ; continued w^ith great fury for three hours, and then changed to the W. More damage was sustained in two hours than was ever before witnessed in the city -, the wind increasing in the afternoon. Tke wharvet were

R£DFIELD*S STORMS. 15

mferfiawed, rising thirteen feet in one hour. Previous to the gale CHAP, the wind was from S. to S.E., but changed to N.E. at thie com- H. mencement of the storm, and blew with great fury until the even- hurricane ing, and then shifted to the westward. of 1821.

" At the Quarantine, Staten Island, the wind was reported at E.S.E. 'y other accounts fix it at E.

''At Bridport, Connecticut, the gale commenced violent at S.E. at 6 P.M., and continued until 9 p.m., then shifted to N.W., and blew until nearly 11 p.m.

" At New London, the gale was from 7 p.m. until midnight.

" At Middleton, Connecticut, violent from S.E. for five hours.

''At Springfield, Massachusetts, violent from 9 to 12 p.m.^ then changed to the westward.

At Northampton, at S.E. on the same evening. At Worcester, Massachusetts, in the night between the 3rd and 4th September.

"At Boston, the gale commenced at 10 p.m., but was not severe. At the time the storm was raging with its greatest fury at New York, the inhabitants of Boston were witnessing the ^ ascent of a balloon, and the aeronaut met with little or no wind. — ^"^•'vu^. > 'j,

" The general course of this storm, northward" of Cape Hatteras, appears to have been S. S. W. and N. N.T^ 3 and of its further progress we are uninformed." — 'American Journal of Science, vol. xx. p. 24.

€<

Data on which Chart II. is constructed.

'*This storm, or hurricane, was severe at the Island of Hurricane St. Thomas, on the night between the 12th and 13th of August, 1830.

" On the afternoon of August 14, and the succeeding night, it continued its course along the Bahama Islands, the wind veering almost round the compass during the existence of the storm.

" On the 1 5th of August the storm prevailed in the Florida channel, and was very disastrous in its efiects.

'* In lat. 26° 51', long. 79° 40', in the Florida stream, the gale was severe on the 1 5th, from north-north-east to south-west.

"Late on the 16th, off St. Augustine (Florida), in lat. 29° 58', long. 80° 20', the gale was very severe.

" At St. Andrew's, twenty miles north of St. Mary's (Georgia), from 8 o'clock p m. on the 15th, to 2 a.m. on the 16th, the storm

18

REDFIELDS STORMS.

CHAP.

n.

Hurricane of 1830.

" Rate of progress from Providence to St. John's, Florida, sixteen miles per hour.

" From St. John's to Cape Hatteras, North CaroHha, sixteen and a half miles an hour.

*' From Cape Hatteras to Nantucket, on the south-eastern coast of Massachusetts, eighteen miles per hour.

" From Nantucket to Sable Island, off the south-eastern coast of Nova Scotia, twenty miles per hour."

Master of Illinois' letter. See Chart II.

Heavy ap- pearance in South.

Wind backed*

Prepared for bad weaihcr.

Extract of a letter from the Master of the ship Illinois.

" I sailed from New Orleans on the 3rd of August, bound to Liverpool.

" Nothing worth notice occurred until the 1 5th of August, in lat. 33° N., long. 77® W., when there was a very heavy swell from the south, more than I had ever experienced before in this part, unless preceded by heavy gales. We had no indication of wind at this time, but there was a dull and heavy appearance in the south. During the day the wind was light and at south-east, at night it shifted to south-south-west.

" On the l6th it was a fresh wholesome breeze 5 so that with the help of the Gulf-stream we ran at a great rate, steering north- east, and at noon we were in lat. 36°, long. 73°.

" The 17th the wind continued steady at south-south-west, blowing a strong wholesome breeze, but the appearance to the south continuing dull and heavy ; the sea was smooth again, and we seemed to have outrun the southerly swell. At noon, lat. 37^ 58', long. 69° 23', we were still continuing to fun about the course of the Gulf- stream. The temperature of the water was 86°. On the first part of the 18th (afternoon of the 17th current time*) the wind backed to south, and began tofreBhen in very fast ; some heavy clouds arising in the south-west with flashes of lightning in that quarter. At 8 p.m. the wind had increased to a strong gale : the weather at this time had an unusual appearance, but still it did not look bad.

''At 10 the wind had increased, and we took in our sails, and prepared for the worst.

"At 11 o'clock the sea ran high and cross, which induced me to heave the ship to, under a close- reefed topsail.

" At half-past 12, midnight, all was darkness -, the heavy

• Civil time.

REDFIELDS STORMS.

19

clouds which had been rising in the south-west had overtaken CHAP.

us

the rain fell in torrents, and the lightning was uncommonly vivid ; the wind had, in the space of an hour, increased from a moderate gale to a perfect hurricane.

" At half-past 1 a.m. it began to veer to the westward.

" At 3 A.M. it was west, and rather increased in violence as it shifted.

" At daylight the sky was clear, but the gale, if anything, rather increased in its fiiry; the sea was tremendous, and ran in every direction.

" At 7 the wind had got to the north-west, and at 9 it began to abate a little.

" I have only to add, that from an experience of twenty or thirty years, during which time I have been constantly navi- gating the Atlantic, my mind is fiilly made up that heavy winds or hurricanes run in the direction of whirlwinds.

" Believe me, &c., (Signed) " ROBERT WATERMAN."

II.

Hurricane of 1830.

The Blanche's place at noon on the 12th will be found on Chart II. At midnight the weather is stated in her log-book as being " calm and cloudy."

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Blanche^ Commodore Farquhar, Blanche's kept hy Mr. Middlemist, Master R.N.— /n Civil Time, ^*

Hour.

CouracB.

NNW NNW JW

NWbyN

Head from £ toStoSEbyE

from E to N E

Winda.

NEast>y

NortWT

NWesfy

Remarks, &c., H. M. S. Blanche, August 15, 1830.

A.M. Fresh breezes and squally; tried for soundings half- hourly. 3.30. Down fore-topmast-staysail and set fore staysail ; close- reefed mizen-topsail. 4. Ditto weather. 4.30. Close-reefed fore-topsail, and reefed foresail and set it. 6.30. Wore, dose-reefed main-topsail ; furled fore and mizen topsails; down top-gallant- yards and masts; in flying jib-boom; reefed and furled mainsail. 8. Strong gales, with yiolent squalls ; ship pitching and working heavily. 9. A hurricane; getting in jib-boom, ship made a hesyy plunge ; lost the boom, spritsail yard, and jib, and three seamen, who were unfortu- nately drowned ; cut away life-buoy, but to no effect ; both bumkins went in about

c2

See Chart n.

for ship

hove- to, and

wind yeerlng.

20

REDFIELDS STORMS.

CHAP. II.

Blanche'! Log.

Hurricane paaaing uTcr snip.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Blanche — continued.

More moderate.

Storm moTiog northward and leay- ing ship.

Hour.

12

Courses.

Head to N £

Winds.

N West^y

Remarks, &c. H.M.S. Blanche, August 15, 1830.

the same time. 9*60. Both fore-topmast- stays went. 10. Fore- topmast carried away close to the cap, and fell with top- sail-yard on fore-yard, springing it in the starboard quarter ; main-topmast stay car- ried away ; got a hawser up and secured the masts ; fore and main courser split and blew away ; starboard cutter filled, cut her adrift, lost her gear ; split fore- staysail ; down ditto and trysail; Tiolent hurri- cane and heary sea ; scuttled lower deck, and worked chain pumps. 11. Washed away starboard hi. nettings. 11.30. Wind shifted to N W, and blew more yiolentl j ; bowsprit shroud carried away.

Course.

N£

Latitude.

2r 16' N

Longitude.

79<» 36' W

Bearings and Distance.

MatinUla Reef, N £ J E 30 miles.

R.\V.

78^

P.M.

upW oflfWNW

from N £ by NtoNW

1

2

9

10

12

from W by N toNWbyW

S West»y

WbyN

WNW

Nby W

North

NbyE

North

Sby£

August 16, 1830.

A. M. Strong gales and squally.

12.30. Set main-staysail.

Strong breezes and squally, rolling hea-

■Tily ; employed clearing the wreck and

securing the masts ; found that the main

rigging had, during the hurricane, drawn

considerably through the seizings,

8. Strong gales and squally weather; employed turning main rigging in afresh.

Fresh gales and squally. Lat. 30^ 12* N, long. 79^ 22' W.

p. M. Ship laying oyer so much as to bury the starboard quarter-gallery, that in risins it was completely stoTe, at well ss the dead- lights lost, with fore-topnail, top- gallant, and royal staysail.

2. More moderate ; set main-staysail.

3. Split ditto ; bent a new one.

4. Ditto weather; set main-staTsail ; jolly-boat filled, carried away laitKMird tackle ; cut her adrift, lost her gear.

6. Lashed the wreck of fore-topsail and topsail-yard to the ship; swifted main rigging ; found bowsprit, mainmast* and fore- yard badly sprung.

8. Strong gales ana squally ; tried re- peatedly to put the ship before the wind. I/T^

Midnight. Strong gales and squally ' ^' weather.

/' /«-.

w^-»

REDFIELDS STORMS.

21

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Blanche — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 4

A.M. 1

10

11

12

P.M. 1

A.M.

1

4 6

Courses.

K|£

ENE

ENE EbyN

NE EbyN

EbyN EiN

EJN

Winds.

8W

Sby W

sw

sw

WNW

SW

Remarks, &c. H. M. S. Blanche, August 16, 1830.

Bermuda, E pt. N 80 E, 772 miles.

P.M. Fresh breezes and squally weather.

12.30. Sent the fore-yard down.

3.30. Wore; unbent mainsail and main- topsail.

4.40. Set mizen-topsail.

6. Strong gales and squally weather; set main-trysail.

8. Strong gales, with a heavy sea.

12. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain.

August 17, 1830.

A.M. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain.

Fresh breezes with a heavy swell.

Observed a ship running before the wind ; bent spritsul to main-topsailgyard as jury main- topsail ; showed our corours.

Altered course to speakNew York Packet of London) from Jamaica bound to Lon- on ; set trysails, and resumed our course.

Noon. Presh breezes and cloudy weather.

Lat. 31° 42' N, long. 76° 69^ W.

Bermuda, N 87° E, 596 miles.

^

P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.

2.30. Bent mainsail ; reefed mtto.

4. Ditto weather ; set mainsail.

4.30. Got main- top-gallant-mast up for fore- topmast ; down main-trysail, and set spanker.

7. Set main-staysail; crossed main- top- gallant-yard.

9.40. Up spanker.

11.30. Up mainsail.

Fresh breezes and cloudy.

August 18, 1830.

A.M. Fresh breezes and rainy.

3. Up foreyard and jury-topsail, and in main-trysail.

4. Liffht aira and cloudy, with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.

5.30. Trimmed; set courses; observed a ship and barque on weather-beam.

Squared yards ; got stump of jib-boom in, and pointed flying jib-boom.

9.30. Up mainsail, and set main- trysail.

11.30. Set spanker.

Moderate, with rain.

Lat. (No observation.) Long. 74° 6'.

Bermuda, N 87° E, 477 mUes.

CHAP. IL

Blanche's Log.

*♦*•

i

z**^ *«.«.

/V'>*

*v

/

Storm had now reached Boston.

22

REDFIELDS STORMS.

CHAP.

n.

Blanche'! Log,

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Blanche— con/tfiv^if.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks, &c., H. M. S. Blanche. August 18, 1830.
P.M.		1
1	BIN	wsw	P.M. Light aira and cloudy.
2		West	3.30. Got flying jib-boom out, as a jib-
4		N byW Calm	boom crossed ; main-royal- yards as a jury
6 9	N E* *	fore-gallant-Yard. Set the sail.
10	ENE		Ditto weather.
12/ A M.			Up mainsail. 7.30. Trimmed.
NE	Calm	12. Light airs and cloudy : trimmed ;
		set mainsail.
August 19, 1830.
1	SE	ENE	A.M. Light aira and eUmdy, 12.10.
2	SSE		Trimmed ; wore ship. 4. Light airs and cloudy. 4.30. Trim-
4	NE	Variable	med, and set spanker.
6	XVF.		7.40. Up mainsail and in jury- topsail.
1^ i.^ JCi		8.50. Spoke ship Ruth (of London)
7 •	NNE4E		from Jamaica.
8	NEbyN		11.30. Up mainsail; unbent jury-top- sail, &c.
10	NNEJE	East	12. Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
11	NNE		Lat. (No observation.) Long. 73® 34' W.
	Wreck Hill, N 88« SO' E, 445 mUes.
P.M. 1	NNE	East	Moderate with rain ; discoTered a leak
3	NNEJE		in alter bread-room. 4. Moderate and cloudy ; found main- topsail-yard sprung in larboard quarter.
6	North	Variable
7	NbyW		Moderate and cloudy. Ditto weather.
8	SEbyE		12. Moderate and cloudy.
9	ESE
10	EbyS	NE
11 A.M.	ESE
August 20, 1830.
1	ESE	NE	A .M. Moderate and cloudy weather.
	T3 t.	*	4. Ditto weather. 4.30. Out fourth
0 3	East		reef of main-topsail and second reef of mizen-topsail. 7.30. Unbent main- topsail to fish the
SEbyE
5	East		yard.
7	EJE	Variable	Noon. Light breezes and fine weather. Lat 32« 52' N, long. 72» 43' W.
10		NbyE
P.M.
1	EbyS	N by E ' P.M. Moderate and fine weather.
5	EJS	NNE
10	Eby S		Midnight. Ditto weather.

REDFIELDS STORMS.

23

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Blanche — concluded. CHAP.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks, &c., H. M. S. Blanche, August 21, 1830.
A.M. 1	EbyS		A.M. Moderate and fine weather.
2	EJS
8	EJS	NNE
9	BiS
10	EbyS|S
12	S £ by E i E		Noon. Moderate and fine weather.
P.M. 1		NE	Lat. 32** 25' N., long. 70» 39' W.
2	£S£
3	S E by E } E
5	SEbyE
6	SB	ENE
7	SEbyE
11	SE by E i E		Midnight. Fresh breezes and fine.

Blanche's Log.

The remainder of the Blanche's log, as far as the time of her arrival at Halifax, will be found in Chapter V.

This ship had fine weather until the evening of the 22nd, when another storm overtook her. Her place on the 22nd will be found on Chart II. The dotted circle marked on that chart is intended to represent the storm's place on the 25th.

These two storms closely following each other, and causing changes of wind, will be further illustrated in Chapter V.> which treats of the Variable Winds.

24

canei.

CHAPTER III.

THE BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831.

CHAP. Whilst employed for two years and a half in the

'- — islands of Barbados and St. Vincent, amongst the

S^^rate ^lins caused by the hurricane of 1831, 1 had the best of hum- opportunity of ascertaining that the progressive rate of the storms is not greater than that of the ordinary atmospheric currents; and that hurricanes certainly appear to owe their destructive power to their rotatory velocity.

The distance between Barbados and St. Vincent is nearly 80 miles. This storm began at Barbados a little before midnight on the 10th of August, 1831 ; but it did not reach St. Vincent until seven o'clock next morning : its rate of progress, therefore, was about 10 miles an hour.

A gentleman of the name of Simons, who had resided for forty years in St. Vincent, had ridden out at day- light, and was about a mile from his house, when he observed a cloud to the north of him, so threatening in appearance, that he had never seen any so alarming during his long residence in the tropics : he described it as appearing of an olive-green colour. In expecta- tion of terrific weather, he hastened home to nail up his doors and windows ; and to this precaution attributed the safety of his house, which is situated on the Upper Adelphi estate, on the east side of St. Vincent, and opposite the centre of the island. Mr. Simons described

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831.

25

the effects of the storm to me, on the spot from whence c fi a p. he first saw the cloud, in the north. ! —

The centre of this hurricane, coming from the east- ward, seems to have passed a little to the north of Barbados and St. Vincent; and Mr. Redfield has traced its course to the southern United States of America, as may be seen on Chart III.

The annexed figure will assist in explaiaiDg this, and make the account of it, here reprinted, more intelligible.

The easternmost circles are intended to represent the whirlwind hurricane as it set in at Barbados, and

26

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831.

CHAP, the westernmost circles are meant to represent the ! — same whirlwind storm when its centre was over the

southern part of the island of St. Lucia and the wind

blowing from the south at Barbados.

The following account of the Barbados hurricane of

1831 is taken from that published at Bridgetown in

that island immediately after it occurred.

Mornins before tne Btonn.

Noon.

4 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

9 p.m.

10 p.m.

wind

NNE.

" On the 10th of August, 1831, the sun rose without a doad, and shone resplendently. At 10 a.m. a gentle breeze which had been blowing died away. After a temporary calm, hig^h winds sprang up from the east-north-east, which in their turn subsided. For the most part calms prevailed, interrupted by occasional sudden pufis from between the north and north-east.

" At noon the heat increased to 87°, and at 2 p.m. to 88°, at which time the weather was imcommonly sultry and oppressive.

" At 4 the thermometer sank again to 86°. At 5 the clouds seemed gathering densely from the north, the wind commencing^ to blow freshly from that point : then a shower of rain fell, fol- lowed by a sudden stillness ; but there was a dismal blackness all round. Towards the zenith there was an obscure circle of imperfect light, subtending about 35 or 40 degrees.

" From 6 to 7 the weather was fair, and wind moderate, with occasional slight puffs from the north ; the lower and principal stratum of clouds passing fleetly towards the south, the higher strata a scud, rapidly flying t^ various points.

" At 7 the sky was clear and the air calm : tranquillity reigned until a little after 9, when the wind again blew from the north.

" At half-past 9 it freshened, and moderate showers of rain fell at intervals for the next hour.

" Distant lightning was observed at half- past 1 0 in the north- north-east and north-west. Squalls of wind and rain from the north-north-east, with intermediate calms succeeding each other until midnight. The thermometer meantime varied with re- markable activity : during the calms it rose as high as 86°, and at other times it fluctuated from 83° to 85°. It is necessary to be thus explanatory, for the time the storm commenced and the manner of its approach varied considerably in different situa- tions. Some houses were actually levelled to the earth, when the residents of others, scarcely a mile apart, were not sensible that the weather was unusually boisterous.

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831. 27

" After midnight the continued flashing of the lightning was CHAP, awfully grand^ and a gale hlew fiercely from the north and HI. north-east 5 but at 1 a.m. on the 1 1th of August the tempestuous |^-^- v« rage of the wind increased 3 the storm^ which at one time blew l a.m. from the north-east, suddenly shifted from that quarter, and burst from the north-west and intermediate points. The upper Storm's regions were from this time illuminated by incessant lightning; *^®"^®' but the quivering sheet of blaze was surpassed in brilliancy by the darts of electric fire which were exploded in every direction. At a little after 2 the astounding roar of the hurricane, which 2 a.m. rushed from the north-north-west and north-west, cannot be ^NW. described by language.'*' About 3 the wind occasionally abated, 3 a.m. but intervening gusts proceeded from the south-west, the west, and west-north-west, with accumulated fury.

*' The lightning also having ceased, for a few moments only Lightning. at a time, the blackness in which the town was enveloped was inexpressibly awful. Fiery meteors were presently seen falling from the heavens ; one in particular, of a globular form and a deep red hue, was observed by the writer to descend perpen- dicularly from a vast height. It evidently fell by its specific gravity, and was not shot or propelled by any extraneous force. On approaching the earth with accelerated motion, it assumed a dazzling whiteness and an elongated form 3 and dashing to the ground in Beckwith-square, opposite to the stores of Messrs. H. D. Grierson and Co., it splashed around in the same manner as melted metal would have done, and was instantly extinct. In shape and size it appeared much like a common barrel-shade ;t its brilliancy and the spattering of its particles on meeting the earth gave it the resemblance of a body of quicksilver of equal bulk. A few minutes after the appearance of this phenomenon, the deafening noise of the wind sank to a solemn murmur, or, more correctly expressed, a distant roar, and the lightning, which from midnight had flashed and darted forkedly with few and but momentary intermissions, now, for a space of nearly half a minute, played frightfully between the clouds and the earth with novel and surprising action. The vast body of vapour

* Lieutenant-Colonel Nickle, commanding the d6th regiment, who had sought protection by getting under an arch of a lower window, outside his house, did not hear the roof and upper story fall ; and was only assured this had occurred by the dust caused by the falling ruins.

t A barrel'Shade is the name for the glass cylinder put OTer candles in the tropics.

\.

28 BARBADOS hurrican:e of 1831.

CHAP, appeared to touch the houses, and issued downward flaming in. blazes which were nimbly returned from the earth upward.

" The moment after this singular alternation of li^tmng, the hurricane again burst from the western points with violence prodigious beyond description, hurling before it thousands of missiles — the fragments of every unsheltered structure of httman art. The strongest houses were caused to vibrate to their fonn- dations, and the surface of the very earth trembled as the destrojrer raged over it. No thunder was at any thne distinctly heard. The horrible roar and yelling of the wind, the noise of the ocean — whose frightful waves threatened the town with the destruction of all that the other elements might spare— ^the clattering of tiles, the falling of roofs and walls, and the com* bination of a thousand other sounds, formed a hideous and appalling din. No adequate idea of the sensationiB Which then distracted and confounded the faculties, can possibly be convejred to those who were distant from the scene of terror.

'^ After 5 o*clock the storm, now and then for a few momenta abating, made clearly audible the falling of tiles and baildin|^ materials, which by the last gust had probably been carried to a lofty height.

6 a.m. " At 6 a.m. the wind was at south, and at 7 south-east ; at

^^xh. ^ east-south-east 3 and at 9 there was again dear weather.

• « « «

" As soon as dawn rendered outward objects visible, the Writer, anxious to ascertain the situation of the shipping, pro- ceeded, bnt with difficulty, to the wharf. The rain at the time was driven with such force as to injure the skin, and was so thick as to prevent a view of any object much beyond the head of the pier. The prospect was majestic beyond description. The gigantic waves rolling onwards seemed as if they would defy all obstruction j yet as they broke over the careenage they seemed to be lost, the surface of it being entirely covered with floating wrecks of every description. It was an undulating body of lumber* — shingles, staves, barrels, trusses of hay, and every kind of merchandise of a buoyant nature. Two vessels only were afloat within the pier 3 but numbers could be seen which had been capsized, or thrown on their beam-ends in shallow water.

" On reaching the summit of the cathedral tower, to whichever

* Lumber is the American tenn for timber ; and 9hingU$ are made of split blocks of wood, and are used instead of tiles and slates for roofs.

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831. 29

point of the compass the eye was directed^ a grand but distressing CHAP, picture of ruin presented itself. The whole face of the country ^^* was laid waste ; no sign of vegetation was apparent^ except here and there small patches of a sickly green. The surface of the ground appeared as if fire had run through the land^ scorching and burning up the productions of the earth. The few remaining trees^ stripped of their boughs and foliage^ wore a cold and wintry aspect -, and the numerous seats in the enV|rons of Bridgetown, formerly concealed amid thick groves^ weve now exposed and in ruins.

" From the direction in which the cocoa-nut and other ^rees were prostrated next to the earth, the first that fell must have been blown down by a north-north-east wind ; but far the

«

greater number were rooted up by the blast from the north- west."

The centre of this storm appears to have passed a little to the north of Barbados, and over the southern extremity of St. Lucia ; and its further progress may be seen on Chart III.

On the evening of the 10th no unusual appearance St. Lacia. had been observed at St. Lucia ; but as early as 4 or * ».ni.

. . Aug. 11th.

5 o'clock next morning the garrison, stationed near the northern extremity of the island, began to be alarmed : some hut-barracks were blown down, and the wind was then nearly north.

The storm was at its greatest height between 8 and 10 o'clock in the morning; but from that time the loa.m. wind gradually veered round to the east, diminishing in force and dwindling as it were to nothing in the south-east^ and it was succeeded by a beautiful evening, with scarcely a breath of wind.

At the southern extremity of the island the most violent part of the storm is reported to have been from the south-west.

At St. Vincent the garrison was at Fort Charlotte, St. Vln-

cent

near the south-west point of the. island ; and there the

30

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831.

CHAP, wind first set in from north-west, veerinff to west and

III. . . .

- to south-westy raising the water of the sea in Kingston

Bay so as to flood the streets ; and it unroofed several

of the buildings in the fort, and blew down others:

but at Martinique (as will be seen from the following

report printed in the " London Shipping List *' for

1831), the wind was easterly during the gale.

Wind West.

Marti- nique. Wind

East.

Otf Gre- nada. Wind Westerly.

Dominica.

Effect of electriciiy on forest trees.

'^Paris^ Sep. 15, 1831. — ^The Martial airived at Havre from Martinique; sailed on the 15th of August. On the 1 1th of August a gale at east was experienced there which lasted six hours. The plantations suffered severely. Two vessels belong- ing to Bordeaux, and all the Americans at anchor in the road of St. Pierre, were driven out to sea."

The army schooner, the Duke of York, on her return from Trinidad to Barbados during this hurri- cane, was in sight of Grenada in the evening, and to the eastward of that island. About midnight she first began to experience hard squalls from the north-west^ which caused the master to take in sail. The squalls increased until the vessel could carry no sail at all, and she was expected every moment to founder. Happily, at daylight, those on board of her unex- pectedly found themselves drifted close to the island of Barbados, the cause of which will be evident on inspection of the figure given in page 25, where her place is marked.

The hurricane was felt at Dominica, but I have not learned in what direction the wind blew there.

A great part of the island of St. Vincent is covered with forest, and a large portion of the trees at its northern extremity were killed without being blown down. These I frequently examined in 1832; and they appeared to have been killed, not by the wind.

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831. 31

but by the extraordinary quantity of electric matter chap. rendered active during the storm. '. —

Most accounts of great hurricanes represent the quantity of electric matter exhibited to be very great ; and the description given by Hughes of a great storm, which occurred at Barbados during the night of the 31st of August, 1675, is nearly the same as that of 1831. He states, that the lightning darted, not with its usual short-lived flashes, but in rapid flames, skim- ming over the surface of the earth, as well as mount- ing to the upper regions.

During the severest period of the hurricane at Bar- bados, on the night of the 10th of August, 1831, two negroes were greatly terrified by sparks passing off* from one of them. This took place in the garden of Codrington College ; and it was related to me on the spot where it happened, by the Rev. Mr. Pindar, the Principal of that College. Their hut in the garden had just been blown down, and in the dark they were supporting each other, and endeavouring to reach the main building.

In the work I have quoted on this Barbados hurri- No earth- cane, allusions are made to the declarations of some persons, that they felt shocks of earthquakes during the storm. But after attentively listening to the opinions of different people on this point, and careful examination of the ruins with reference to it, I feel persuaded there are no sufficient reasons for believing that any earthquake occurred at this period : and it is very material to the success of the present investiga- tion, that the phenomena of hurricanes and earth- quakes should not be connected together without proof. The ancient Charibs, and after them many of

32 BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831.

CHAP, the European settlers, seem to have thought no power ' but that of earthquakes sufficient to cause these tem-

pests which suddenly disturb their regular climate.

The following paragraph occurs in the same woi^: Mr. Benjamin Grittens relates, that at his property, called Tubbs's, ^' About two p.m. of the 10th o( Lidica- August, he observed indications of approaching bad hurricane. Weather; and at four, intimated to his negroes that a hurricane might be expected. At six, he bid them not quit their homes, as a dreadful storm was approach- ing, and if they went abroad they would probably be seen no more. At nine, the indications which caused his apprehensions were less apparent, and he retired to rest. It is well known that this gentleman foretold the storm of 1819, some hours previous to any other person suspecting such an event. The indicaticHis observed by Mr. Gittens were — 1 st. The darting for^ ward of the clouds in divided portions, and with fleet irregular motion, not as if borne by the wind, but driven as it were before it. 2ndly. The distant roar of the elements, as of wind rushing through a hollow vault. 3rdly. The motion of the branches of trees, not bent forward as by a stream of air, but constantly whirled about/' Bermuda. The undulatious of the sea caused by this hurricane

The iwell ''

ofihesea. reached the Bermudas, where they broke against the south shore of those islands. Whilst the storm was passing over the West Indies on the 1 1th, 12th, and

White 13th, white objects appeared of a light blue, so de-

app^Jred cidedly as to attract the attention of all the inhabitants.

iig t blue. jj. jg ^j^^g recorded in the Bermuda Gazette.

"Appearance before a Hurricane, Barbados Hurricane, 1831. "It is worthy of remark, that on the II th, 19th« and ISth of

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1831. 33

August^ 1831, the sun here bore a blue appearance, and where it CHAP, shone in rooms, or elsewhere, it was also blue : this was about ^^I* the time of the hurricane of Barbados."

The crews of vessels off Bermuda observed the same appearance, their sails appearing blue ; and the same is said to have been observed by ships as far west as the coast of America.

Dr. John Frith, of Bermuda, was at sea on the Appear-

&I1CG off

afternoon of the 11th of August, 1831, becalmed a St. Kitu. few miles north of St. Kitts. He informed me that the appearance of the day was that of evening when the sun had set, and the full moon risen.

The only information relative to the fall of the Barome- barometer I have been able to obtain, is contained in the following extract from a note from Lieutenant Byrne, Fort Adjutant at Barbados, addressed to Arch- deacon Eliot. Lieutenant Byrne says : —

" On reference to my notcs^ I find that at eight o'clock at nighty on the 10th of August, the barometer stood at thirty inches, and at two o'clock in the morning of the 1 1th of August, it had sunk to 29*40 ; and my informant, on whose statement I can rely^ states, that he is almost confident, by four o'clock^ it must have sunk below twenty-eight inches.**

36 BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835.

CHAP, about east-norlfe-east : but before half an hour more,

IV

! — it had come on to blow so violently, that with diffi- culty could persons keep their feet.

Wind The wind, at first east-north-east, veered gradtuilly

more and more to the east, and then having reached

▼eeringto the cast Continued veering towards the south, until at the conclusion of the storm it blew into Carlisle Bay, just round the Cape, on which Fort Charles is situated, as marked on Chart IV.

H.M.S. One dotted line on the chart shows the probable

Spitfire. . *

course of the centre of this storm ; and another line parallel to it shows the portion of it which would pass over Carlisle Bay ; and this last line will explain the mode of the veering of the wind. H. M. steam-vessel Spitfire (commanded by Lieutenant Kennedy) was lying in the bay ; and her log, as well as that of the Champion, has been procured from the Admiralty ; and both are here inserted. The fires of the Spitfire's boilers not being lighted, she did not go to sea until 11 A.M. By steering to the westward, both vessels remained for a longer period of time subject to the influence of the hurricane ; and it will be found in pursuing the examination of various reports of ships. Ships that vessels often sail with the storm, when they scud

soraetimet . ,

sail with m a humcaue.

During this storm several boats were driven to sea from their anchors at Speightstown on the north-west side of Barbados; and one large boat, which had broke from her moorings, was found at St. Lucia. Another boat having one man on board returned to Barbados, after being several days at sea.

This storm abated at Barbados about one o'clock in the afternoon, and by two was altogether over.

the Btorm.

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835.

37

About half-past three in the afternoon it would chap.

appear that the ship Champion was in the centre of '- —

the tempest, and by her course she must have crossed from the right-hand side to the left, of the course of the hurricane. At midnight she still was in the gale ; but by one in the morning of September 4th it was over at the place she then occupied.

The Spitfire steering west-south-west from Carlisle Bay, and going at the rate of five, six, and seven knots an hour, lost her mainmast at four in the after- noon, by which time she also was in the left-hand side of the hurricane's course ; but by eight in the evening she appears to have got out of the storm.

This storm was felt only in a slight degree at St. Vincent.

The place of the Nightingale packet, arriving from England and approachiug Barbados, will be found on the chart ; and an extract from her log-book is like- wise inserted.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Champion^ kept by

W. Parker, Master.

Hour,

A.M.

1

i 2.30

I 4

I 5.40

I

G.15

7 8

Courses.

£iS

^i

:^

Winds.

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1835.

NNE

A.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy ; braced up on starboard tack, head off shore ; ex- tremes of the island of Barbados, N W by WiW.

2.30» Furled the mainsail.

4. Squally, with rain.

5.40. Bore up, set the foresail, jib, and driTer.

6.15. Squally, with thick heavy rain; up foresail and driver, down iib \ wore ship's head off shore ; lowered topsails, and close reefed them.

7. Wore and set the courses. 7.45. Made our number to the sisnal station, Barbados.

8. Up courses and hove-to ; found lying here H.M. steam-vessel Spitfire ; the com- mander of ditto came on board ; bore- up : out fourth and third reef; set the top-

H. M. S. Champion off Bar- bados. See Chart rv.

l$J(^^

^J^

Left Car* lisle Bay.

38

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Champion — comtumed.

IV.

Storm

OTertaking

ship.

U^^^

Storm's centre.

Hour.

A.M.

9

10

Noon >^

P.M. 1

1.20

2.30 3.40

5.40

6

6.30 7&8

11 Midn.

A.M.

Courses.

WbyN

WbyN JN

W by N 1 N

ii^

Winds.

N£

NEbyN

SWoffWSW

SWbyS

Head from N toNE

NNE SSW

ssw

8

9

10

11

WbyN

W by N J N

ESE Easterly

ESE

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1836.

eallant-sails. Needham's Point, E 8 £, half a mile ; set courses.

9. Squally; in top-eallant-aails, np mainsail, down top-gaUant-yards, and struck the masts.

10.30. In three reefii of the topsail; furled Uie misen ditto; reefed the foreMul, and set it.

Noon. Strong gales, with thick rain.

Lat. d. r. 13^ 16* 24" N, long. d. r. 60* 14' 40".

Point ^-"-Mj-Hj St Lucia, N 6r» W, 50 miles.

P.M. Strong gales, with thidc rain ; close reefed the fore and main-topsails ; bent the storm-stavsails; sent t^>-gal- lant-masts and stua*sail booms on deck, and made all snug aloft.

1.20. HesTT squalls; furled fore-top- sail, up foresail, in main- topsail, and furled them.

2. Set the main-trysail and fbre and main-sta]rsails. 2.20. Brailedupthetrysail, down main-staysail ; wore ship's head to the eastward ; down fore-staysaiL

2.30. A tremendous heary hurricane ; brought to the wind under bare poles. 3.40. The wind moderated and shifted suddenly round, with heavy rain, to the opposite, and blew most riolently ; a sea over the stem.

6.40. Washed the dingy and life buoy from the stem.

6. The wind moderated ; set the main- staysail and main-trysail.

6.30. Strong gales ; down main-staysail,

8. Strong gales and squally, with rain ; set the fore-staysail.

Midnight. Strong gales and squall j, with rain ; wore ship.

Friday, Sept. 4, 1836.

A.M. Moderate and cloudy.

4. Wore ship; down main* staysail. Day-liffht. Saw the high land of 8t. Lucia, rf W by W, 15 or 16 miles ; mode- rate and cloudy ; made sail to single- reefed top- sail and fore-sail.

8. Point Moliciqua, N £, 4 miles ; mo- derate, with rain.

10. Sent the top-gallant-msst up, and fidded ditto; crossed top- gallant- yards, and set top- gallant- sails; sent the stud- sail-boom and small sails up, and loosed them to dry ; carpenter employed repair- ing hammock-nettings, and other defects.

11. Out first reefs of the topsail.

)fC^

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835.

39

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Champion — concluded, CHAP.

* IV.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Friday, Sept. 4, 1835.
A.M. Noon	WNW		Noon. Moderate and cloudy ; Sugar-loaf Hill, St. Lucia, E, 13 miles. ObserTations,
'B '%M			13^48' 8" N Altofela, N by W, 125 maet.
r.M. 1	WNW	SEbvE	P.M. Moderate and fair.
8		ENE	Ditto weather.
11		EbyS	Ditto.
Extract from the Log of H. M. Steam-Vessel Spitfire,
Barbados, Lieut. A. Kennedy, Commanding) kept by
Samnel Lillinop, Second Master.
Hour.	Courses. • • « • • • • •	Winds.	Thursday, Sept. 3, 1835.
A.M. 1	NE	A. M. Fresh breeses and cloudy, threaten-
8			ing weather, with rain at times. At 8, ar- riTedH.M.S. Champion; commander went
8.45			on board per signal. 8.45. Sailed H.M.8.
9.50			Champion. 9.50. Lit the fires ; every ap-
10			pearance of a hurricane. At 10, a hard gale, heaTY sea making in the bay ; seTeral sail sUpt their cables ; seTeral boats that
			were lying at the engineer's wharf were
			sunk at their moorings ; sent a boat to their
			assistance, but found it impossible from the
10.30			wind and sea to make head-way. 10.30. The anchor came home, the wind blowing a
11			heavy gale. At 1 1, finding it impossible to ride the hurricane, slipt the cable with a
			long buoy-rope, 60 fathoms of chain, wind
11.16			blowing a hurricane from N E. At 11.15, the dingy was blown from the stem ; the gig swamped and lost ; the cutter was blown in-board| and stove in several places ; the masts, sa^, and oars of the boats were lost.
NOOD		Veered	Noon. Blowing ahurricane; wind veered
		to south-	round to the southward and westward,
		ward and	sea making a complete breach over the
		west-	ship; hove 73 bags of coals overboard to
		ward	lighten ship.
P.M. 1	wsw		No observation.
P.M. Still blowing a hurricane ; main-
2		Variable	trysail, fore-staysail, and jib blown from
3			die bolt-rope; ship labouring very much; fore-trysail was blown from the gaskets,
			and a great part of it lost ; main-trysail-
			ga£r carried away.
4			At 4, the mainmast went, about three
5			feet below the deck, and fell across the

Spitfire in Carlisle Bay. Lighted fires and put to sea. see Chart IV.

Crossed storm- track.

Mainmast wont.

40

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835.

CHAP. Extract from the Loir of H. M. Steam- Vessel Spitfirk — ctmcbukd. IV. *

See Chart IV.

Nightin- gale

within the circuit of storm.

Hour.	Couraei.	Winds.	Thursday, Sept. 8, 18S6.
A.M. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	SW JS 8W		larboard quarter, breaking the rail« two stancheons, and splitting the coTeiing- board ; six hammocks were washed oat of the netting, and larboard binnacle quarter-deck, and fore-hammoek-clothe. 8. More moderate. 12. Fresh breexes, and doudj weather.
Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Niohtinoaub.
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1835.
A.M. 1 Noon P.M. 1 4.30 8 A.M. 1 8 10 12 P.M. 1 2 4 8 9	,...*■..	ENE ENE ENE ENE E E SE S SSE SE	Fresh breezes and cloudy. Lat. \A^ 34', long. 66'' 4(r. Barbados, S 73, W 261. Fresh breezes and squally. Heavj squalls, with rain ; in aU stud- ding-sails ; close-reefed the topaaUa. Squally, with rain.
Thursday, Sept. 8, 1836. Squally, unsettled weather. Squally, with rain ; furled all aaila ; down the top- gallant- yards and maat* and got fljring jib-boom on deck. Bent the storm-sails, and set them. Sun obscured. lAt. d. r. 13° 10', long. 67** 64^. Bar- bados, south point. 8 86, W 102. Strong gales and squally. Set the topsails and course. Strong breezes and dark cloudy weather. Moderate breezes and cloudy. Saw the island of Barbados, bearing W, distant three or four leagues, aou^ point bearing W 8 W. Midn. North ex- tremity of the island W 13 N.

The wind is stated as blowing from the south-east and east-south-east, until the evening of the 4th, when it became east-north-east, and the Nightingale anchored in Carlisle Bay, at 7.15, p.m.; and was soon afterwards despatched after the Spitfire, supposed to have been in sight, dismasted.

Barbados.

BARBADOS HURRICANE OF 1835. , 41

"Liverpool, Oct. 22, 1835. — The island of Barbados was CHAP, visited with a severe hurricane on the 3rd of September. The ^^- sloop Goldhunter, of St. Vincent, was lost -, crew saved. The mail-boat, Lady Lyon, was capsized and sunk ; one man saved. The mail-boats, Nancy and Mary and Placid, were stranded. The Manchester and Montague lost foremasts ; and the Firefly, Ariel, and Barbados, were driven out to sea, and they had not returned on the 14th of September.

" H. M. steamer Spitfire, the Hebe, of London, and several other vessels put to sea ; the Spitfire was driven into Grenada with damage and loss of mainmast -, and the Hebe returned on the 9th under jury-masts, having been dismasted. The gale extended to St. Lucia ; and the north end of that island was strewed with lumber and pieces of wrecked vessels. The Thomas Parker was driven there from Barbados, dismasted. H. M. S. Nightingale arrived at Barbados on the 4th of September.*'— From the London Shipping List q/" 1835.

A ship at anchor, in such a storm as the one here Ground detailed, where the wind blows into the bay in which she is riding, affords the best opportunity for ascer- taining the height of the waves in hurricanes, when vessels are observed by persons on shore. The main- mast of the Spitfire has been ascertained to measure ninety -two feet in length : and some observations were taken with a view to this inquiry into the height of the waves before she slipped her cable to go to sea, but as they were not committed to writing at the time, they cannot be relied upon.

In ordinary gales of wind on the south coast of Height of England, I found, in 1836, the height of the waves measure twelve feet, by a graduated pile on the outer end of the Brighton chain-pier, and they proceeded forward at the rate of twelve miles an hour. In 1837, during gales rather more severe, the waves were observed at the same place, by Captain Alderson, Royal Engineers ; they were then found to be thirteen

waves.

%

tions.

of undula- tions.

42 GROUND SWELLS EXPLAINED.

CHAP, and a half feet high, and proceeding at the rate of ' nineteen miles an hour ; but the height of the barome- ter was not noted at the time. In the deep sea of the Atlantic, Captain Fitz Roy measured the height of the waves by ascending the rigging of a frigate, and found them to be sixty feet high, computed from the trough.

inunda- The diminished atmospheric pressure probably allows the undulations of the sea to rise higher in storms, as is the case with the tides: and this may be another cause, as well as the wind, why great disasters often occur from inundations during storms.

Progress If uudulatious wcrc to proceed forward no faster than nineteen miles an hour during hurricanes, still the waves would considerably precede the storm. This chapter, together with Chart IV., tends to ex- plain what is called a ground swell ; and the reasons for the uncertainty of seaman, whether a ground swell does or does not bespeak a coming storm : for a ship on the shaded portion of the plan would have the swell, and yet not experience the storm.

It was long supposed that the undulations in water were merely on the surface, and that the motion of the particles of water was vertical. Recent researches prove that this opinion is not correct, and seem clearly • to show that the effect of heavy waves is propagated downwards. The great waves which are raised by hurricanes, affect the sea by degrees to an unknown depth ; but rolling onwards until they reach sound- ings and shallower water, they are there found to act powerfully against the bottom. These are strictly "Ground Swells;" of which further illustration will be given in the progress of this work.

A short time before this there had been a hurricane

ANTIGUA HURRICANE OF 1835. 43

at Antigua and St. Kitts. At Antigua it happened chap. on the 12th of August, 1835; the wind during the

first part blowine from the north, and during the ^^j?^*

r o ' o hurricane

latter part from the south, with a calm of twenty SfJ®^^* minutes in the middle of it. From this account, the centre probably passed over Antigua.

The barometer was observed to fall 1 .4 inch ; and the sympiesometer was much agitated, and fell pro- portionably.

Trees were blown down, as if forming lanes, an Gusts. effect which has been remarked in many other de- scriptions of hurricanes ; and at its commencement the wind was described as coming in gusts.*

The course of the storm, which passed over Antigua on the 12th of August, has been traced by Mr. Red- field, and will be found on Chart III.

It has been said that hurricanes are not met with storms do to the eastward of the West India islands ; but this is ea«twwd not correct. A ship met the Barbados hurricane of west 1831 to the eastward of that island. Two of the hur- Sfids. ricanes of 1837 I have traced to the eastward of the West Indies; and there seems no reason to believe that they are caused by the islands, as some persons imagine.

Whatever their cause may be, that cause seems to Rotatory act with very different degrees of intensity at different Jways"*^' periods ; for the usual atmospheric current, or trade- ■^''"•* wind, is sometimes disturbed, the veering and changes indicating a rotatory movement of part of the atmo- sphere, without proving destructive. Such an instance occurred on the 9th and 10th of July, 1837; and

* From a verbal statement of Major Barry, R.E., who was at that time at Antigua.

44

A ROTATORY GALE

Clouds in this gale mistaken for land.

CHAP, this is also another instance in proof that storms come

'. from the eastward of the West India islands.

The gale about to be mentioned was met to the eastward of Barbados, both by the ships Trinidad and Castries ; but I have not been able to trace the first ship. Mr. Mondel, as well as all his crew and passen- gers, appears to have taken one of the squalls for land; and it seems to have passed very nearly over the same track as that on Chart IV., the centre pass- ing over St. Lucia. At St. Vincent the wind became west.

Extract of a letter from Liverpool.

" On the 9th July, the Castries (Mondel), from Liverpool to St. Lucia, in lat. 15^ 4\ long. 54^ 58', having the wind then at east-south -eastj the master being confident in his reckoning, bis mate suddenly reported^ ' Land on the lee-bow !' the man at the helm pointing it out at the same time : it had all the appearance of the broken outline of the West India islands, and looked as if within a mile and a half from them. Never doubting but that it was land, the captain trimmed his sails, that he might alter his course : when he had finished, he again looked for the land, when nothing like it was visible. On Reaching St. Lucia, and hearing that there had been a hurricane there on the 10th, he concluded that what he had seen was this storm. The Castries had no barometer on board.'*

Ship Castries.

The following is Mr. Mondel's account :

"Noon, 9th July, nautical time (8th xivil time)^ wind east- north-east. At 3^ 52" 3", long, per sun and moon 51^ 33' west ; 4^8" 9", long, per chronometer, 51° 59' west j cloudy weather. At midnight strong breezes, and much lightning 3 2 a.m. heavy squalls and rain. At noon, lat. by account 1 5° 3', by observation 15° 4'; long, by chronometer 54° 58', by observation 54° 18'; north point of St. Lucia, south 81° 12' west j 353 miles.

"At 8*" 16" 45', long, per moon and * Antares 54° 41^^ Noon, 10th July, nautical time (9th civil time), commences cloudy wpBther. At 3.30. p.m. was alarmed by the officer on deck

A ROTATORY GALE. 45

calling out ' Land a-head !' I ran up from below, and there, to CHAP, my astonishment, saw what appeared to be the land, about two ^^' miles distant, the vessel sailing seven to eight miles per hour. We took in all staysails and stood to the south (wind east-south- east), which might have occupied six or eight minutes to accom- plish, in which all appearance of land had subsided. So strongly the appearance of land did this phenomenon assume, that even the Irish passengers saw it, or believed they saw it ; and I have a perfect recollection of one of them calling down the hatchway to his comrades, ' Arrah, by Jasus, boys, here's the land close-to.* Every seaman on board saw it, and would have sworn it was the land, had they not been convinced to the contrary by the course steered. I had some difficulty to convince two gentlemen that were passengers that it was not the land, nor were they altogether assured until we saw Barbados. At noon, lat. by log 14^ 28', by observation 14° 57'; loiig. by chronometer 57° 42', by ob- servation 57° 14'; current 29 miles north; north point of St. Lucia, south 75° 32' west; 188 miles.

" 1, King Street. ~ (Signed) "J. MONDEL, Jun."

" The barque Trinidad, from the Clyde, experienced a severe Ship gale of wind, approaching to a hurricane, on Sunday last, the ^ '

9th July, to the eastward of Barbados." — From the Port of Spain Gazette, July 10, 1837.

Extract from a letter in Lloyd's Books, dated Bar- bados.

"The whole of the 9th July the wind blew strong from north- Barbados, east, with occasional heavy gusts, until 7 p.m., when it came in ^ ^ ^ a severe gale. At 10 ».m. the wind moderated for a short time, S.E. when it began again, with increased violence, from south-east and south-south-east, until daylight next morning, when the gale abated. The schooners Mjrrtle and St. Andrews were driven on shore on the Pelican reef, to the leeward of Carlisle Bay."

" The gale on the 9th July did some injury to the mills and houses in Barbados." — From the West Indian, July 10.

46 A HOTATORY GALE.

CHAP. "St. Lucia, July IQth. — The island received a severe gak ^^* from the north and from the south, on the evening of Sunday,

St Lucia ^^^ J^y> ^^^ ^^c morning of Monday^ XOth July, 1837> during Wind N. which the schooner Mary £llice (M'Lean), then lying in the bay and s. ^£ Vieux Fort, was driven on the rocks, and the drogher £liza driven on shore." — From Lloyd's Books,

(Signed) "WM. MASTERS/*

St. Vin- "St. Vincent, July 10th. — ^The weather has been boisterous

Wnd during the night, and the wind was at west,** — Ihid,

west.

48

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. These have been traced, and are laid down on Charts

V.

'. — V. and VI. The earlier of the two passed over Bar- bados on the morning of the 26th of July ; at ten the same night it was at Martinique, by which hour it was all over at Barbados ; at midnight on the 26th and morning of the 27th it reached Santa Cruz. By the 30th of July it reached the Gulf of Florida, where some vessels were wrecked by it, and many damaged ; it then took a more northerly direction, being on the 1st of August at Jacksonville, in Florida.

From Jacksonville it passed over Savannah and Charleston, going in a direction to the eastward of north.

The other hurricane on Chart VI. was at Antigua on the 2nd of August ; by the 5th and 6th it also was on the coasts of Georgia and Florida, crossed the line of the other hurricane, nearly meeting it ; and it seems to have touched Pensacola on the 8th of August.

Barbados The rcports of these two storms are arranged in the

hurricane ^

of 1837. order of their progress, and are as follow :

Ring- dore's Log. See Chart V.

Fine weather.

Weighed.

Extract from the Log- Book of H. M. Brig Ringdove, in the Barbados Hurricane of the 26th July, 1837. Received from Lieut. J. W. Tarleton, R.N.

H.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks on Board.
A.M. 1 2 3 P.M. 4			Easterly.	July 25th. 1837. At anchor in Carlisle Bay. Barbados. A.M. Light breeset and fine. 8. Loosed sails. Noon . Moderate and fine. P.M. In cutter. 4. Weiehed and made sail out of the Bay.

HURRICANES OF 1837.

49

Log of the Ringdove — continued.

H.	K.
P M. 5 6 7	7
8	6
9	7
10	7
11	7
12	5
1	6
A.M. 2 3 4	6 4 3
5	4
.6	4
7	3
8	1
9	3
10	9
11 12	6 6
Counet.	Dist.
N19°W	63

F.

2 6 6 6 6 6

2 6 4

4 4 4

6 2

Lat. Obt.

Courses.

NNW NbyW^W

NbyW NbyWiW

NNW NWbyN

NWJN

NWiN

ENE

NEbyEJE

ENE

EJN

NNE

North

Lat.D.m.

None U** 21'

N

Lon. Chro.

None.

Winds.

NE

Variable fromNE

NNE

Variable

SbyE

LOD^. D.K.

60^ 4' W

Remarks on Board.

5. In first reefs, unbent cables.

7. North point of Barba- dos, E by N, 7 or 8 miles.

8. Moderate, and cloudy. 10.45. Hard squalls, with

heavy rain ; in top-sallant sails, mainsail, and jib; first reef of boom-mainsail, and second ree& of topsails.

Midnight. Fresh breezes, with passing squalls ; set jib and mainsail.

July 26ih, 1837.

A.M. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain.

1. 50. Up mainsail ; tacked.

2. 40. Heavy squalls, with rain.

4.10. Down jib, set stay- sail.

5.30. Up foresail, and lowered the topsails to a squall; in third ree& of topsails, down top-gallant- ^ards and masts; in fly- ing jib-boom; down boom- mainsail ; braced round on the starboard tack,

8. Variable breezes and cloudy weather. A heavy cross swell.

9. Trimmed sails to a breeze from the southward.

9.20. Dark threatening weather, wind increasing.

10. Fresh gales, with hard squalls and a heavy sea ; close-reefed and furled the topsails ; in jib-boom, got preventer-braces on the yards and runners to secure the foremast.

1 1 . Qale moderating. Noon. Fresh gales, with

passing squalls.

Be&ringt and Distance.

Cape Ferre, Martinique, N 75° W. 44 miles.

CHAP. V.

First storm.

Ring- dove's Log.

Squalls.

Heavy squalls

on

starboard

tack.

Close- reefed topsails.

E

50

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

First storm.

RlDg-

doTe's Log.

Log of the Ringdove — concluded.

Out

third reefs.

Oat

second

reefs.

H.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks on Board.
P.M.				P.M. Fresh breezes and
1	5	6	NbyE	Sby E	squally ; a heary swell. 1. More moderate ; set
2	6	4	NNE		fore-staysail and close- reefed fore-topsail.
3	7	4			1.40. Set dose-reefed
4	7	4			main- topsail.
•			2.50. Out fourth reels.
6	6	6			set foresail and lee clew of
6	7	6			mainsail.
	ESE	4. Moderate and cloudy.
7	7	4			a heavy swell.
8	6	6			4.20. Out third reefi^
u			down fore and tetlore-top-
9	6	6			mast-staysail. 5.40. Trimmed sails.
10	7	4
*			6. Fresh breezes and
					cloudy. 8. Ditto weather.
				Easterly
11 12 A.M.	7 7	4 4			11. Trimmed sails.
		12. Fresh breezes and fine.
July 27th, 1887.
1	6	6	NNE	East	A.M. Moderate breezes
2	6	4			and fine.
3	6	2			2. Trimmed.
4	6	4	NbyE IE		4. Fresh breezes and
6	6	4	" w		cloudy.
6	6	4			7. Altered course to N
7	6	4			by E ; out jib-boom. 8. Fresh oreezes and fine.
8	6	6	NbyE
9	6	4	North		Altered course to N.
10	4	6			8.40. Set jib.
11	4	6			10.50. Out second reefii
12	5	6 Lat. Obt.			of topsails. Noon. Moderate and fine.
Co ones.	DUt.	Lon. Chro. o / 5856 W.	LatD.R.	Loof . D.m.	Bearingt and Dittanee.
N176«	155	ir2i' N. 6	16 *49' N.	59« 7' W	Bermuda, N 19'' W ,949 miles.
1	4	North	East	P.M. Moderate and fine.
2	4	2	Nby W	ESE	1. 30. Up top-gallant-
3	4	4			masts, crossed top-gallant-
4	4	6			yards, and set the sails.
5	5	6		SE	Out first reefs, and set
G	5	G			starboard fore- topmast and top-gallant studoing-sails.
7	4	4
8	5	4			4. Moderate and cloudy.
9	4	4			6. Ditto weather.
10	4	G		ENE	8. Ditto breezes and
U	5	4			fine; trimmed.
12	5	2			Moderate and cloudy.

««m:

^l^

HURRICANES OF 1837. 51

At 10 A.M. on 26th, the sympiesometer fell from chap.

30.10 to 29.74. At 11, synjpiesometer rising. Noon, '- —

sympiesometer 29.92. No barometer on board. ^"^^

Extract from Lieut. James's Private Journal, com- manding the Spey Packet. See account of Antigua hurricane, 2nd August, 1837 :

"Barbados, July 26, a.m. — At 2 o'clock, light showers of rain, wind shifting from south to north-west, the sky dark and gloomy, with flashes of lightning in the south-east and south- west : at 4, calm, with a heavy swell rolling into the bay j light- Chart V. ning and thunder, sky assuming a blue- black appearance, with a ^^ ^°°^' red glare at the verge of the horizon ; every flash of lightning ment. was accompanied with an unusual whizzing noise, like that of a red-hot *iron plunged in water : at 6 the barometer fell rapidly, the sympiesometer much agitated and unsettled, and fell at length to 28.45 inches -, hoisted in the boats, sent down top- gallant-masts, struck lower yards and topmasts, let go both bower anchors, veered out a long scope of cable on the moorings and both bowers : at 7.30, the hurricane burst on us in all its dreadful fury : at 8, it shifted from east-south-east to south, and Wind blew for half an hour, so that we could scarcely stand on the deck^ made preparations for battening the hatches down and cutting away the masts 5 the sea came rolling into the bay like heavy breakers, the ship pitching deep, bowsprit and forecastle sometimes under water : the wind shifting to the west-south-west, veering to at 9 the barometer began to rise, and to our great joy we ob- w^g^^ served a change in the sky for the better. As the haze cleared away, we counted twenty-one sail of merchantmen driven on shore, and perfect wrecks. Her Majesty's ship Gannet drove with four anchors down, but fortunately brought up and rode out the gale. Her Majesty's steamer Alban went -on shore, but in all probability will be got off. One brig foundered at her /e^KA^'/' anchors, and sunk. Thank God, we rode it out so well ! The •' ^^"^ Spey, the Gannet, and Fortitude merchant ship, were all that rode out the hurricane. The City of Kingston steamer put to sea, and returned next day.

" On the 30th of July, the Spey left Barbados to run along

E 2

**vcV*s

52

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAT, the islands and pick up the mails for England. Found that the hurricane had scarcely heen felt at St. Lucia, hut at Martinique several ships were wrecked.** — Jtmes Newspaper,

V.

First storm.

Grenada.

St. Vin- cent.

" The harque Clydesdale, from Barbados to Antigua, encoun- tered a severe hurricane ten miles north of Barbados, on the 26tb of July, 1837."

" Arrived the British schooner Emancipation, from Grenada, The captain states, that Grenada and the neighbouring islands had been visited by a violent gale on the 26th July, 1837.** — New York General Advertiser.

" Our paper from St. Vincent's informs us, that the gale of the 26th of July was severely felt there -, the wind being from the west and the south, with a heavy swell of the sea.** — From the Barbadian,

St. Lucia. " St. Lucia, 30th July, 1837. — We have experienced a severe gale from the north-west, which blew very violently for several hours.*' — From Lloyd's Books.

Marti- "Martinique suffered a severe gale on the 26th July, from

nique. ^j^^ south-east. The brig Blayais went on shore, with forty-three

persons on board, and only six were saved.** — From the Weekly

Register.

" The storm of the 26th July was felt severely at Martinique The tempest raged there with great violence at 10 at night, at which hour all was calm at Barbados. The Blayais was driven on shore at St. Pierre, a harbour much exposed to the south- west. An American vessel was driven on shore at Fort Royal, which is an unusual occurrence, as that harbour has always been considered a safe anchorage in any weather.** — From the Barbadian.

Dominica. " One of the most violent gales of wind, which at this season arc so alarming to these colonies, occurred on Wednesday last, 26th July, 1837. The wind blew from south-east all day, and about 8 in the evening, a violent swell set in from the south- west, which occasioned a tremendous surf. The barque Jane Lockhart was obliged to slip her cables, and stand to sea. The Venus sloop was washed up into Kew-street. Tlie sloop

HURRICANES OF 1837. 63

Dolphin^ from St. Bartholomew's to Barbados, was forced back CHAP, to this island, after having got within twelve miles of Barbados.'* V. — Dominica Colonist.

Copy of a MS. report at Lloyd's, dated St. Croix, st. Croix.

"About midnight on Wednesday, the 26th of July, it came on to blow smartly /rom the east-south-east, shifting by Thursday morning, the 27th July, to south-east, blowing a gale of wind until towards noon, when it began to moderate.

.(Signed) "ANDREW LANG."

" Le Navire Bonne Aim^e a p^ri k Porto Rico dans un coup Porto de vent, 26, 27 Juillet, 1837."— Por/ of Spain Gazette. ^co.

" A Spanish brig was totally dismasted on the 28th of July, g^^ j^^. off St. Domingo, in a hurricane, and had to throw overboard a mingo. quantity of flour." — American Paper,

" St. Domingo^ Aug. 13. — Two hurricanes have been recently experienced here, during which the Edward (French ship) was wrecked in the outer roads, and three of the crew drowned : thre^ Haytian vessels were also lost on the coast, and only one man saved.'*

" The gale on the 29th July, at Nassau, was from the east and Nassau. the east-south-east, as reported by the master of the sloop Hum- ming-Bird.**— N(e»/btt«d/a«c? Gazette.

"There was a violent gale at Nassau, New Providence, from the east and south-east, on the 29th July, which continued until 2 P.M. on Monday, the 31st of July.** — New York General Advertiser,

The following was received from Captain Milne, Captain R.N. By referring to Chart V. and the place of the r.'n. "** Snake, oflf the N.E. end of Cuba, it will be understood how this storm caused the trade wind to be reversed. We have here an example of variable winds within the limits of the trades, changing in conformity to a fixed law.

" H.M.S. Snake, under my command, was employed during the months of June, July, and August, 1837, on the N.E. coast

54 THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP, of Cuba, in the vicinity of Point Mulas, during which time tbc V. following facts connected with the hurricanes of that 3rear were

-.. ^ observed.

First

storm. ** It was found from observation, that at 8 a.m., the mean

Bar. 30.19. height of the barometer on the Coast of Cuba was 30.19 at a

temperature of 83°, and the diurnal fall until 4 o'clock, at which

time it was lowest, was 0.45 nearly. That the barometer was

invariably affected by the direction of the wind \ being highest

with a N.E. wind, and lowest with a S.W.

" On the morning of the 25th July the barometer indicated

30.19, with the trade wind varying as usual from E.N.E. to

E.S.E., force 3 to 4, with fine weather. On the following

morning, July 26th, the barometer stood at 30.16, wind N.E. hy

E., the sky overcast, with thin rain.

Bar. "July 27th. Barometer drooping, now 30.10, wind very light

"^* and unusual, varying from N.N.W. to N.N.E. Dense camnli

Sky light in the N.W., streaked with strata of a dark colour : blue of the blue. , ,. , ,

sky very light colour.

" July 28th. Barometer 30.08. Wind Northerly and E.N.E., very variable, sky overcast. Forenoon, breeze sprung up from the S.E. 9 P.M. heavy squall from N.E., with a heavy swell setting in from the same quarter.

" July 29th. Barometer 29-94. Fresh breezes and squally ;

wind E.N.E. to S.E. 10 a.m. a heavy long swell setting in

from the N.E. increasing rapidly. Wind flying about, shifted to

Bar.29.86. N. and N.W. 3.30. Barometer 29.86, and drooping. 4 p.m.

Centre heavy squall of wind and rain, in which wind shifted to W.S.W

pnssiiig and S.W. Blew a strong gale all night ; the barometer rose

after the squall.

" July 30th. Barometer risen to 30.06. Sky still wild, although gale of last evening has subsided. Wind still S. to S. by E. with squalls of wind and rain. Bar.30.17. "July 3lst. Wind S. by E. Barometer 30.17 5 fine weather. " It is a curious fact, relative to the gradual fall of the baro- meter from the 26th, the very day on which the hurricane was at Barbados, until the bad weather reached H.M.S. Snake on 29th, at 4 P.M., when it immediately rose. The shifting of the wind it will be observed was from S.E. to E.N.E. j then to N., N.W., W.S.W., S.S.W., S., and S. by E., when it cleared up! Vessels boarded at the time had experienced, on the 29th, a heavy north-easterly gale outside of Crooked Island.

(Signed) "A MILNE.

"Captain H.M.S. Snake.**

HURRICANES OF 1837. 55

Extract of a letter from Lieut. Parsons, command- chap.

ing H. M. packet Seagull, dated Falmouth Har- !

hour, 18th Sept. 1837 ; addressed to Admiral Sir ^j"^

•■■ storm.

P. H. Durham. chart v.

'' We arrived here on the 18th from Mexico and Havannah ; H. M. we had the wind for twenty days from the east and east-north- §^«^ii east, with four days calm. In coming through the Gulf of Florida, and in the narrow part of the channel, on the night of the 30th July, I experienced a very heavy gale of wind from the north-west, which increased on the morning of the 31st, with thick weather, lightning, and rain in torrents. At about 10 a.m. we discovered discoloured water on the lee-beam, having had no observation on the 30th. At this time the wind was west, which made the Bahama bank (where I judged we were) a lee-shore \ On lee- and in carrying a press of sail to clear it, all of them were split * rj^'on- and blown out of the bolt-ropes : I was therefore under neces- and an- sity of anchoring in five fathoms water 5 and by the time I had ^'"*'®^* veered out 100 fathoms of chain, the vessel's stem was in 4} fathoms. I did not let go the other anchor^ fearing she might founder, as the sea was making a fair breach, and rolling aft to the wheel on the quarter-deck ; and if we parted, we had still a chance of getting into the Old Bahama Channel. With great difficulty we tried to get another jib and trysail bent.

''On the morning of the 1st August the wind increased, and blew a perfect hurricane for about four hours, when it mode- rated a little, and veered to the south-west, which enabled us to bend another topsail. At noon we began to weigh, and in three hours we were able to make sail off the reef.

''The part of the bank on which I suppose we anchored is lat. ^4° 40' north, long. 79° 8^ west, and twelve miles south of Orange Keys.

(Signed) "J. PARSONS."

"The barque Baltimore, from Havannah, experienced heavy Bahamas, gales from the westward, on the 31st July, which continued until the 1st of August. She was over the reef on the Bahama banks by the Cat Keys, and compelled to anchor and ride out the gale* When the weather cleared on the 2nd, she saw three vessels on the reef wrecked, but she was unable to lend them assistance.'*—' New York General Advertiser,

56 THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. "The barque Cossack, on the Ist August, encoontered a ^ V. violent gale forty miles south of St. Augustine. Met a ship. First supposed to be the Emily, of Liverpool, dismasted, and making

Rtorm. for a port." — New York General Advertiser.

"The ship Providence, on the 1st August, in lat. 29® 30', experienced a heavy gale.** — Ibid.

Florida coast.

Extract of a letter from St. Simond's Island, lat, 31^2', long. 81^28':

"On the 1st and 2nd August we had a very severe gale here.** — Ibid,

" The brig Monument (Fisher) experienced a severe gale on the 1st of August, off Cape Florida.'* — Ibid.

"The barque Josephine, on the 1st August, experieQced a severe gale from north-east, lat. 27° 50', long. 79° 20', and had some of her sails blowing from the yards, though they were furled.** — Charleston Mercury.

''The brig Moses, on the 1st August, off Cape Camaveral, lat. 28° 16', long. 80^ 24', experienced a severe hurricane, com- mencing at north-east and veering round to south, which hove the brig on her beam -ends, and obliged her to cut away her niast. She was in fourteen feet water, and was saved by the wind com- ing from the south.'' — Ibid.

''The schooner A. Brook, on the 2nd August, lat. 29° S8', long. 80° 41', experienced a severe gale of wind from east-north- east to south- south-east. Lost her flying jib and split her main- sail."— New York General Advertiser.

"A severe gale of wind at Jacksonville, on Tuesday, Ist of August, which continued until Sunday, the 6th of August,"^ when it blew a hurricane from the north-east and south-east. Two government warehouses were blo^Ti down at Jacksonville, and the crops of cotton destroyed." — National Intelligencer.

" The barque Mablehead, of Boston, was lost on the western reef of the little Bahama bank on the 2nd August." — From the Southern Patriot.

• This was owing to the second hurricane nearly overtaking the tirst one.

HURRICANES OF 1837. 57

e brig Howell anchored on the little Bahama bank on the CHAP, ugust^ 1837. Obliged to cut away both masts to prevent ^* ing on shore in a violent gale.*' — From the Southern Patriot, j,.

Btorm.

e Ida* experienced a severe gale in the Gulf on the August. All her sails were blown to pieces. The boats twenty of the crew were washed overboard. The captain brought her into port with five men." — New York General

On the 26th July, the sympiesometer indicated the ap- .ching storm more decidedly than the barometer.** — West Newspaper,

"The Georgia steam-packet left Charleston on Saturday, 5th 1837, in the morning, and arrived at Norfolk in ^ Chesapeake, on Monday the 7th August. Had rough «i.^er and north-east winds.'' — From the New York General Mni^rtiser.

About 1 P.M. the southern portion of this storm was The Bai- l:>out W. S.W. of the Balclutha. July W.

See *' Greenock, Dec. 5, 1837.— Thursday, 27th (26 p.m. civil Chart V.

hue) July, in lat. 14° 28' north, and long. 56° 12' west, wind

veered from east-north-east to west-south-west, with a tremen-

ioas swell from the southward ; the sky clouded, with thunder

and lightning, and heavy rain, with all the appearance of hurri^

cane of wind -, furled all sails but the main-topsail j at 1 p.m.

a heavy gust took the ship, and laid the sail under water, which

continued for the space of half an hour ; at 3 p.m. the wind

veered to the northward, and cleared up to the southward, but a

very bad appearance to the south-west ; had no barometer or

sympiesometer -, at 6 o'clock, fine clear weather -, made all sail

for Deilierara, where the Balclutha arrived on the 3rd August.

"WILLIAM MILRAE."

* There were five ships named Ida. This is not the same ship which was in the third hurricane on the 17th August, 1837.

58

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Second 8torin«

Spey's Log.

Chart VI.

Spey ap- proaching aecond •tonn.

K'ear it.

Antigiui Hurricane of 2nd of August.

THE SECOND STORM.

The Spey packet, which had been at anchor in Carlisle Bay, Barbados, during the hurricane of the 26th July, sailed from that island on the 30th for St. Thomas, delivered mails at the northern islands as she went along, and, as will be seen by her log, was very nearly sailing into the second hurricane.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Packet Spey, in Civil Time,

Lieut. James, Commander.

Storm now past Spey.

See Chart V.

Hour.

Wind.

▲.M

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

A • XI •

SW

Bar.

Ther.

falling

SEtoW

nsing

R**mark».

Tuesday, August 1, 1837.

A.M. Moderate and cloudy, with light showers and hazy weather ; barometer fall- ing : landed the mails at Dominica. The Jane Lockhart, of London, slipped and went to sea on the 26th, and returned to take in the rest of her cargo.

P.M. Calm and sultry, the sky orercast with dark heayy clouds, exactly the same appearance they had before the hurricane came on at Barbados ; emploved in pre- paring for another blow ; got all snug, and kept away to the S W ; further off the land the better.

Wednesday, August 2, 1837.

A.M. Heayy squalls, with lightning and thunder ; heayy sea running ; wind shifted from S E to W.

P.M. Barometer rising ; made more sail, and stood in for Guadaloupe ; at 8, saw the land, ran in for Basseterre, and landed the mails in a heayy surf ; at 5, bore away for Antigua.

Thursday, August 3, 1837.

At 6 A.M. close in wiui the land ; obtenred the island had suffered lately, all the cocoa- nut trees, were blown to pieces. The Mon- trose bark, of Liverpool, totally wrecked, with 300 hhds. of sugar on board, the day before in a severe hurricane.

P.M. Made all sail for Montserrat.

Friday, August 4, 1837. A.M. Landed the mails, and found that there had been no hurricane felt on the 26th of July or the 2nd of August.

s.

HURRICANES OF 1837

69

Extract from the Log of H. M. Packet Spey — continued.

Hour.

Wind.

A. M*

A.M.

P.M.

Bar.

Hier.

Remarks.

Saturday, August 6, 1837. A.M. Landed the mails at Nevis and St. Kilts ; here the hurricane was most seyerely felt. The ship Julia, of London, full cargo, was wrecked on the 2nd, and so smashed to atoms, that there is hardly a vestage of her to be seenw The ship Michael, of I^ndon, on shore^ billed, part of cargo sayed, and dis- charging into the Robert, of London. Hie mail-boat Eleanor, with the Leeward mails on board, knocked to atoms ; mails lost.

Sunday, August 6, 1837.

A.M. Arrived at Tortola. Here the hur- ricane has destroyed the town and several plantations. One brig from St. John's, with a great number of small craft, total wrecks.

jP.M. 2.30. Came to an anchor in St. Thomas's harbour, and landed the mails. Here the hurricane of the 2nd appeared to have concentrated all its power, force, and fury ; for the harbour and town were a scene that baffles all description. Thirty-six ships and vessels totally wrecked all around the harbour, among which about a dozen had sunk or capsized at their anchors ; some rode it out by cutting away their masts, and up- wards of 100 seamen drowned ; but what was very extraordinary, tbete was not one English vessel in the port. The harbour is so choked up with wreck and sunken vessels, that it is difficult to pick out a berth for a ship to anchor. The destructive powers of this hurricane will never be forgotten. Some houses were turned regularly bottom up. One large well-built house was carried by the force of the wind from ofif its foundation, and now stands upright in the middle of the street. The fort at the entrance of the har- bour is levelled with the foundation, and the 24-pounder8 thrown down : it looks as if it had been battered to pieces by cannon-shot. In the midst of the hurricane shocks of earthquake were felt : and to complete this awful visitation, a fire broke out in the back stores of Messrs. Stubbs and Co. Heavy tiles were flying about from the tops of the shaking and trembling houses, killing and wounding many persons. One fine American ship, 500 tons, was driven on shore under the citadel, and in an hmr nothing could be seen of her but a few timbers. Several fine merchant ships and brigs are at anchor, dis- masted, with cargoes ; and not a spar or rope for standing rigging to be had in the island. No place hitherto has suffered so much from a hurricane in all the West Indies as St. Thomas's. Thank God we escaped so well out of it! R. B. JAMES.

CHAP. V.

Second storm.

Chart VI.

Ik.

60

CHAP. V.

Second Btorin.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

"Jamaica, Aug. 13. — The Judith and Esther arrived here from Cork ; experienced a tremendous gale on the Ist inst. oflf Deseada, lat. 16°, long. 61°, for 24 hour9^ during which she was three times on her beam -ends, and lost boats, part of her bul- wark, and sails.**

Antigua.

" On the 2nd of August, between 2 and 3 a.m. we had a smart gale from north, which crept gradually round by north-west, west, and south-west, until it died away at south-east.** — Antigua Herald of the Bth of August, 1837-

" The barometer at Antigua, in the gale of the 2nd August, only sunk .43, another sunk .63." — West Indian.

Barbuba. " The brig Maria Jane upset and dismasted off Barbuda, in the storm of August 2, 1837.'* — American Paper.

Nevis.

" This morning, between 3 and 4, the wind being north, a shower of rain fell. At half-past 6 a.m. the wind began to rise until 8, it then shifted to the north-north-west, and gradually increased in gusts until 10, during which time much rain fell. The wind then veered to the westward, and next to due south, then back to south-west,* and last backed to south again, from whence it blew steadily and with violence until 2 p.m. when it abated.**— iVm» Post Newspaper, August 2, 1837.

St. Kitts.

" Early on Wednesday morning, the 2nd of August, the wind blew strong from the north, and indicated the forthcoming storm. At about 8 A.M. it veered to north-west, and shortly afterwards to west, during which time it blew a perfect gale, throwing a tremendous sea into the harbour, and threatening the destruc- tion of every vessel.'* — St. Christopher Gazette.

"The mail-boat Eleonore, Captain Carter, wrecked to the eastward of the bay of Basseterre, St. Kitts, on the 2nd August, 1837.** — Kingston Chronicle, Jamaica.

• •* It is difficult to ascertain with certainty the direction of the wind while the stonn continued."— from the St. Thomn»$ Times Nevtpaper, Au^nt o.

HURRICANES OF 1837. 61

'* At St. Bartholomew the storm commenced at north-east, CHAP, and continued to increase with violence until ^ p.m." — Barbadian V.

storm.

St. Baits.

Extract of a letter from the Dutch island of St. 8t.MarUn. Martin :

" A gale commenced about 9 a.m. and raged with great vio- lence from 11 A.M. to P.M., veering from east-north east to north- west,**— Barbadian Newspaper,

Extract of a letter from Lloyd's Correspondent, dated Santa Cruz :

" On Monday^ 31st July, 1837, the weather was moderate j Santa several ships sailed on Tuesday, the Ist of August ; in the even- '* ing the wind was north-east and the weather moderate. On Chart VI. Wednesday, the 2nd, the wind during the night had shifted to the north; the weather looked squally, cloudy, and suspicious, and continued so during the forenoon -, the wind shifted gra- dually to the north-north-west.

" At 1 P.M. the falling of the barometer, the appearance of the weather, and the increasing wind, left us no doubt of the approach- ing storm, and it came on from the north-west, between 3 and 4 P.M. The mercury continued falling, and the gale increasing until half-past 6 p.m. when the wind became westerly. At 7 p.m. the mercury began slowly to ascend, but yet the storm increased in violence. At 8 p.m. it was blowing a hurricane from west- south-west to the south-west, coming in furious gusts until 10 p.m., when a certain decrease in their violence had taken place, which abatement continued until Thursday morning, the 3rd of August, when it blew a fresh gale from the south.

(Signed) "ANDREW LANG."

" At Tortola the hurricane commenced at 3 p.m., and increased TortoUu in violence until 9 p.m., when it began to abate."

"The brig Jane, of St. John's, N.B., was driven on shore ^'"^ ''u— ^ni** during the gale on the 2nd of August."— Tor/o/a, August 6,

Purtof th* track

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

A P. Extract from the Log-book of the Brig Watkr-Witch, W, ^- Newby, Commander, fram Liverpool to St. Thomas's (kept

by the Mate), made by Mr. Gilbert Ker, Consignee of tbt

Vessel. — In Nautical Time.

H.	^	I Cour».	Wind.	Eemwk* on bowd. Tue»d«r, Aug. 1, IB37.
*'i	. We.t	BbjN	P.M. Freah breciM uid clev; people
				employed bending cables and ihiflingfoie-
				lopniail, and tap-gallant studding-tkill
	s	. WIN	Vmiable
10	fi			At A.no msde the iaUnd of Deieado,
12	6	. MidllighT		bearins S W by S, distant about 6 Uoeuei. At dusk, ihe land bore S S W ; mid-
				night, squally with heavy rain ; in royal*
	s	I	ENE	and all sluddinB-iaila. A.M. Steadybreeteaandoloudyisetdo.
	0
				sail ; at dajlisht made the tatand of ModI- seirat right a-beod ; set the jib and irVMul. . Noim cleari rock Redonda bearing ft S B
		. WNW	NE
10			N
				and ChaileatoD (Nevii) N. Lit. obi. 18»3'N.
Itemark. oil beard, WBdne«d.j. Aug. 3.
				1837.
2		. NWbyW	NE	P.U. Frofh breeze* and clear ; peopla emplnyed rarioualy; made the island of St.
4
a 8		. N W i W		Kitts; in lower and aU lee stodding-Mili. At -1. made the UUi.d of Sabs.
in				At du.lc, in all studdiDg-uuls ; Sab.
12				bearing N N E j and EusUlia E N E ; M 8. in Syiw jib snd royali ; midnight, f^b
2				breeiea and cloudy ; in lop-sillant-»aili. A.U. Do. we.ti.er.
				At T, made the Uland of St. John, ud
4				ibartlT after ihM of St. Thomia.
8				Noon squally ; double reefed the top-
in				laiU, snd stowed the jib; the (own ui
12				.„K.

Extract of a letter from Captain Newby, of the British brig Water-Witch, from Liverpool to St. Tho- mas's, and which left Liverpool, July 17, 1837. Storm " Arrived off St. Thomas's on the 2nd of August ; niurning

^rtaking gqually. and the Water-Witch was off St. John's, and standing for St. Thomas's, the wind north and north-north-west. Noon, shipping in the harbour visible ; at 1 p.m. squalls violent ; at 3 P.M. we had beat up within half a mile of the forts, when we could proceed no further for the violence of the squalls, and anchored in ten fathoms water ; seat down top -gallant- yards.

HURRICANES OF 1837. 63

ice. 'y did not suspect a hurricane. At 5 p.m. squalls ceased^ CHAP.

ind began a heavy gale of wind^ at that time off the land. At 7 V.

?.M. a hurricane beyond all description dreadful -, the windlass

:apsized^ and I could not slip my cables^ ship driving until I was storm at

n twenty fathoms water : a calm then succeeded for about ten ^'* '^*^°" ^ ' mas.

tninutes, and then^ in the most tremendous unearthly screech I

5ver heard, it recommenced from the south and south-west ; I now , i . .

considered it all over with us, for the wind was directly on shore, /^ 7^^. •^i'** ^*'"'

and the sea rose and ran mountains high. The foretop-gaUant-f Oa^**^***^*^

mast (though struck) and the gig were carried up some feet in

the air, and the vessel drove again into twelve fathoms. We were

3bliged to steer her all night, and keep her head to wind, for t^w^/^.w*-* ''•**^

when she got her bows to it she went down on her broadside, i^y^'i^ f'^ /

\t 2 P.M. the gale abated somewhat, and the barometer rose an y^ /- ,^' . t- u r^.

inch J at daylight, out of forty vessels, the Water- Witch and one

other were the only two not sunk, ashore, or capsized.**

" Papers from Caraccas have been received to the 5th ot Sep- Porto tember. They contain a detailed account of the hurricane at ^^^°' Puerto Rico, on the 2nd of August, which was equally disastrous in its effects with that at Barbados and the other West India islands. Fourteen Spanish vessels, nine foreign, of which, how- ever, not one was English, and ten coasters, were entirely wrecked during the tempest.** — Hampshire Telegraph.

Extract of a letter from the Harbour-Master at Porto Rico to the Governot.

"At 4 P.M. on the 2nd of August, 1837, in consequence of having observed the barometer falling, I ordered all vessels in the harbour to prepare for stormy weather, although the fall of the barometer was not great.

"At 8 P.M. the mercury was at 29.6 Baro.

"At 9 P.M 29.5 Wind at N. N. E. meter.

At 10 P.M. barometer . . . 29.4 and strong.

At 1 1 P.M 29.3 Wind veering to E.

At this hour it began to blow in an alarming and furious degree until midnight ; when the ,

barometer stood at 28.0, and every vessel \^^< sunk or ashore. '

"At i p. 1 A.M. 3rd August, the ba- rometer rose to . 29.17 " At 4 A.M. the barom. stood at 29.5 Wind fell and then

veered to S.

u

» ;. L. < >■■

64

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. "Thirty-three vessels were at anchor, and all lost. From St. V' Bartholomew we have learned, that on the 2nd of August two g^ , hundred and fifty buildings were destroyed."

Btorm> —

" The Nile, American brig, foundered at sea August 4th, 1837; lat 31^ 30', longitude not known.*'

St. Do- mingo.

Captain A. Milne, R.N.

Chart VI.

"The William FV. was lost at the island of Ramos, near the island of Taxando, Porto Rico.**

" It blew a hurricane o£f Ragged Island on the 4th of August, 1837."

"A severe hurricane was experienced at Porto Plata (St. Domingo) on the 3rd of August, which did considerable da- mage.**— New York Paper.

It IS the salt water, driven by the force of the wind in hurricanes, over islands, which blackens vege- tation in the manner described below. This evil is mitigated when abundant rain falls at the same time, by washing the salt spray from plants. Gales, un- accompanied by heavy rains, prove sometimes very destructive to small islands. The following I re- ceived from Captain Milne, R.N.

" H. M. S. Snake, off N.E. point of Cuba. August 'ind. Bar. 30.95, wind east, force 3, fine weather. August Srd. Bar. 30.18, wind not as usual, being from S.E. to E., and p.m. to E.N.E., then toN.N.E., fine weather. . " August 4th, Bar. 30.04, morning dull and hazy, sky wild and unsettled, wind N. by £., a heavy swell from N.N.E., breaking heavy on the coast. Bar. 29*98, wind shifted to N.W., fresh breezes and squally; 3 p.m. wind W. -y 6 p.m. sky threatening and wild, a great deal of dull blue lightning pouring down in the northern sky j 8 p.m. strong gales with heavy squalls, wind S.W. by W., with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain ; 10 p.m. wind subsided, barometer risen -, midnight, light winds and cloudy, wind S. S.W.

" Following day fine weather, with wind S.W., S., and S.E. ; Bar. noon, 30.13.

€€

tt

THE VARIABLB WINDS.

65

" On the 6th, arrived at Fortane Island ; found that Crooked CHAP. Island had been visited by a hnrricane. The statement given by ^- the residents was, that on Thursday night, the 3rd August, at second 1 1 P.M., the gale freshened up at N.E., blowing with great vio- Btorm. lence, uprooting trees, blowing down their flag- staffs, and destroy- uig vegetation. On the 4th, about noon, the wind shifted to N.W., blowing with greater violence than before 5 several vessels which were there were wrecked or left dry upon the beach : total destruction to aU vegetation. Torrents of rain fell during the whole time, inundating the low lands : this rain was brackish, s ^^ *-— *- ^^ On the afternoon of the 4th, the wind shifted from N.W. to S.W,. still blowing hard ; during the night it shiftied to N.E., and cleared up. Another hurricane was expected next full tnoon, from there being little thunder and lightning during the hurri- cane. From the fall of the barometer, on the 15/A and iSth August, a gale must have blown in the vicinity of the Bahamas.*

" Having visited Crooked Island in the middle of July, I was much struck on my return after the hurricane, at the change produced on the face of the country. Where a few days previous nature presented all the brilliancy of tropical vegetation — oranges and limes hanging to their trees in graceful festoons — all now were gone 5 the trees lay prostrate, and the whole aspect of the island was changed from the vivid green of vegetation to the dark withered leaf, as if winter had encroached on the tropical regions. The changes of the wind were, as before, round by the north.

(Signed) "A. MILNE, Capt. H.M.S. Snake."

"JJassau, New Providence, 6th Sept., 1837.— Since the Nassaa. storms which occurred here on the 29th of July and 5th of August, 18S7, we have had no accounts from the out islands until within the last three or four days. These accounts are very distressing. It was the gale which began amongst them on August 4th which did the greatest damage. The sea rose on the Chart VI. south side of the Great Bahama, and washed away some low land. At St. Salvador the storm was very severe, and several bouses were blown down, as well as stock destroyed. At Long Island (more particularly on the north part of it) an unusual and de- structive rise of the sea took place, and drowned a number of cattle. At Rum Key the loss was great indeed."— ^ow the Charleston Courier.

• This alludes to the storm on Chart VII.

F

66

HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. '' The Ulrica was dismasted off Hole-in-the-Wall on the 5th ^* August, 1 83 7.* * — Charleston Mercury,

Second Btorm.

Ship Athol.

Chart VI.

Storm's yonex.

" The brig Ann and Minerva, from Havannah to Corunna, on the 6th August, 1837, in lat. 30° 31', long. 73° 19',* during a severe gale from the south-east, was hove on her beam- ends and compelled to cut away both masts.'* — From the Southern Patriots

" The brig Bell, from Demerara to Nassau, in gales from the 4th to the 6th August. She experienced a succession of hurri- canes from the north-west and south-west. On the 7th, in lat. 27° 40, long. 75° 50', spoke the Saratoga, and got a supply of bread and spars. On the 15th of August, in lat. 31° 21', long. 78° Sf, met the Brilliant, Jamaica ship, bound for Liverpool, which supplied her with water and spars.**

Extract of a letter from Mr. Gleig, Commander of the ship Athol, Havannah to Antwerp :

"Cowes, 15th Sept., 1837.

" I sailed from Havannah on August 1st, with a favourable wind from the south-east, until the morning of the 5th, when we were forced to shorten sail, with the wind from north-east. Towards evening we were compelled to heave-to, with a heavy sea going from the same direction, until the morning of the 6th, when about 9 o'clock the sea was perceived to be in a tremendous uproar, which was occasioned by the swell from the other direc- tion.! At 10 o'clock it fell away calm all at once, and in the course of 20 minutes the water was perceived through the haze to appear the same as heavy breakers : when about 10 hours 30 minutes, our breakers turned into a complete hurricane, which assumed its greatest strength in the course of an hour, and lasted until betwixt 4 and 5 in the afternoon, when it abated gradually. The direction of wind was in general from north to west, but at times it extended as far as south.

(Signed) "GEORGE GLEIG, Master.**

" To Lieut.-Col. Reid, R. E."

* This Itt. and long, places the ship beyond the verge of the stonn, as I hsTe marked it. The storm may have been more extended.

t See ** The Progress of the Development of the Law of Storms and of the Variable Winds" for an explanation of winds and waves at the storm's vortex.

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 67

"The brig William, from Portland to Matanzas, put into CHAP. Charleston on the 5th of August, 1837. OflF Ahaco experienced ^' a severe gale from the north-east : lay to ; hove overboard all g^^^^ that was upon her decks. Finding she was driving towards the storm shore, cut away both lower masts and let go her anchors, with the frdl scope of cable. At 9 p.m. the wind shifted to the south- west, when she parted the starboard chain cables ; then the crew shipped the other chain and tried for the nearest port. Fell in with the William Davison, from Jamaica to London, and received frx)m the master a spar and a sail, for which he publicly thanks Captain Nares." — Charleston Mercury,

*' Brig Pomeroy, off Abaco, in the gale on the 5th of August, 1837, lost her masts, and put into Wilmington.*' — Ibid,

" A severe gale of wind at Jacksonville, on the 1st of August, Florida which continued until Sunday last, the 6th August, when it blew ^^^^ a hurricane frova. the north-east to south-east. Two government warehouses were blown down in Jacksonville, and the cotton crops destroyed." — National Intelligencer,

" The brig Opulence experienced a hurricane on the 5th August, 1837. Hole-in- the- Wall bearing south-west forty miles distant; wind from south-east to north-east; lost topmasts, &c. &c.'*

The effect of storms in creating unusually high tides, and in deluging low lands on the border of the sea, will be frequently noticed, and this is a part of the subject of great interest.*

"Darien, August 10. — During the last week we have been visited by a storm which has not been equalled since that of the year 1824. The wind on Sunday last, in the morning, blew fresh from the north-east ; in the after part of the day it shifted round to south-east, when the rain began to fall in heavy torrents. The wind then rose very high, and began to blow with fearful violence, tearing up the oldest oaks and mulberry-trees in the place by the roots, while limbs and branches of the different trees were flying in all directions. The water of the river then rose, and covered Inunda- the rice plantations so completely, that they appeared to the eye ^io'^bythe

♦ See page 100, " Progress of the Development," &c.

f2

68

HURRICANES OF 1837.

Second storm.

*«*^'^^"^

CHAP, to form part of the river. The rice, there is no doubt^ will be ^* greatly injured by the salt with which the water is impregnated. From the country^ the accounts represent the cotton crops to be all but destroyed^ and the com broken down^ and many houses unroofed. A letter from Jacksonville says, ' We have had the hurricane on a visit for two days. Houses innumerable have been destroyed, and two great stores have also been demolished. Our crops have shared a similar fate, especially com, which is completely laid waste in the fields.* The vessels which had ma- terially suffered from the hurricane are as follow : — ^The Bolivar, Richardson, drifted nine miles over the marsh, and left about six hundred yards from the bed of the river. Virginia in the same state. The Forester, after having dragged six miles over the marsh, left high and dry four hundred yards from the river. Greorge and Mary, from Charleston, was lost j crew saved. The Favourite drifted over St. John's bar, and afterwards sank in Jacksonville harbour ; cargo. United States' stores, kMt. The Ann, after drifting six miles into the woods, was left seven hun- dred yards from the river. A schooner, with black bottom, on shore on Cumberland bank. A sloop on shore near Fernandi, with mast, &c., broken. Great apprehensions were entertained for the S. S. Mills, which left St. Augustine's on the 5th inst. with thirty passengers on board." — Times Newspaper.

" St. Mary's, August 13. — On the 5th we were visited with

a very severe gale, which has done great injury to the crops and

Inunda- buildings. Our streets were completely inundated by the over-

tionbythe flowing of the river, and persons walking were knee-deep in

high tide, water. In the bay it was waist-deep, and it was not long before

the place was rendered impassable. Had the wind continued for

two or three hours longer there could not have been a house left

standing. The oldest inhabitant does not recollect a similar

occurrence, and the buildings are all more or less injured. The

damage here has been estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000 dc^Iars.

The cotton, as far as I have heard, is totally destrojred."

Schooner " The schooner S. S. Mills, firom St. Augustine's, on Saturday, S.S.MilU. 5^jj August, 1837, for Charleston, with passengers, was over- taken by the hurricane on the 6th August, and capsized on attempting to cross the bar of St. Andrews. One man only was saved on a spar." — Charleston Mercury, 20/A August, 1837.

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 69

(From the Sawumah RepubHcan, Aug. 7«) C H A P. •' The Wbathsr. — Wc have not for some time, partkularly ^'

at this season of the year^ been visited with a blow equal to that o^^.^

we have experienced for the last five days, and we are fearful, Btorm.

that much injury has occurred to the shipping along the coast. Coast of Our city has suffered in the prostration of trees and fences. The ^ '

tide on yesterday was over our wharves^ and no doubt those who Hish tide,

have planted on low lands on the river have suffered materially.'* ^^ — Times Newspaper.

** Savannah, August 15. — ^The heavy gale with which we have been visited has left us nearly desolate, and the houses left standing are much injured. All goods in the front of the stores are damaged, and many of the vessels in the harbour, after inunda- having dragged miles up the river, are left high and dry upon the JJ^J^ggJ marsh. The schooner America was struck by lightning, and her fore, royal, and main-topgallant-mast severely damaged 5 the decks ripped up, and her cargo set on fire, though not entirely consumed. The captain as he stood was stunned, and did not recover for an hour after. She was shortly to leave for New Orleans. Happily we have heard of no lives being lost, not- withstanding houses were frequently seen falling just on the eve of the tenants leaving them, whilst others were completely swept from their foundations by the water, which was from four to six feet deep in the streets. The cotton crop is totally lost \ and it is considered by some who have seen several of the plantations that ten bags will not be made round the country. I suppose the destruction by hurricane in this part of the country was never before so universal. Our cotton-fields, which were good for a bag per acre, have been three feet deep in water, and our com is utterly gone. It is impossible to estimate the damage done to the crops, buildings, trees, and fences 3 but it is my opinion that we shall scarcely recover in five years." — lUd.

" The schooner Erie, off Charleston bar, the 6th August, 183T> at 3 P.M. The wind suddenly shifted to the amtth-tast, and com- pelled her to stand to the south to prevent her going on shore. Passed two disabled vessels.** — Southern Patriot.

** Brig Franklin, Captain Schofield, experienced a severe gale on the 6th August, 1S37> off Doboy Island. She was compelled to scud, and make the north end of Cumberland Island. Struck

.4

70 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP, three times in crossing the bar. Saw a schooner to leeward at

^' the commencement of the storm. The schooner suddenly dis-

Second appeared, but we soon saw her again, bottom upwards.** — From

storm. the New York General Advertiser.

Extract of a letter from St. Simon's Island :

" On the Ist and 2nd of August, 1837 (in lat. 31° 2', long. 81° 28') j we had a very severe gale here ; and on Sunday, the 6th August, it commenced blowing about noon ; and between 3 and 5 o'clock it shifted from north-east to south-east, and became one of the most furious hurricanes we have had since 1834. It con- tinued to blow until midnight, or 1 o'clock in the morning of the 7th, when it abated suddenly.**

" The gale, which swept along the south coast, on the 7th of August, 1837^ was felt in full force at Pensacola, lat. 30° 2S', long. 87° 29'. Almost all the vessels, except the ships of war, dragged and went ashore.** — New York Gazette,

''New York, 23rd August, 1837. — During a violent gale at Pensacola, on the 8th inst., the brigs Alvira, Rondout, and Lion, were driven on shore, and much damage done to the shipping in port. Most of the small vessels were driven on shore.* *-^jFytwi Lloyd's List,

Ship

The following is a remarkable narrative :

" Cove of Cork, Dec. 14th, 1837. " Sir, — Having received yours of the 7th instant, I haste to Jadithand give you every information respecting the hurricane which I was Esther, ^^^ ^^ board of the brigantine Judith and Esther, of Cork, which NarratiTo vessel I was master of, and bound from Cork to Kingston^

slJSi;ur. Jwnaica.

" I sailed from Cork on the 2nd of July, in the present year,

for Jamaica, having carried a fair wind from the time of my

departure up to the 1 st of August, on which day I experienced

a most dreadfid hurricane, the following of which are the

particulars :

Chart VI. " On the night of the 31 stof July, at 8 p.m., in lat. 17® IjK

Remark- north, and long 52° 10' west, the wind blowing fresh from the

peaiance "orth-east, and all possible sail set, / observed a white appearance

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 71

of a round form, nearly vertical, and while looking steadfastly at it^ C H A P.

a sudden gust of wind carried away the topmast and lower studding" ^'

sails. At 8.30 p.m. the atmosphere became very cloudy, and the second

wind increasing, we took in our small sails and took one reef in storm.

the topsail, not observing at this time any swell but what would niosphere.

have rose from such a breeze. The wind continued after this Xo swell.

time quite steady from the north-east, and not increasing until

the hour of 1 a.m. on the following morning (1st August), when

the wind increased and the sea rose very fast, so that it caused

the vessel to labour hard. At 6.30 a.m. on the same day, close- Close

reefed the topsail, reefed the foresail and furled it, and close- '®?$^^

o.oO a.iii.

reefed the mainsail; sent top-gallant-yards down, and housed the main- top-gallant- mast ; the sea at this time very high and regular from the north-east. Seven a.m. the wind gradually tn- Wind in- creasing 3 took in the mainsail and topsail, and let the vessel run <^'c*8ing. under bare poles, all hands being of opinion that she would do better running than if hove-to ; the sea at this time very high. Scudding, and the vessel labouring and straining much, and shipping great quantities of water : the pumps being particularly attended to. At about 8 A.M. very heavy rain, and the wind increasing to a g a.m. hurricane, so that it was impossible to hear each other speak on deck, or yet do anything for our safety. She broached-to, and Broached-

was hove on her larboard beam- ends, by a tremendous heavy *<>» *^ice

•' •'on beam

sea, which, after she righted, we found took all the bulwarks ends. nearly away on the larboard side. She had been for some time on her larboard beam -ends before she rose, and when she did, the wind veered suddenly to the southward of east. After running a short time before the wind, she was hove again on her beam- ends, which, when she righted, took all the bulwark away on the other side except a few planks; she then became iigain ma- nageable for about fifteen minutes, which time was about noon. After the short time she was manageable, it fell calm for about Calm, fifteen minutes, and the hurricane suddenly veered to about south, when we then gave up all hopes of safety. A sea, owing to the sudden shift of wind, had struck her on the starboard Third time

side, and hove the vessel the third time on her beam-ends. She on beam

' ends.

lUid remained some time so^ the cabin nearly filled with water, and

forecastle (though as much precaution as possible taken against

it) ; all the boats (3), the cookhouse, water-casks, spafe spars,

sails, a quantity of spare rope, in fact every thing of toy value

was gone ; the mate, who was attending as well as possible to

the wheel, was washed from it, the wheel was carried away. All

#

72 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP, the stanchions on the starboard side were broken, and every

^- sail, except the mainsail, blown away into rags, though furled

I T properly ; the foretop, while on her beam-ends, nearly smashed

storm. to pieces, when to our agreeable surprise we observed her again

righting, and could not account for the manner in which we

were saved, but through the powerful hand of an Almighty

Protector. For nearly an hour we could not observe each other, or

anything but merely the lights and, most astonishing, every one of

Finger wr Jinger-nails turned quite black, and remained so nearly five weeks

hf^^^^^d ^fi^^^^'^^^* After she had righted, we observed the clouds

crew lost break, which were from the commencement of the gale in a

^^^ body, with heavy rain, the wind also abating a little \ one hand

managed to get below and procured a handspike, which we

shipped as a tiller, and managed to get her again before the sea,

which was then running tremendously high > the pumps were

again got at, and kept going. This time we considered about

3 P.M. 3 P.M., the gale then began to abate, and the sea did not break

so furiously, so that we managed to set a balance reefed main- sail, and hove her to. The gale still abating, I went below, and found every article, that could be damaged by salt water, da- maged : the pumps still attended to ^ and we found she did not make any water except what got from the cabin and forecaatle. At 6 P.M. the gale greatly abated, and the sea fell fast. The appearance of the sky at this time was most remarkable, being VeiT dark of a deep red colour to the north, and looking yexj dark to the "^ ^ west, as if the gale was moving in that direction. At midnight the gale considerably abated and the weather appeared much

4 A.M. better, the vessel not making any water. At 4 a.m. on the fol- ^^1' lowing morning, being the Snd of August, the weather appeared turned. as before the gale (a steady breeze from north-east)^ tiie atmo- sphere at this time being a dark red, and the clouds not moving* We at this time bent the second topsail and ran under it single- reefed, and a close-reefed mainsail. At 10 a.m. on the same day^ the wind remaining quite steady, ran under a whole topsail and single-reefed mainsail ; the crew being quite exhausted, I gave them the remainder part of the day for rest. The wind was at first north-east, and veered easterly to south, or south-somth-wegt. No swell preceded the storm. The barometer was broken ^ but by

Barque the barque Laidmans, of Liverpool, Capt Hughes, which arrived felt the^'^ ^^ Kingston four days after me, her barometer (in the lat. and ■well. long, in which I experienced the gale) was very unsteady, rising

* A second letter on this subject follows this one.

THE VARIABLE WIND8. 73

and falling during three days^ and a very heavy sea running, CHAP, though not an increase of wind. ^*

" Our sufferings were very great, more so than any person Second could imagine. storm.

" All the within particulars are well authenticated, which will be seen by the protest now in London.

" I trust every information you require is here j and if the track of the Judith and Esther be required, I shall send you an abstract } it is really worthy of notice. Trusting I have not delayed this information too long, I remain your obedient humble servant, "WILLIAM SEYMOUR.**

"To Lieut.-Col. Wm. Reid, R.E."

On receiving Mr. Seymour's first letter, I wrote for an explanation on certain parts of it, and the following is his answer :

" Cove of Cork, Jan. 2nd, 1838.

" Sir, — The information which you require I would have Mr. Sey- given you ere now, but being from home. second

" Respecting the gust of wind which first alarmed us on the letter, night commencing the hurricane ? It came from a north-east direction, and remained so without turning until the time men- tioned in my last to you.

" Secondly, as to our holding on when the vessel lay on her beam-ends the third time }

" The third time the vessel had been on her beam -ends, some of the crew were in the main rigging, and the others standing on the weather side of the companion, holding on the weather rail.

" Thirdly, as to the cause of not being able to see each other ?

" The cause of this I cannot well tell j but while running before the vessel was hove the third time on her beam-ends, and while on the beam-ends, the atmosphere had quite a different appearance j darker, but not so dark that (I should imagine) would hinder one ft*om seeing the other, or from seeing a greater distance, were it not that our eyes were affected. It was about this time our finger-nails had turned black 3 and whether it was from the firm grasp we had on the rigging or rails I cannot tell, but my opinion is, that the whole was caused by an electric body in the elements Every one of the crew were affected in the same way,

" I have the honour, &c.

"WILLIAM SEYMOUR."

"To Lieut.-Col. Wm. Reid, R.E. '

74 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. These two storms lead us towards an explanation of

'- — the variable winds. The track of the Barbados hurri-

^rm.^ cane, delineated on Chart V., is also marked by cruci- form dots on Chart VI., and its probable place on the 6th of August is shown by a dotted circle. The places of two progressive whirlwind storms on the 6th of August, are, therefore, shown on Chart VI. By con- sidering these figures, it will be seen, that the west wind of the first storm would become neutralized and reversed, as the second storm advanced to the place left by the first.

Hurricane of the middle of August.

Third THE THIRD STORM,

■torin.

On Chart VII. a more extensive storm is described ; and as it occurred at the period when the last Jamaica ships of the season were on their passage to England, it affords a good opportunity for the investigation on the nature of storms.

I have endeavoured to procure as many logs of ships in these storms, or narratives in place of the logs^ from the masters in command of the vessels as possible ; yet it will be found, that there are still many to be obtained : and notwithstanding the "appearance of this plate, crowded with the names of Vessels, there are still others whose positions I have not been able to procure.

The barque Felicity, of Greenock, met this storm^ on the 13th of August, upwards of 400 miles to the eastward of the West Indies, and somewhat to the northward of these islands ; and her place is marked on the chart. Whether the storm originated there or more to the eastward I am unable to explain ; but it is

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 75

remarkable, that at the commencement of the storm it chap.

was in the north-west quarter in which the sky ap- '- —

peared black. The wind commenced blowing from ^J^ that quarter, veering to west, to south-west, and south; but I have not obtained the log in detail.

Three other ships met with the hurricane north* Castries,

Scipio,

east of Antigua, viz., the Castries, the Scipio, and the and

-. , - Margaret.

Margaret ; but I have only been able to get the log of the first ; and her course from St. Lucia to England will be found laid down. Between noon-day of the 14th, and noon of the 15th of August, the Castries appears to have crossed the last portion the third storm ; and to have had the wind veering as it would do under such circumstances, in a storm which revolved from right to left. On the 14th, the Sophia, then 800 miles from the storm, began to feel the swell from the south-east.

On the 15th the storm had reached Turk's Island; and on the 16th, it began to be felt by the easternmost vessels, then off the Bahamas : on that day the Mary Sharpe was dismasted; on the 17th the Calypso was upset*

. At midnight on the 18th, the Rawlins will be found Chart vn. becalmed in the centre of this great «torm; now extend- ing over a circle of 600 miles in diameter. If such a circle be described, and we turn to the log of any ship (as for example the Sophia) which the circle includes, we shall find the Veering of the wind such as it would be in a rotatory storm. A short time before the centre of the storm reached the ship Rawlins, the Sophia had the wind from the east-north-east. By degrees, as the northern portion of the storm was passing over the Sophia, the gusts came from the east^ and then from

76 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP, the east-south-east, for the hurricane was then moving

'- — towards the north-west : and when the storm suddenly

atom. changed its direction (as so many of these gales do on approaching this part of the coast of America), then See log. we find by Mr. Barclay's narrative, that on the after- an?'2i8u noon of the next day, the wind backed to the east and then to north : for the storm proceeding now towards the north-east, left the Sophia in the left-hand semi- circle* The West Indian (Turner), like the Rawlins, will be found becalmed in its turn : and the log of the Rawlins contains a remark on ** the dismal appearanee to the north-west : " which points at the place of the West Indian at this period. If a new circle be now described with the same radius, and with the place of the West Indian as a centre, this cirele will reach the Penelope; and if we turn to Mr. Grimes's narrative, we shall find his ship beginning to feel the hurricane about this period of its course.

This will explain the mode of investigation adopted : but to render it as satisfactory as the subject is capable of being made, the log of every ship on Chart VII. should be procured and printed : to obtain them all has been beyond my power; for although I have found in every quarter a strong desire to aid this inquiry, the masters of ships are too busily employed when in port to copy out the necessary documents. I shall now give the data procured, such as they are ; and after- wards endeavour to explain the fourth and fifth storms. Most of the ships placed on this chart were drifting with the Gulf-stream during the storm, at a time when no observations could be got. Their actual places, therefore, during the storm, cannot be ascertained with exactness; but the evidence from the reports leaves

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 77

little doubt but that this great storm, like the others, chap.

was rotatory and progressive. The following are the '- —

documents : '^^^

■torm. "St. Augustine, 19th August, 1837. — On Tuesday, the 15th August, we were visited by a third gale of wind, of equal severity with the two which preceded it, and which continued until the afternoon of Friday, 18th August, when it ceased." — American Newspaper,

" The schooner James Busick, sailed from Norfolk, U.S., for the West Indies, but returned, being damaged in a severe gale on the 14th Aug^ust, which continued with violence for thirty-six hours.*' — Ibid,

"A severe gale at Turk's Island on the 15th August."- JFVom Lloyd's List.

Narrative of Mr. Wilkinson, Master of the Calypso, ship in the storm of the middle of August, 1837.

"On the 15th August, at noon, the Calypso was, by obser- Chart VII. vation, in lat. 26° 47' north, and lonj, 75® 6' west j the wind was from the eastward, about east-north^iln^ ; she had royals and fore-topmast-studding-sail set: shortly tiiter, we got a heavy Heavy swell ftrom the north-eastward, and the wind freshened gradually B^ell* till 9 o'clock, when only the double-reefed topsails, reefed foresail and mizen, could be carried. During the night the wind in- creased, and day-light (the moon about full) found the vessel under a close-reefed main-topsail, with royal and top-gallant- Close- yards on deck, and prepared for a gale of wind. At 10 a.m. the ^ * wind about north-east^ the lee-rail under water, and the masts bending like canes ; got a tarpaulin on the main rigging, and took the main-topsail in ; the ship labouring much, obliged main Took in and bilge-pumps to be kept constantly going. At 6 p.m. the ^P^^- wind north-west, I should think the lat. would be about 27°, and long. 77®. At midnight the wind was west, when a sea took the quarter-boat away. At day-dawn, or rather I should have said the time when the day would have dawned, the wind was south- west, and a sea stove the fore- scuttle -, all attempts to stop this Fore- leak were useless, for when the ship pitched the scuttle was g^^^g considerably under water : I then had the gaskets and lines cut

WhiUt muU ship

HURRICANES OF 1837.

from the reefed Toressil, which hlew away ; a oew fore- topmast - atuddiog-sail was got up and down the fore-rigging, but in a few seconds the bolt-rope only remained ; the masts had then to be cut away. My chief mate had a small axe in hia berth, which he had made very sharp a few days previous ; that was immediately procured ; and while the men were employed cnttiog away the mizenmaat, the lower yard-arms went in the water. It is homau nature to struggle hard for life ; so fourteen men and myself got over the rail between the main and roizen rigging, OS Ihe imut-headi vent into the tealer : the ship was sinking faat ; while some men were employed cutting the weather- lanyards of the rigging, some were calling to God for mercy; some were^ stupified with despair ; and two poor fellows, who had gone' ' from the afterhold, over the cai^, to get to the forecastle, to try to stop the leak, were swimmiog in the ship's hold. In about three minutes after getting on the bends, the weather- lanyards were cut fore and aft, and the mizen, main, and fore- masts went one after the other, just as the vessel wA going down head foremost.

"She then righted very slowly. On getting on board again, I found the three masts had gone close off by the deck : the boats were gone, the main hatchesstove in, the planks of the deck had started in many places, the water was up to the beams.

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 79

and the puncheons of rum sending about the hold with great CHAP, violence ; the starboard gunwale was about a foot from the level ^* of the sea, and the larboard about five feet ; the main and mizen- masts were held on the starboard side by the lee-rigging, and the stonn. foremast was kept from floating from the starboard side by the stay. The sea was breaking over the ship as it would have done over a log. You will, perhaps, say it could not have been worse, and any lives spared to tell the tale. I assure you. Sir, it was worse ', and by Divine Providence, every man was suffered to walk from that ship to the quay at Wilmington, although the main and bilge-pumps were broken ! The wind, from about noon of the l6th till about 10, or noon of the 17 th, blew with nearly the same violence. There was no lull ; neither did it fly from one quarter of the compass to the other, but backed from east-north-east to south-west^ and then died away gradually. On Sunday, while beating off Rum Key, the wind was variable and squally. On Monday, in lat. 24° 40', long. 74° 45', had fine steady winds from the eastward. Tuesday I have described. I had no barometer ; but Arom the appearance of the weather on Monday and Tuesday morning, I did not apprehend we should have had bad weather.

" We shall now return ft'om noticing the Avinds and weather, to see the Calypso safely anchored. After fishing the pumps, and getting them made air-tight, by putting candles and winding new canvass round, they were set to woi^, notwithstanding the seas breaking constantly over. The week of the masts Wks cleared, about sixty puncheons of rum stove, and the men re- mained night and day at the pumps, till Monday the 21st, when the water in the hold having decreased to nine feet, a spare spar was lashed to the paul-bolts for a jury-foremast, and a topsail set on it, the wind being then southerly. On Tuesday, the spritsail-yard was turned into a jury-mizenmast, and an old foresail set on it, that being the only sail, except the jib of the sparesail, that was not entirely destroyed. On Wednesday, got the pumps to suck, and set the jib forward : there being only two-thirds of a puncheon of water, two bags of damaged bread, and a barrel of pork, but no cooking apparatus on board, were obliged to go on an allowance of one pint of water each per day. The condition the men now were in was indeed very bad ; they were worn down with fatigue, had lost all their clothes and bedding, and were covered with boils. On Friday, shortened the allowance of water to half a pint each per day, and remained in

80 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP, that condition till the 30th, during the days, under a sooi

^- sun, and at night laying on deck. On the SOth, in lat. 3«** «', «, . , and long, about 78J° W., we fell in with the American brig

storm. Rupert, from Havannah to New York : the generous captain immediately sent a puncheon of water, some fruit, and many little luxuries, for which I shall ever feel grateful. This was tbe third vessel we had spoken since the hurricane, but the only one that assisted us. The first had had h*is deck swept, and could spare nothing ; the second was an American brig, that we feU in with at night, and hailed, telling him our distress : he asked if we could remain on board till daylight : and when I told tliat I only wanted provision and water, he surlily asked, ' What ship is that ? where are you from ? where are you bound to then ? wliat*8 your longitude?* When all his questions were answered, he hauled his wind, and at day-dawn in the morning could just be seen on the horizon. On ike S\st of August we sighted the land, about thirty miles to the southward of Cape Fear, but the wmi coming more from the eastward, had to bring up in five fathoias Fifth water. During the night the wind increased, but fortunately

storm. backed into the northward (which was off the land), and at noon on the following day blew a very heavy gale of wind, and continned until the morning of tke Slnd, when it backed to the west -north-west, and moderated : we then slipped the cable, and sailed along the land for Baldhead lighthouse. At noon we got a pilot on board, and anchored once more in port. We were kindly received by the good people at Smithville and Wilmington, who complained bitterly of the late storm, for many of their houses were np- roofed, and trees blown down.

(Signed) "GILBERT WILKINSON."

''To Lieut.-Col. Reid, R.E."

At>

Two paintings of the ship have been made by the marine-painter, Mr. Huggins, under the direction of the master, Mr. Wilkinson, which Mr. Huggins has re- duced for this work. The first shows the crew on the ship's bottom cutting the weather-rigging, and is placed where that act is described by Mr. Wilkinson.

The other is the Calypso under jury-masts, and the crew bringing their ship into Wilmington. The

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

81

" shifting of the wind to the eastward, and its in- c H A P.

creasing" will be again adverted to, in illustration of '■ —

our subject; it was the fifth Btorm and came from ^^ the west.

The Calypso appears to have been upset just after half the storm had passed over, and to have been very nearly, although not quite in the centre of its course.

" The brig Mary, Sharp, dismasted and lost her rudder u l6th Awguat, lat. 27° 30', long. 73° 50'."

" The brig Cumberland put into Nassau, having experienced a hanicane on the 15th Aogast." — Lloyd'i List,

"The Marjr, Sharp, from New Orleans to Barbados, was abandoned on the 5th September, lat. 32°, long. S0°, having been dismasted and thrown on her beam ends, with six feet water in her hold, in a gale on the t6th August, in lat. 37° 30', long. 73° 53'."

"The Neptune from Jamaica to London, was dismasted in this storm."

82 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. " The Jennet^ Gibson, from Honduras to London, was cap- V. sized in a gale on the 21st August. On the 3rd September the

^ . , crew arrived at Rhode Island.**

Third

storm.

''The Emerald saw the Rosebud, of Glasgow, on the ^rd August, in lat. 34°, long. 75°, a wreck ; stood for her, and found her derelict.'" — Lloyd's List.

''The Duke of Manchester was thrown on her beam ends, and lost her mainmast in a gale on the 18th and IQth Augnst, lat. 32°, long. 77V'— Ibid.

"The brig Yankee, on the I6th August, in lat. 24° 30', long. 70° 30^ experienced a severe gale of wind from north-east to south-south-west, which lasted until the 20th. Lost her main-tq[MHul, &c. &c.*' — New York General Advertiser.

"The packet ship Sheridan, Rnasdl, arrived at New York, on the JiBth August, from Liverpool. On the 22nd Augoat, in lat. 39° 45^ long. 68° 33", experienced a hurricane, which took away the fore and main-topsails (double-reefed) from the yards entirely, leaving nothing but the bolt-rope standing.*'

" Philadklphia, Aug. 19. — ^The Mecklenburg brig Harmonie, Galle, from New York for Alexandria, was driven on shore fifty miles to the southward of the Capes on Saturday night last in the gale ; the captain has come to town for assistance, and states that the vessel is perfectly tight, and can be got off without mnch damage.**

" New York, Aug. 31. — ^The Hindley, Turner, from Laguna for Liverpool, which was off Sandy Hook on the I6th inst., dis- masted, has been brought up to this port ; the three lower masts have been replaced without discharging, and it is expected she win be able in a fortnight to proceed.**

" Sept. 8. — ^The barque Wanstead, arrived here from London, experienced on the 23rd August, in lat. 43° 34', long. 54® 20^, a severe gale of wind ', lost boat, stove bulwarks, and washed seven men and the captain overboard, and succeeded in getting them on board again.'*

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 83

*' The Rosebad, Dick, from Hayannah to London, was capsized CHAP, and dismasted on the 1 8th Angnst, in lat. 34°, long. 74° j ^en ^* in with by the General Sumpter, Bonnet, which attempted to tow f )^j^ her into the Chesapeake. "^•Z/oy<^*« List, storm.

Extract from an American newspaper, dated Wil- mington, August 25 :

^' On the afternoon of Friday, the 1 8th, the wind shifted to High the north-east, and rain began to pour heavily. Before midnight ^^®' the storm increased, threatening min ; and daylight revealed to us uprooted trees, and our streets washed into gullies, roads obstructed, and bridges carried away. [Then follow the details Dikes of injury done to buildings.] The embankments of the sea it is said have given way, and that two new inlets are formed opposite M'Rae*s, of Peden Sound. The tide rose six feet higher than usual.** — Ckarlesttm Mercury,

" Newbourne, N.C, Aug. 25. — A severe gale commenced on Friday, the 1 8th, at midnight, and continued until Sunday, 20th, at daybreak.** — Ibid.

" There was a severe gale at Charleston on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of August.** — New York Daily Ejprese.

"The William Thompson, which arrived yesterday from Jamaica, having sailed on the 29th July, and come by the wind- ward passage, encountered a hurricane in lat 38^, long. 60°, on the 21st and 22nd of August, 18S7.*'— Lloyd's List, igth Sept.

" The Lady Katharine Barham, ft-om Jamaica -, in a hurricane l6th, 17th, and 18th August, 1837, in lat. 29^ long. 77^"

" The Brilliant, from Jamaica, experienced a violent hurricane on the 18th of August, 1837. 120 miles south of Cape Hatteras, which lasted to the 2l8t.**— /6tU I8th Sept.

g2

84 HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. " The Westchester, from Havannah, experienced a heavy gale V. fnm the north-east, on the 18th &nd on the 20th, ia lat. 39f*, long. 74^"

Third storm.

'' The James Ray, from Jamaica, sailed Ist August, and came the Gulf passage ^ experienced dreadful weather, particularly on the 16th and 19th."— L^i^V List.

" The Maria, from Honduras to London, on the 20th ot August, in lat. 30^, long. 74^> capsized. A boat's crew picked up by the Hogarth, from New Orleans, bound to New York." — Ibid.

'' The Argus, on the 20th and 21st of August, experienced a heavy gale from east, and suffered damage.*' — New York Gtmerd

Advertiser.

'* The Mecklenburg brig Harmonia was run on shore, fifty miles southward of the Cape, on Saturday night laat, 1 9th August, in the gales.*' — Ibid^

" The ship Napier, from Liverpool, 19th August, off Cape Henry, experienced a heavy gale ^om east and east-north-east S* — lUd.

" Captain Robinson, of the Maria, was saved in his boat, with his crew. The Maria was capsized on the 20th August.** — Ibid.

" LivBRPOOL, Aug. 4. — ^The Experiment, arrived here from Nassau, experienced a hurricane on the 20th of August, and lost sails, &c. There were ttoo severe gales at Nassau previous to the 12th of August, and several vessels lost.**

"The barque St. Helena, on the 18th and 19th August ex- perienced heavy gales from the north-east and north. At 7 p.m., on the 19th, lost the close-reefed main-topsail, lying-to. Wind shifted to north-west, and blew a hurricane for twenty-two hours, during which time she lay- to under five yards of canvass in the mizen -rigging -, rail under water part of the time.'* — Ilnd.

THE VARIABLE WINDS. 85

" The steam-packet Columbia, from New York to Charleston, CHAP, experienced a severe gale on the 20th August, from east to north- ^' west,** — New York General Advertiser, Third

stonn.

"The Powhatam, Chase, from Malta and Gibraltar to New York, on the 22nd August, lat. 40°, long. 67° 30', experienced a tremendous hurricane from east-south-east to north, and lost both top-gallant-masts." — Ibid,

"Philadelphia, August 30.— Arrived the ship Ellen Mar, from Cronstadt, and the Citizen, from New Orleans, in distress. On the 18th, had experienced a hurricane -, on the 22nd, picked up Captain Tilley and the crew of the Ida, from Jamaica, bound to London.*'

"The barque Chief, Eldrige. from Charleston for Boston, suffered severely in a gale on the 19th August, off Frying-pan shoals. On the 21st August spoke the Duke of Manchester, lat. 34° 12', long. 74°, main and mizen-masts gone."— /Attf.

"The brig Pensacola, on 18th August, lat. 31°, long. 79^30', encountered a heavy gale ; carried away tiller and foremast." — Ibid.

"Express Mail. — A third storm has visited the Floridine coast, but the details are not yet known." — Ibid.

"A severe gale was experienced at Washington, Edenton, North Carolina, on the 18th August. Great damage has been done, and several vessels have been lost ; one of them, with the crew, on the bar of Washington." — Ibid,

" The Oglethorpe, on the ISth August, experienced a violent gale from the north-west. (Lat. not given.)" — Ibid.

" Captain Robinson and crew of the Maria, of Hull, were picked up by the Hogarth."

"The Brig Vincennes, from Teneriffe to New York, in lat. 35° 30', long. 65° 40', on the 21st August, experienced a heavy gale from south-south-west.** — Ibid,

86

HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. '' The brig Delos, Smith, from Leghorn and Gibraltar, on the ^' 2l8t August, in lat, 37° 40', long. 66° SO , had a gale from ike Third *^^^ ^^^ south-east ; on the 22nd she had moderate weather," — storm. New York General Advertiser,

Shi

>piu feelin 8econ< hurricane on Chart VI.

P Sophia

I

Trade

wind

reversed.

On the 4th of August the ship Sophia, from Jamaica to England, was between the Islands of Cuba and Hayti. She was then within the influence of the second storm, as marked on Chart YL, having a heavy swell rolled back by that storm from the north, and the trade-wind reversed by the same gale. A break will be found in this Log-book, between the 6th and 1 3th of August.

An Account of Part of the Voyage of the Sophia, J. Barclay, Master, from Jamaica to London, in August, 1837. — In Nautical Time.

Hour.

Noon

p. M.

Wind.

SW

SW

SSW

Bar.

set fair

set fair

rher.

Remarki.

Thursday, August 4, 1837. Wind S W ; a fine steady hreeae, with a peculiar haze round the horixon ; the aky neayy to the northward, and clouds meeting it from 8 W : at noon, doubled Cape Maiae: met a heavy $ea from the northward; the water eorered with dried wood, eTidtatly washed off the neighbouring bushes Tery recently ; barometer standing at set *-''

Fridaj, August 5, 1837. WindSW; steady breexe ; sun obscured by thick haze ; head sea making the ship plunge much ; obliged to shorten sail and lower the topsails on the caps ; at 6 pus. spoke an American schooner frt>m Port-au- rrince, apparently prepared for and antici- pating a breese; at midnight, reefed the foresail and close reefed the topsails; squall J ; barometer as yesterday ; at day- light made all sail, the sea haying fallen considerably ; at noon, wind S S W ; fine breeze ; the sun partially obscured by red- dish htue; latitude obsenred 21° 52^, longi- tude p. chronometer 74*" 10' 30" W ; baro- meter stationary at set fair.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

87

Account of the Voyage of the Sophia — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

Wind.

Bar.

rher.

sw

KEtoE

set fair

P.M. A.M.

P.M. A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

B

E

ENB

fair

fair

fair

fair

NE by E change

Remarks.

Saturday, August 6, 1837. Wind S W with the same appearance ; at 2 P.M. saw Castle Island N N W about four leagues ; at 3, perceived two Teasels on shore on their beam ends, with a signal of distress flying, and tents on the beach ; proved to be two Nassau wreckers, east away the day before in a Tiolent hurricane from the north- ward, which they gave a terrific account of. From this date to the 13th inst. fine weather, with the wind from N E to E.

Sunday, August 13, 1837. Wind £; squally with rain; a.m. dark and cloudy with thunder and lightning ; at noon, observed in lat. 27° 20', long. p. chro- nometer 74^ 67' 20'' ; barometer at fair.

Monday, August 14, 1837. Wind E ; moderate ; observed a long ttcell coming from the southward and eastward; A.M. squally ; made and shortened sail as necessary ; at noon, dark cloudy weather ; latitude by indifferent observation 28° 38', long. 74® 60' 16" ; barometer at fair.

Tuesday, August 16, 1837. Wind £ ; steady, but light all these 24 hours; swell still from the SS£; lat. observed 29** 60', long. p. chronometer 74« 37' 20" W ; bar. as yesterday.

Wednesday, August 16, 1837. Wind EN E ; steady and moderare, with a heav^ lowering sky ; at 4 p.m. in top-gal- lant sails and gi^-topsail : at midnight, do. weather; a.m. breeze freshening ; at noon, strong breeze with a very stormy appearance, the swell evidently increasing; latitude ob- served ^^ 37', longitude p. chronometer 1A? 64' 30" ; barometer at fair.

Thursday, August 17, 1837. Wind N E by £ ; steady ; the sky loaded to the eaatwara with heavy sluggish clouds, and apparently no distance over head ; at 3 P.M. oown royal yards ; at 6, breeze fresh- ening ; in first reef of the topsails ; at 7, in spanker, jib, and mainsail, set the trysails, and in second reef of the topsails : at mid- night, strong gale with a hig^ cross sea ; up foresail ; the mercury much agitated and in- clined to &11; at 6 A.M. set the foresail again; at noon, very hazy round the horizon, with the appearance over head as yesterday ; lati- tude 33** 3' N, longitude p. chronometer 76® 9' ; barometer fallen to change.

CHAP. V.

Shin

Sophia in second storm.

Chart VII.

Swell of third hurricane from S.E.

Swell from S.S.E.

Swell inertias log.

Clouds low.

Bar.

falling

88

HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Storm ap- proaching.

Account of the yo3rage of the Sophia — comtmMed.

Hour.

Wind.

P.M.

Bar.

Ther.

ENE change

E falling

Hore-to.

£8 £

P.M.

SSE

stormy

to change

A.M.

Wore.

See

remarks, page 75. Storm re<- cunring.

P.M.

A.M.

SSE stormy I to 'change

NNW

Remarks.

Friday, August 18, 1837. Wind ENE with the same wild appear* ance, and every indication of a dangeioaa change of weather ; at 3 p.m. wore uiip to the southward ; in foresail and main-ctaj* sail; at midnight, do. weather; barometer still ftdling; wind £ ; gale increasing ; close* reefed the topsails and stowed the foresail ; it daylight, m fore and main-topsails, down top*gallant- yards, and housed the top*gal- lant-ma&ts ; in jib-boom, and stowed Jib and fore-topmast-staysail in the net; came»to under the stoim misen and main-trysail; at noon, heavy gale of wind E S E ; sea nm* ning rery high, the ship labourinff much ; the sky as if closing around us, and haTiiig a most dismal appearance : no obsenratioD ; barometer from stormy to change, but im- possible to set it in consequence of the ship's labouring ; in dead lights.

Saturday, August 19, 1887. Heavy gale with violent squalls and rain ; at 6 p.m. blowing a hurricane, the sea con- tinually breaking over the ship ; one pomp constantly kept goin^ ; at 11.30, ship^>ed a tremendous sea, which carried away the whole of the bulwarks and some of the stan- chions on both sides of the main deck, some spare spars, and lee- beam ; at midnight, the scene most appalling, the wind lasmng the foam and rain, so as to render it impossible to look to windward; the ship fiterallj under water forward ; about this time the starboard quarter-boat was blown from her lashings, and we saw no more of her ; at S a.m. ^^e harder, if possible ; blew the main- trysail completely out of the bolt-rope, at the same time a succession of seas breaking over the ship, swept every thing off the decks but guns and long-boat ; turned the hands up and rigged boui pumps ; at noon. not the least appearance or a change; wind SSE; dismally dark, and no observation ; barometer as yesterday ; wore ship.

Sunday, August 20, 1837. No alteration until 10 p.m. when the wind backed to the e<utteard, blowing as hard as ever ; at midnight, do. weather, the same terrific appearance ; a.m. the grodmaUjf fteeft- ing to tMs north%Dard with no abatement ; at noon, wind NNW but not the least abate- ment; no observation ; barometer as yes- terday.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

89

	Account of the Voyage of the Sophia — concluded.
Hour.	Wind.	Bar.	Ther.	Remarks.
P.M. • A.M.	NW W	rising rising rapidly fair	Monday, August 21, 1837. At 1 P.M. wind at N W, the sea a-beam and breaking over them as if determined to destroy all before it ; got the storm mizen in and stowed ; let her drift under bare poles ; at 6, more violent, if possible ; had the bulwarks on the poop washed away, and the larboard quarter-boat stove ; at 8, set the mizen again ; the breeze inclined to moderate, and the mercury to rise ; at mid- night, still dark and gloomy ; mercury get- tine up fast : at daylight, moderated a little, and incUned to clear up ; bore up and set the close-reefed topsails and foresail ; at 9 A.M. got sights for the chronometer ; baro- meter rising rapidly ; at 10 A.M. made more sail, with a fine steady breeze from the westward ; ship making one foot of water per hour ; at noon, observed in 34^ 38' N, longitude per chronometer 74*» 20' 30' W, haying made since last observation, against wind and sea, ninety-five miles of noruiing, and forty-nine of longitude ; barometer at fair.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Drifting under bare poles.

" From this date to the 3rd of September we had variable The Bre- winds and fine weather. On that day we spoke a brig from Matanzas to Bremen. She left Cuba on the 18th of August^ with a fine westerly breeze, which brought her through the Gulf of Florida, and alongside of us, over the same ground where so much damage had been so recently done.

'* In 1824, when I commanded the ship New York Packet, we encountered in September, homeward bound, to the north- ward of Bermuda, a hfeavy gale from south-east, which continued for two days, tdhen it suddenly became calm, A small clear spot A calm. appeared in the opposite quarter, north-west ; and in a very short Storm's span the ship was on her beam-ends, with her lower yards in the ^^' water, from the action of the wind upon her spars and ringing alone, I was obliged to cut away some of her masts, or she must have foundered.

''In August, 1832, between the Havannah and Matanzas, in the Sophia, I experienced a similar breeze to this last one, in company with several other Jamaica ships. I paid close atten- tion to the barometer, and other signs of a change of weather | and having prepared accordingly, suffered little or nothing in spars or rigging, when some of those in company were dismasted.

90

HURRICANE8 OF 1837.

CHAP. On that occasion, ships not thirty miles off were not aware of it. ^* // began at south-east, and going round the compass, westward, ended where it began in six hours, storm- (Signed) "JAMES BARCLAY."

Ship Rawlins.

Calm for an hour.

Bar.

,t\(f

J

Narrative of Mr. Macqueen, Master of the Ship Rawlins, from Jamaica to London.

o /

" Latitude — Ck>mmencementy N. SO SO „ Termination, 30 40

"Longitude — Commencement, W. 77 40 „ Termination, 77 18

" Dates— 17th, 18th, IQth August. " Wind commenced at north-east by east, blowing strong from that quarter, about twelve hours, then suddenly veered to uartk, continuing with unabated vigour until midnight of 18th ) in an instant a perfect calm ensued for one hour; then quick as thought the hurricane sprung up, with tremendous force, from south-west t not again shifting from that point. No swell whatever preceded the convulsion. The barometer gave every notice of the coming gale for many previous hours. Two days antecedent the weather beautifully serene, but oppressively hot, with light shifting airs ; barometer during that time standing at ' set-lmir/ during the gale as low as almost to be invisible in the tube, above the frame- work of the instrument. The force subsided at mid- night, August 19th 5 the sea tremendous, and rising in every direction ; from the force of wind no tops to the waves, being dispersed in one i^eet of white foam -, the decks tenanted by many sea-birds, in an exhausted state, seeking shelter in the vessel 5 impossible to discern, even during the day, anything at fifty yards distance 5 the wind representing numberless voices, elevated to the shrillest tone of screaming -, but few flashes of lightning, and those in the south-west. A very heavy sea con- tinued for some days after.

(Signed) " GILBERT MACQUEEN,

" Commander of the ship Rawlins.*'

In the log of the Rawlins, on the 20th August, a.m., there is this expression : —

''The wind and sea much abated. A dismal appearance to the north-west"

This was the direction in which the centre of the storm had moved.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

91

Narrative of Mr, Turner, Master of the Ship Wkbt Indian,* CHAP.

from Jamaica to London.

Hour. Wind.

P.M.

Bar.

Ther.

30.1

BSE

P.M.

80.1

30.0

P.M.

ENE

ENE

A.M.

30.0

Hezmurks.

August 14, 1837.

Water smooth, and fine weather. Lati- tude obseryed 28'' 28' N; longitude by chronometer 79° 46' W ; current N J W 90 milea since the preTious noon.

August 15, 1837.

Wind light from ENE; smooth water. At 6 P.M. this day the weather put on an unsettled appearance, and a strong swell began to set in from the east-north-east, which continued to increase, as did also the wind from the north-east ; the next mornins the sky more settled. Latitude observed Sl^'O'Ii; longitude by chronometer 79° 69^ W; current N ^ W^ 90 miles since the previous noon.

August 16, 1837.

No current perceptible these twenty-four hours, although when the ship was tacked at 6 P.M. last evening, and quite on the inner edge of the Qnlf-stream, the water at the sunace was like a boiling cauldron; the heat of the water 8 and 10 degrees warmer than the air, which became equal about midnight. Fresh winds, variable yrom etut- north-east to north-east, gradually increasing. Latitude observed 31° 45^ N ; longitude by chronometer 77° 69^ W.

August 17, 1837.

Blowing fresh from yesterday, with a heavy swell from the £ 8 £ (wind being east-north-east) ; ship under reefed courses and double-reefed topsails. At davlight this morning the sky put on a very threat- ening aspect; ship's head to the ESE, with a tremendous sea from ESE; wind and sea continued to increase all day, with rain; barometer not falling until 5 p.m., when it went down suddenly 6^''; ship then under reefed forecourse and close- reefed main- topsail ; top-gallant-yards and mast on deck, jibboom and mizen-topmast housed ; at midnight, took in forecourse. The hurricane had now commenced, 3 a.m. of the 18th ; in main-topsail ; hurrieane at its meridian; wind now about east-north- east. Latitude by account 31^ SS' N ; long, by account 77*» 13' W.

Third storm.

ShipWesi

Indian

(Turner).

Ship on port tack.

Swell

from

E.O.E.

Wind

from

E.N.E.

* There were two ships of this name in the storm.

92

HURRICANES OF 1837.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Narrative of the Ship West Indian — continued.

Calm, and let a reef out.

Hurricane returned.

Scudded 24 hours.

Hour.

Wind.

Bar.

Ther.

P.M.

A.M.

A.M.

ESE

SW

W

N W

29.1

28.8

rising

29.5

29.5

Remarks.

August 18, 1837. Ship now lyins-to; main-topsail sheet partially hauled aft ; the wind drawing tmon easterly ; constant heary rain ; sea running ▼ery high. At 6 p.m. the wind was east- touth'eaati struck by a sea; nearly swept the decks ; carried away quarter-boats; did considerable damage to quarter-gallery. The wind still increasing to the eouthward; just after midnight of the 18th it fell nearly calm ; set main-topdail, and let a reef out to steady ship. At 2 a.m. came out in an insUuUf with all its former violence, from the eouth'Weet ; could not attempt to wear the ship on account of damage sustained on lar- board quarter. Latitude by account ZV* 9^ N ; longitude by account 77* 56' W.

August 19, 1837. Hurricane stiU continuing, with all ita former Tiolence ; at midnight of the 19th it moderated a little, wind veering to the w^U^ ward all the time ; at 4 a.m. the wind o&otrf toeet; got the ship before the wind nnder close-reefed topsails, and scudded before the gale ; a tremendous cross sea. Latitude by account 31*» 21' N. 78*» 6' W.

August 20, 1837. Continued to run before the gale all these twenty-four hours, the wind getting roond to noi^h'Weet; heavy cross sea. At noon, latitude by account 31° 42' N; longitude by account 77° 14' W.

August 21, 1837. Now find the ship has been in the Onlf- stream great part of the time since the last observations were obtained. In four dajs ship has been set N 52° E 130 miles; for some days after had very unsettled weather, with a great deal of sea. At noon, latitude by observation 33° 32 N; longitude by chronometer 72° 13' W.

(Signed) H. TURNER.

The brig Mary left Port Royal, Jamaica, on July 30, 1837, and followed nearly the same track as that laid down for the Palambam and Duke of Manches- ter, which will be found on Chart VI. The Mary's place for the 16th August will be found on Chart VII.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

93

She was, therefore, behind the two first storms, but chap. before the third.

V.

Third

Extract from the Log of the Brig Mary, J. R. Crosbie, Master, ttorm. from Jamaica to Liverpool. Sailed from Kingston, July 29, ^^K^^^^T* 1837 5 Port Royal, July 30, 1837. Nothing particular oc- curred until the 3rd August, commencing with incessant rain, thunder, and lightning ; a heavy cross sea. — Civil Time.

Hour.

Wind.

Bar.

Ther.

ESE

A.M.

EbyN NEbyE

ESE

29.10

29.00

falling

SE

ESE

SEtoNW

28.70

82

82

80

28.60

nsing

and

falling

28.50

28.10

76

74

70

Remarks.

Augnst 16, 1837. Wind ESE ; current NNE two miles per hour ; latitude observed 32^ 21', longitude p. chronometer 77^ 60* ; baro- meter 29.10; thermometer, ^ade 82^, water 82**.

August 17, 1837. Wind E by N, N E by E ; strong gales and heavy squalls, with a h«id sea from N E ; barometer 29.00 ; thermometer, shade 82®, water 82<>.

August 18, 1837. Wind ESE; increasing gales ; struck top-gallant- yards and masts ; secured all on deck ; every appearance of bad wea- ther ; barometer falling fast ; labouring and straining; lying-to under balance- reefed trysail ; barometer 28.70 ; therm., shade S0\ water 82''.

August 19, 1837. Wind S E ; gale increasing to a perfect hurricane ; under bare poles ; barometer 28.60; thermometer, shade 76®, water 80®.

August 20, 1837. Wind ESE; sea making a complete breach over all; barometer rising and falling very fast; unsettled for the last twenty- four hours; seldom get below to look at it ; barometer 28 J50 ; thermo- meter, shade 74®, water 78®.

August 21, 1837. Wind from SB to NW; barometer 28 .10 ; a terrific appearance ; thermome- ter, air 70®, water 76® ; under bare poles ; nothing can withstand the wind at pre- sent ; secured all on deck as well as pos- sible ; sent all but three men off deck ; at 5 A.M. tremendous sea struck the vessel on the larboard bow, which took away all

Third storm com- mencing.

94

HURRICANES OP 1837.

CHAP. V.

Third ttoxm.

Extract from the Log of the Brig Mary — eimtimmd.

Hour.

Wind. Bar.

Ther.

P.M.

8W

SWto NW

NbyE

NW

ntmg 28.40

70

38.80

TlMr. broken

28.90

29.00

29.00

Remarki.

bulwarks, stancheoiiB, boaU, tpantwrnter- eatktf cabooM, and ererj marmJbim off deck, atream and kedge tnehor; tmmI laying on her broadside, imfbrtmimtdT lurched ; one scMaan of board ; ptdud him up, with imminent risk of my own life, but he had his lee broken, and another man his arm, and had more men disabled; one man found himself under the fomUnp when he recoTered himself; tiiehuirionne continuing to rage more and more, ererj exertion made to save as mndi ma poe* sible; at noon gale abating; bnromeCer rising gradually ; I could not leaT* the deck to note it, but it certainly must have been lower, noon 28.40 ; thefmo- meter, ahade 76**, water 70° ; p.m. Intitode 36^ 12' N, longitude p. chronometer 720 ir W; a turbulent cross sen; reeeel verjlaboursome; midnight, set the reeM souare mainsail, all other saik being blown away.

August 22, 1837. Wind SW; made all sail that dream- stances would permit ; hearj rein, thimder, and lightning; latitude 36^ 23^, longitude 76<' 6' W; barometer 28.80; thermometer broken.

August 23, 1837. Wind SW to N W; Utitude 36<> ST, longitude 68« 17'; barometer 28.90.

August 24, 1837. Wind N by E ; latitude 36<» 13^ lon- gitude 66^ 46^; barometer 29.00 ; more- able and gloomy.

August 26, 1837. Wind NW; latitude 36<* 35', Umgi- tude 65^ 38' ; barometer 29.00.

*' The remaining part of the passage strong breezes from the westward j barometer rising gradually.

(Signed) " J. R. CROSBIE. Master of the brig Mary."

TH£ VARIABLE WINDS.

95

Extract from the Log of the Barque Pbnklopk, J. H. Ghrimes, CHAP. Master, firom Jamaica to London. — In Nautical Tones, '

Hour.

P M.

A^.

Wind.

£S£

P.M.

Bar.

NE

A.M.

E toSE

ESE to E

Ther.

Remarks.

August Id—Nauticai Tbnei,

Strong gales and cloudy. At 4 p.m. (I8th mean time) larboard pump choked ; ship labouring much, and making a great deal of water; midnight, strong gales; kept the ship off the wmd occasioniul j, to pump the ship out with weather-pump ; at 8 a.m. ri9th) wore ship to the southward ; took in lorecourse, and close-reefed the topsails ; wind ESE; at 6 a.m. wore ship to north- ward ; at 10 A.M. (19th) hard gales ; in fore- topsaU and fore-topmast staysail, and hore to under dose- reefed main-topsail ; latitude, by account at noon, 34^ 6& N, longitude 76<» 2f W,

August 20~(19 P.M. Civil Time).

Hard gales, and a heayy sea ; at 4 p.m. (19th) gue increasing ; starboard pump con- stantly going ; ship labouring much, and making much water ; at 8 p.m. (20th) tre- mendous gales ; ship laying with gunwales in the water, on the larboard tack; at 11 P.M. hoisted the fore-topmast staysail, and wore ship to the N E ; a very neayy sea running, when the ship came to the wind on the other tack; fore-topmast staysail blew away, and the main-topsail was split ; midnight, a heavy sea broke on board and washed the boats to the leeside of the deck, and carried away bulwarks on both sides, fore and aft ; at 2 a.m. (20th civil time) set main-trysail, to kee^ ship to ; in five mi- nutes it blew away m tatters ; wind from E to S E ; one pump constantly going ; at 4 A.M. sounded the well, and found nearly three foot water in the weather-pump ; called all hands to the pump, and found the sand had washed from the bottom of the larboard pump; set both pumps on; at daylight found the plankshear on the lar- board ride had started off half an inch for three feet in length ; at 8 a.m. wind mode- rated; secured the long-boat and spare anchors ; pumps still going ; sugar washing out Tery mat ; at 10 a.m. ^Oth) wind more moderate ; set close-reaed fore-topsail ; wind ESE to E ; noon, dark cloudy weather; wore ship to southward; noon, latitude account 36^ 20', longitude 75° 20* W.

Third storm.

96

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Extract from the Log of the Barque Penelope — camiimmei.

Hour.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

CuTTcnt accele- rated.

Wind.

ESB

NNW

sw

NNW

Bar.

Ther.

broke

Remarki.

Atigost 21, 1837. August 21— (20 Civa Time). Strong gales and cloudy ; at 2 p.m. got the ship pumped out to tweire inches^ wmb the larboard pump choked again ; mt 4 p.m. wind ESE; wore ship to NE, not laying to well ; at 9 ▲.m. gale increasing, and, the wind baring reered to the N N W, a very heavy sea running, and the ship getting top- heavy from the qusntity of sugar waahed out, came to a resolution oi running before it till the gale abated ; at midnight it Uew a perfect hurricane from N N W; at 4 a.m. (21st August, mean time) a heavy S6« bioke on board, and stove the boats on deck ; so we were obliged to throw the J^mm over- board, likewise everything off the deck, water-casks, stream-anchor, ftc. ; at 8 aji. saw a French brig scudding under » fore- sail, apparently with no accident; at 10 A.M. more moderate, ship making mneh water ; and, one pump being choked, deemed it prudent to get into some port in America ; noon, latitude 34*^ SO' N, longitndeby chro- nometer 72** 20' W.

August 22— (21 Civil Tims). At 6 P.M. wind hauled to the S W ; made up my mind to gain a port to the northward of Cape Hatteras; found by obaenrmtum that the current had increaied in velecitjf during the gale, and drove the ship consi- derably to the northward and eastward, eastward of where I expected her to be. Barometer being broke, it was useleaa. The general appearance of the weather was dark end cloudy, but no lightning. The latitudes and longitudes for the fot two days will be very incorrect, as there was little time to attend to anything else hot the pumpe ; but on the 21st they are 1^ ol>- servation. On the night of the 2(Hh we had run about eightv miles due S, whidi would have made the latitude by account, on the 21st, about 33"* 20^ N, whereas by obeerva- tion it was Zi° 6(K N, and the longitude 72° 20^ W ; the latter part of the hunicane from X N W ; during the night it was very dark, snd heavy black clouds, thouch, if I recollect right, the moon was in her last quarter.

(Signed) J. H. GRIMES,

Commander of the Penelope.

HURRICANES OF 1837.

97

Extract from the Log of the Barque We^t Indian, Simpson, CHAP. Master, from Jamaica to London. — In CtVt7 Time,

Hour.

P.M.

Wind.

N

Bar.

A.M.

SWtoE

StoSE

falls

Ther.

down

P.M.

JUM.

below rain

W

Kemarki.

^

August 2(W' Increasing breezes, and oark gloomy wea- ther; the wind not steady, shifting about from point to point, and dying into a calm, every now and then with heayy drops of rain; at times the marine barometer and svmpiesometer fsll very little ; the weather- glass brushes up for a strong gale at noon ; latitude 87° N, longitude 64' W ; in all studding- sails, royals, flying jil^gaff-topsail, unrove all the studding-sail gear, and sent the booms of the yards down ; during these twenty-four hours the wind has been va- riable from 8 W to E ; at 2 p.m. passed the briff Constitution, of Rochester, waterlogged and dismasted.

Third storm.

Ship West

Indian

(Simpson)

August 21. A.M. Increasing gales, and squally : in top-gallant- sails ; a heavy sea from N E ; the wind is variable from S to S E, and a heav^ sea from that quarter likewise ; at 8 ▲.M. in double reef of the topsails ; people employed unbending all small sails, and sending in the flying Jib-boom and g^ar : carpenter unshipping the bulwarks and stowing them below, and battening down and securing all the hatchways ; at 10 strong gales ; doubly stowed and passed the main- sail, jib, and mizen, and unrove the gear of the mainsail ; at noon hard gales, and hazy, with a cross confused sea ; barometer and sympiesometer down below rain; latitude by account 38° 23' N, longitude 62° 40' W ; at 4 p.m. close-reefed the topsails and reefed the foresail ; at 6 p.m. hard gales ; stowed the foresail and fore-topsail, and passed them to the yards ; unrove the foretacks and sheets, and hove the ship to, head to the eastward, vnnd 8 ; at 10 p.m. blowing quite a hurricane ; we are now involved in a white smoke or fog, and the water as white as a sheet ; the main-topsail is on the cap, and the sheets eased off a little to ease the sail ; at midnight nearly calm.

Lying-to.

^.

y^^.

Auffust 22. At 1 A.M. the vnna came away from about W, and i£ possible it blew harder than ever ; at 6 A.M. it is blowins a hurricane; the ship is laying with half the lee main- deck in the water ; three men lashed to the lee bilge-pump, and trving the main pump every ten minutes ; the boat on the lee side has broke both davits; secured the boat

H

Hurricane.

Nearly calm.

Hurricane.

98

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Ship West Indian.

Extract from the Log of the Barque West Indian — comdrnde^.

[lour .

Wind.

P.M.

W

Bar.

Ther.

Remarks.

Ship Ida.

August 22. with tackles from the miienmaat; it it blowing so hard now that the sea is snooth at times, and the water is coming orer the weather-rail like a waterspout ; 8 a.m. the ship is now laying with her lee-rail under water, the ship making more water than usual ; pumps constanuy going ; at noon the gale is now at its height ; it is dreadfiol ; you cannot make the people hear what is said, and you can hardlT see for the lashing of the rain and sleet ; latitude bj aoooont 39** 9' N, longitude 61*» 84' W ; at 2 p.m. more moderate; at 4 bore awaj; set the foresail and fore-topsail. We sailed firooa Jamaica, August the Ist, and arrived in the Downs on the 1 1th of September ; we had nothing but fine weather before and alter the gale. I have made forty- eight passages across the Atlantic Ocean ; I have alwaTt met with more hurricanes, thunder, squallet and tempestuous weather within the influ- ence of Uie Gulf- stream, than I have foumd either to the northward or southwtfd« end I cannot account for it.

(Signed) HENRY SIBiPSON.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Ida, Tilley, Master.-

In Cft;t7 Time.

Hour.

Wind.

A.M.

EXE

Bar. Ther.

P.M.

A.M.

ENE

NE

30.10

Remarks.

85

Tuesday, August 15. 1837. A.M. Light breezes and cloudy weather ; at 5 light airs and variable, with rain, thun- der and lightning, wind veering round the compass ; the sky at this time had a verj eurious appearance, streaky, and resembling a waterspout, and sometimes that of a rain- bow ; this weather continued till 10 o'clock* when it became fine ; at noon light bteeaee and fine, made sail ; latitude observed 27^ 31' N, longitude by chronometer 79° 36' W; thermometer 85°; marine barometer 30.1-10 ; at 6 tacked ship to the eastward^ at midnight light breezes and cloudy wea- ther ; tacked to the northward ; wind £ N E.

Wednesday, August 16. 1837. A.M. Light breezes and squally weather ; at daylight set top-gallant sails ; at 9 in top-

HURRICANES OF 1837.

99

Extract from tbe Log of the Ship Ida — continued.

Hour.

Wind.

P.M.

NNE

A.M.

NEto £S£

Bar.

29.80

29.20

P.M.

N£

29.00

Ther.

80

A.M.

NEto SW

28.50

f.M.

Remarks.

Wednesday, Aug^t 16, 1837. gallant ^ils ; at noon freah breeses and aquaUy weather ; latitude obserred 29° 54' N, longitade 79*" 39' W ; thermometer 80'' ; marine barometer 29.8-10 : p.m. strong breezes and squally ; in second and third reef of the topsailiB ; sent down the royal yards ; at 8 wore ship to the eastward ; wind NNE; at midnight strong breezes and eloudy, with a swell from the eastward; marine barometer 29.2-10.

Thursday, August 17, 1837. A.M. Fresh gales and squally weather ; at 4 handed the fore-topsail and foresail ; at intervals the wind came in gusts, then sud- denly dying away, and continued so for four hours ; sent down top-gallant-yards and masts on deck ; at 8 hove-to under close- reefed main-topsail and main-trysail ; at 9 split the main-trysail ; at 10 the main-top- sail blew from the bolt-rope ; at noon blow* ing a hurricane ; marine barometer 29° ; no latitude, no longitude ; wind N E ; head to E 8 E; laying- to under bare poles; at 8 p.m. shipped a heavy sea, which washed away the caboose and bulwarks on the lee side ; at 10 shipped a heav^ sea on the wea- ther quarter, which stove m the companion and washed away all the after bulwarks ; the lee-quarter-boat was completely blown to pieces by the wind ; at midnight olowing a tremendous hurricane, with rain and a hetrrj mountainous sea; ship labouring heavily, and shipping great quantities of water fore and aft ; four feet water in the hold ; used every exertion to free the ship without success ; marine barometer 28.5-10.

Friday, August 18, 1837. A.M. Blowing a tremendous hurricane ; the wnd veering from X E to SW within last twelve hours, and every sail blown to atoms from the yards and from under the gaskets; all the pumps choked with bal- last; the ship was laying over in a most awful state ; at 5 p.m. succeeded in getting ihe ship before tbe wind, which we expect prevented her from foundering ; at 8 found to our great joy the ship made much better weather scudding than lay ing- to ; at mid- night found we had run out of the hurri- cane, but it still blew a very heavy gale ; water in the hold increased to six feet; all

h2

CHAP. V.

Hurri- cane, middle of August.

Ship Ida.

Near the centre.

100

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Hurri- cane, middle of August.

Ship Ida.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Ida — conthmed.

Hour.

Wind.

Bar.

Ther.

P.M.

NEto SW

A.M.

W

A.M.

A.M.

West- ward

SW

29.50

65

Remarks.

Friday, August 18, 1837. the pumps choked ; five men ill with ferer, four disabled by accident, the remainder much fagged by long exertions, haTing no- thing to eat but raw meat.

Saturday, August 19, 1837. A.M. Strong ffales with a high sea ; aI daylight all hands employed in lifting the pumps to clear the ballast, but no one eould stay in the pump- well to effect it, in conae- quence of foul air ; got one of the bilge-<f9«^ pumps to work, and one of the main-pumpa lifted six feet out of its original place, it threw water badly ; at noon strong breescs and cloudy weather ; hauled our wind and made sail for some port in America ; fiTe men ill with fever, four off duty by fialla, and the remainder much fagged by loiig exertion ; wind W.

Sunday, August 20, 1837. A.M. Strone breeaes and cloudy wea- ther; people sll employed at the pumpe, but nearly worn out by fatigue and want oC rest ; at noon ditto weather, seven feet water in the hold, and it still increasing fast ; em- ployed at the pumps, which threw but Terr little water ; latitude observed 3r 36' N, longitude 76° 9' W ; thermometer 6^ ; marine barometer 29.5' 10; some of the people employed getting spars ready for a raft in case tne ship should founder during the night ; at midnight more moderate, eight feet water in the hold ; the wind from the westward all these twenty- four houn.

H

Monday, August 21, 1837. A.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy ther ; at daylight to our great joy saw a ship to windward, with her mizen-maatand top- gallant-masts cut away ; made a signal of distress to her, she bore up and came down on us ; at 6 spoke her ; she proved to be Citizen, of New York, from New Orleana, bound to Bremen, now to the nearest port she could reach, bcinfl[ in great distress as vrell as ourselves, making three feet and a half of water per hour ; we consulted, and entered into an engagement to stay by each other ; at 9 took off the hatches, and be^an to lighten the ship from between decks, by throwing overboard coffee, rum, and ship stores, and everything that impeded lighten- ing the ship, as we were under great appre- hension of the ship capsizing, as wt nad

HURRICANES OF 1837.

101

Extract from the Log of the Ship Ida — concluded.

Hour.

Wind.

A.M.

A.M.

Bar. Ther.

SW

SW

Remarks.

Monday, August 21, 1837. two tier of sugar washed out of the lower hold ; as the pumps proved of little service commenced balemg out the ship with buckets ; but as she had ten feet water in the hold, thought our longer exertions would be of little ayail: at 8 spoke the Citizen, and informed her commander that we should abandon our ship at daylight ; at midnight strong breezes and squally, the ship haying so much water in her we could scarcely get her to answer her helm ; wind this day 8 W ; latitude 32° 7' N, longitude 76° 30' W.

Tuesday, August 22, 1837. A.M. Light breezes and fine weather; at 4 strong breezes and squally weather; made a signal of distress to the Citizen, and finding all our endeayours in yain to save the ship with our worn-out crew, got the boats ready and made preparations for abandoning her; at 6 the Citizen stood towards us; at 7 we hoye-to near each other, out boat and sent part of crew on board ; the boat returned three times, when we succeeded in getting all the crew safe on board the Citizen, although it blew yery strong, and the ships were obliged to bear up to pick up the boat, as the wind blew 80 heavy they could not pull to wind- ward ; latitude 33° 14' N, longitude 76° 19' W. when abandoned ; and landed at Phila- delphia on the 30th of August.

(Signed) JAMES TILLY.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Westbrook, J, Freeman, Commander, from Jamaica to London. — In Nautical Time,

Hour.

P.M.

P.M.

Wind.

Variable

Variable ESE

Bar.

Ther.

Remarks.

August 16, 1837— (14 Civil Time), 6 P.M. light air, approaching to calm ; midnight, heayy swell from the S E ; noon, latitude 31** N, longitude 78° W ; wind ya- riable.

August 16, 1837— (16 Civil Time), 1 P.M. li^ht bafflinff winds; 7 p.m. in- creasing wind, and looking squally ; in

CHAP. V.

Hurri- cane, middle of August.

Ship Ida. Sugar had dissoWed.

Ship

West-

brooiL.

102

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Hurri- cane, middle of Augpist.

8hip West- brook.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Westbrook — comikmed.

Hour.

Wind.

Bar.

P.M.

Stormy in the south.

A.M.

P.M. A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

Variable

NE

EbyN E

SE

SEto

NNW

A.M. , N N W

Ther.

Remarka.

August 16, 1837— (16 Cvril Time). small sails ; midnight, wind E 8 B ; at«adj wind and clear ; noon, latitude 82° 20^, longi- tude 1&* 43'; wind variable.

August 17, 1837— (16 CivU Tume). 1 P.M. wind N E ; fresh wind, and clear weather, with a S E swell runing ; 6 p.m. in top-gallant sail and single-reefed top- sails ; strong wind, with a yerj heary tea from the S £; 8 p.m. a yery heayy appear- ance in the S, with a good deal of light- ning ; stowed the mainsail ; 7 a.m. strong gales, and a yery heayy sea, vessel shipping a good deal of water ; 9 a.m. in second roei in topsails ; noon, strong gales and Tery heayy squalls, with rsin ; latitude 32** 47% longitude 76'' 14'.

August 18, 1837— (17 Citnl Tims). 1 P.M. wind E by N ; strong galea and hard squalls with a high cross sea running ; midnight, strong gales and squally ; 5 a.m. wind £ ; noon, blowing strong, and no ap- pearance of change, dose-reefad the topaaua and down royal-yards ; no obserration.

August 19, 1837— (18 CivU Time). 1 P.M. wind S E ; strong galea, and a heayy sea running ; 3 p.m. stowed the fore- sail ; 8 P.M. stowed the fore-topsail, being split, and hoye-to imder dosed-reefied main- topsail and trysail ; midnight, came on to blow a complete hurricane ; sea rising yery high ; vessel labouring heavily, and ship- ping quantities of water on all sides ; (19), no appearance of any change.

August 20, 1837— (CiVi/ Time). Wind at S E, untU 11 a.m. on the 20th, whenitveeredtoNNW; throughont theae twenty-four hours a terrific hurricane ; the sea awfully high ; vessel labouring as before, and shipping quantities of water on all aidea ; a heavy sea struck the lib-boom, and carried away me spritsail-vard, jib, and flying Ub- boom ; the ship pitching so very heavily, we were obliged to cut away the wreck for safety; lost at the same time both jiba* sprung the fore- top-gallant- mast, split the main-trysail; heavy rain throughout; no observation.

August 21, 1837— (C»vi7 Time). Wind N NW; not the least alteration in wind or weather; vessel labouring as

HURRICANES OF 1837.

103

Extract from the Log of the Ship Wiestbhook— concluded. CHAP

Flour.

Wind.

Noon

P.M.

Bar.

WNW Variable

Ther.

Remarks.

August 21, 1837— (CtPf? Time), before, and shipping quantities of water on all sides ; rain and thunder ; midnight, just the same ; 4 a.m. more moderate ; bore away, and set the foresail and fore- topsail ; latitude 34° 58', longitude 78° 32'; wind WNW.

August 24, 1837— (CVvi/ Time). At 1 P.M. wind Tariable, and a heary southerly swell ; at midnight a heayy easterly swell.

Extract from the Log-hook of the Siiip Sheridan.

Hour.

Wind.

A* ^A •

EbyS

Bar.

Ther.

P.M.

A.M.

Remarks.

Auffust 21. At 9 A.M. a fresh breeze, £ by S, and thick foggy weather; no obserration at noon.

NWbyN

August 22— {NatUical Time), Begins with strong breeze and cloudy weather ; wind £ by S ; course W by N, and a heavy sea ; at 2 p.m. rolled away the studding* sail booms, and took in studding- sails ; the wind increasing to a gale, at 4 P.M. double-reefed the topsails, and furled the mainsail and spanker ; at 7 p.m. the gale increasing, with a tremendous heavy sea, obliged to keep sail on the ship to save the masts ; at 8 p.m. a perfect hurricane ; parted the topsail and fore-sheets, and split the sails ; hauled them up as well as possi- ble, it being impossible for men to go on Uie yards ; the spanker blown out of the gas- kets; the ship rolling both leeward and weather boats m, and shipping large quan- tities of water ; throughout the night dread- tiH weather ; at 1 a.m. wind N W by N ; course W S W ; at 6 a.m. a little more mo- derate ; cut away the fragments of the sails to save the spars ; latter part more mode- rate. Latitude at noon, by observation, 39° 46'.

The packet-ship Mediator, Champliu, from London, took the gale August 22nd, from the eastward at 8 P.M., civil timCy her place at noon being in latitude

V.

Hurri- cane, middle of August.

Ship West- brook.

Ship Sheridan.

104 THE VARIABLE WIKD8.

CHAP. 42° 36', longitude ei"" 42'. At midnight the gale

'- — was east-north-east; at 4 a.m., on the 23rd, north*

east ; at 7 a.m. at north ; at 8 a.m. the gale abated, being of shorter duration than with the Sheridan, and having hauled gradually by the north to narth-wesL

On the afternoon of the 22nd of August, the barque Barlow, from Liverpool, bound to St. John's, New Brunswick, passed the Mediator, New York packet, whilst that vessel was lying to. On the afternoon of the 20th, at the period the storm was very severe to the south-west of her, the Barlow experienced calms and variable winds. By noon on the 2l8t, the wind freshed, with the weather cloudy. At 4, in the after- noon of that day, it became south-easterly. Increasing in force, and veering towards east, it changed first to north, and afterwards by degrees to north-west.

In the Barlow's log-book the wind is marked north at noon on the 22nd, at which time the topsails were close reefed, having previously split a sail. Profiting by the fair wind, this ship ran before it to the west- ward, and was soon out of the influence of the storm ; for by four o'clock on the morning of the 23rd, she had royals set again, with light and variable breezes. The ships The narrative of Mr. Griffith, Master of the ship Blanches- Duke of Manchester, tends further to explain the Paiam- nature of the three first storms. The Duke of Man- chester and another vessel, the Palambam, were to the south of the two first hurricanes on Charts V. and VI.; but they were in the heart of the third one, and the Palambam foundered. Her place where last seen by Mr. Griffith is marked on Chart VII., and she was then under a close-reefed topsail, near the centre of the storm.

bam.

HURRICANES OF 1837.

106

The black squall mentioned in the narrative was chap.

described to me by Mr. GriflSth, as the most appalling '. —

sight h^ had ever seen during his life at sea ; and he thought it probable, had it passed over his ship, that it would have upset her ; but it passed about a quar- ter of a mile astern.*

The Log-book is printed from the date of the ship Duke of Manchester leaving Jamaica, in order to record the weather experienced beyond the southern limit of the first and second storms. It shows that the trade wind became suspended ; and the whole of it deserves to be attentively studied.

Narrative of Mr. Griffith, Master of the Ship the Duke op

Manchester.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			July 26, 1837.
P.M.		NE	P.M. Got underweight with a light breeze from the N E, with a cloudy unsettled sky, -•and exceedingly sultry. Midnight. Calms and light breezes of air from idl quarters of the compass. A.M. I)itto weather.
A.M.
July 27, 1837.
			Ditto weather; ship's head round the
Noon		NorthJy	compass. Noon. A light air from north- ward, and black cloudy sky.
P.M.			P.M. Ditto weather, Tery sultry. Lucia harbour bearing S E, distance sixteen miles.
		•	Midnig'nt. Ditto weather.
July 28, 1837.
A.M.		N	Light breeze from the northward. Day- break. Weather more clear; west end of Jamaica bearing SE by £, distance about eight leagues. Noon. Light breeze from the
Noon
		NW	NW, with an exceedingly dark confused sky, the clouds flying in every direction, and atmosphere yery sultry and oppressive. Sun
		i obscured from ike time of our sailing.

Duke of Manches- ter's Log.

See Charts V. and VI.

♦ See Luke Howard's " Climate of London," vol. ii. p. 151, 2nd edition, for an account of a cloud of similar appearance.

106

STORMS OF 1837.

CHAP. V.

Duke of Manches- ter's Log.

Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchestbr — eauimmed.

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

A* M4

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

Courses.

Winds.

Southward

Westward

SSW

8SW

SSWto

s

WSW

SSW

A.M.

Noon

I'.M.

SSW

SE

S

SE

Remarks.

July 28, 1837.

2 P.M. Wind Teering round the oompsM, with heayy rain and squalls.

6. The appearance of the westiier Jhrmum ing ; wind SSW; took in small smilSt and single-reefed the topsail.

8. Heavy rain, wunder, and lightning; inclined to a calm. Midnif^ "Fxmtt ~ and cloudy, with small rain.

July 29, 1837.

A.M. Ditto weather; wind SSW. Weather more clear. Noon. Pleasant ther ; got a sight of the sun for the Itnt since sailing.

Lat. 190 IC N, long. 79° 17' W.

P.M. Light airs and doudy, sultry ther. Midnight. Ditto weather.

10.

July 30, 1837.

2 A.M. Squally ; took in small sails ; wind Teering from S S W to S.

8. Clear weather. Noon. Steady

Lat. 19*» 14'. lonff. 80** 26'.

P.M. Ditto weather ; wind still the

8. Light breeze from the WSW; taekad to the southward. Midnight. Light aiit and cloudy.

July 31, 1837.

6 A.M. Steady breese from the SSW; tacked ship to the westward.

8. Steaay breeze and clear weather.

11. Made the land (Grand Caymana). bearing S W, distance fifteen miles.

Lat. (Noon) 19^ 21', long. 80^ 67'.

P.M. Light breeze and steady.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

August 1, 1837.

A.M. Light breeze and clear.

8. Pleasant weather, but sultry ; one in sight to the southward. Noon. Ditto weather.

Lat. 19«» 46', long. 82*^ 9'.

P.M. Light breeze and fine weather; wind still from the S S W.

8. llie wind shifted to the SE, with heary squalls. Midnight. Squally ; wind S.

August 2, 1837. A.M. Weather more settled. 8. The wind yeered to the S £. Noon. Pleasant weather. Lat. 20° 26'. lone. 83° 12'. P.M. Moderate breeze and pleasant wea-

I

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

107

Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchester — etmtmued.

Hour. Courses.

P.M.

Winds.

A II.

Noon

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

SE

SE E

NE Calm

Calm

Southw<*

SE

I

1

South

!

Southw«»

Remarks.

August 2, 1837. ther. Midnight. Light airs from the 8 £, inclined to cum ; cloudy sultry weather.

August 3, 1837.

A.M. Unsettled weather; took in all small sails.

2. More moderate ; made sail ; wind S E.

Noon. Ditto winds, and very sultry.

Lat. 21** 25', long. 83° 68'.

P.M. Light airs from E.

2. Calm; dark, cloudy, sultry weather; ship's head round the compass.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

August 4, 1837.

A.M. Light airs from all points of the compass.

6. Pleasant hreeze from the NE, and clear.

Noon. Light airs, and hazy sultry weather.

Lat. 21° 31'. long. 84° 38':

Midnight. Calm.

P.M. Light hreeze, and ditto weather. Spoke the Ambassador, from Liverpool, bound to New Orleans, out fifty-six days.

Augusts, 1837.

A.M. Calm; the sea as smooth as oil; not the least ripple or flaw of wind ; weather sultry. Daylight. Ditto weather ; two sail in sight. At 7, lowered the pinnace to board the nearest vessel, which proved to be the Palambam, Capt. Lotheiington, who sailed from Jamaica on the same day as myself. We had both experienced the same weather, and agreed exactly as to our opinion thereof, and how it was likely to terminate ; we, from the weather we haa between Jamaica and the Caymans, concluded that they had had a hurricane in Jamaica.

Noon. Hazy, and exceedingly oppressive.

Lat. 21° 87 , long. 84° 46'.

P.M. Ditto weather.

2. Liffht airs from the southward.

8. CaJms, and cloudy.

Midnight. Light airs from the S E.

August 6, 1837. 4 A.M. Ditto weather ; wind South. Noon. Cape Antonia, bore N by W, distance fourteen miles. Lat. 21° 42', long. 86° 0'. P.M. Strong breeze from the southward, and cloudy weather. Midnight. Squally. Ship Palambam in company.

CHAP. V.

Duke of Manches* tor's Log.

See Charts V. and VI.

108

STORMS OF 1837.

CHAP. V.

Duke of Manches- ter's Log.

Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchbstbr — eamiumed.

Hour.

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

Courses.

A.M.

P.M.

Winds.

SEbyS

SEbyE toEbyN

Southward

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

ENE

toESE

SE

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

NNE SE

Northward

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

£ ENE

E toENE

NE

Bemarks.

August 7, 1887.

A.M. Ditto weather. 6. Increasiiig and squally ; wind S £ by S. Noon. Ditto weather.

Lat. 23° 48', long. 84** 66'.

P.M. Strong breeze and clondT, hut fine weather; wind veering from SE hy B to E by N, latter part squally and Twiahle weather, with a heary sea from the BNS.

and

August 8, 1837.

A.M. Commences with strong squally ; took in and made sail as wind variable from ENE to ESS.

5. More moderate. 9. Tacked ship to tka southward.

Lat. (Noon) 24** 6', long. 83** iW.

P.M. Strong breezes and squally, a hcftTT sea running from the ENE, shippbis mnek water. 6. A very heavy white squall, with thunder and lightning ; in amall sails, aad double-reefed the topsails. 7* More mode- rate. Midnight. Squally, with ligihtaiiig and thunder.

August 9, 1837.

A.M. Ditto weather; blowing double-reefed-topsail breeze frt>m heavy sea running from that quarter; aevenl vessels in sight. Ship Palambam in eooa* pany. Noon. Ditto weather.

Lat. 23** 20', long. 83** IQf.

P M. Ditto weather. 8. Tacked to the south-eastward. Midnight. More mode* rate, but cloudy.

August 10, 1837.

A.M. Steady breeze from £. 4. Tacked to the NNE. 5, Fine weather ; out reefi^ and made all possible sail by the wind. 8. Tacked to the SE; wind £N£. Noon. Fresh breeze and cloudy, with aBNEawelL

Lat. 23** 33', loni. 82^ 6'.

P.M. Strong breeze and steady. 5. Tacked to the northward. Midnight. Ditto weather. Palsmbam in company.

Augu»t 11, 1837.

A.M. Commences wiiii fine steady hreese and ditto weather ; wind £ to NNE. Noon. Ditto weather.

liat. 24° 38', long. SO'' 30'.

P.M. Increasing breeze and squally. 6. Strong breeze frt>m the N E ; double -reeled the topsails. Midnight. More moderate ; made all sail.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

109

Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchester — cmUimued.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			August 12, 1837.
A.M.			A.M. Fresh breeze and fine weather, but
Noon			cloudy and sultry. Noon. Ditto. Ship Palambam in company. Lat. 25^ 42', long. 79° bb\
P.M.			P.M. Ditto weather. 8. Squally, with much rain ; shortened sail. 10. More settled ; made sail. Midnight. Cloudy, with passing showers of rain.
August 13, 1887.
A.M.			A.M. Strong breeze and cloudy weather.
Noon			Noon. Ditto weather. Palambam in com- pany. Lat. 28° 19', long. 79° 41'.
P.M.		SSE	P.M. light breeze from the SSE, and hazy. Midnight. Ditto weather.
August 14, 1837.
A.M.			A.M. A continuance of light winds and
Noon.			cloudy. Noon. Light airs and calms. Lat. 30° 17', long. 79° 36'.
P.M.			P.M. Very sultry weather. Midnight. Light breeze and cloudy.
August 15, 1837.
A.M.		ESE	A.M. Light airs from the ESE. Noon.
Noon.			light airs and close oppressiye weather. Padambam in company. Lat. 31° 36'. long. 78° 40'.
P.M.			P.M. Light variable winds and hazy. 3. squally, with rain. From 4 to midnight,
		NEto SEbyE	wind yariable, veering from N E to S E by E.
		•	August 16, 1837.
A.M.			A.M. Light variable winds and a cloudy confused sky. 8. A fresh breeze from the
		N	North and hazy weather ; a ttoell from the
Noon.			cfistward. Noon. Increasing breeze and cloudy ; head sea also increasing fast. Lat. 32° 39', long. 7r 30'. Ship Palambam in com^iany. P.M. Increasing breeze andneadsea ; took
P.M.
			in top • gallant-sails ; single-reefed the top-
			sails, and sent down royal-yards; wind veering from N E by E to E by N.
		NEbyE
		to	5. Fresh gale ; double-reefed the toMails ; a very heavy sea running from E N E. 6. Saw the Palambam for the last time, dead to
		EbyN
			leeward. Midnight. Fresh gales and hazy.
r August 17, 1837.
A.M.			A.M. Commences with strong sales and squally, with rain. 2. Close-re^ed the top- saUs; reefed the courses, and stowed the
			square mainsail and spanker; sent down

CHAP. V.

Duke of Manches- ter's Log.

Third storm ap- proaching.

See ChartVII.

Palambam when last seen.

no

STORMS OF 1837.

CHAP. Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchkstbr — eomtkmei.

V.

Third storm.

Black squall.

Cross sea.

Wore, and followed the storm.

Hour.

A.M.

Courses.

Winds.

Noon.

P.M.

A.M.

Noon.

P.M.

E to ENE

SW

Remarks.

August 17, 1837. top-gallant-jards, and run in the fljhig jfl^ hoom. Daybreak. Heary gales ; forlad die foresail ; a tremendous sea running and j breaking on board. 9. Furled the Ibfe and | mizen-topsails, and stowed the fore-topmeet- | staTsail. Noon. Blowing a Tiolent gale* with a dangerous cross sea running mm N E to S £, breaking on board fore and aft; furled the main-tomail; ship laying* to under a tarpaulin placed in the miaeo rigging.

Lat. 31° 59^, long. IT 2'.

1 P.M. Blowing a hurricane ; got li£»-lines passed fore and aft the ship, and athwart, for the security of the crew. A moet «ztn- ordinary phenomenon presented itidf to windward, almost in an mstant, reeembHag a solid black perpendicular wall, about fifteen or twenty degrees above the horison, and disappeared almost in a moment; thea ia the same time made its appearance* aad ia fiye seconds was broken, and spread as teaa the eye could see : from this time to aiid* night, blowing a most riolent hnirieaiM^ with a most awful cross sea breaking eo«> stantly on board fore and aft, carrying avay bulwarks, boats, cook-house, &o., in ftwt, ererything clear with the deck« asoept stanchions. Seycn of the crew onaUe nr duty, haying been more or lesa injured ia the gale. Much thunder and lightning* the thunder scarcely heard, although wa were struck with the electric fluid ; 1 had three seamen dangerously injured, but sustained no other damage.

August 18, 1837.

A.M. The hurricane still raging ; ahip la* bouring yery much, and at times completely under water, with the cross sea breaking on board ; found the ship to strain and oAaka much water ; all hands lashed at thepumpa : what with the yiolence of the wind, and the sofbreaking over them, it was impoeaibla to work them. 7. A heay^ sea broke on board* carried away the skylights, binnacles, and companion, and fiUed the cabin with water. Nopn. Ditto weather ; wind £ to B N B. Sun obseryfd.

a*at. (by calculation) 32'' 34', long. 76" 17'.

P.M. Wind veered round to the S W; a little more moderate ; wore the nhip to run her before the wind ; after running a short time, a heayy sea struck her on the atar- board quarter, and she broached- to, blowing

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

Ill

Narrative of the Ship the Dukb of Manchbstbr — eontinmed, CHAP.

V.

Hour.

Courses.

P.M.

A.K.

Noon

Windn.

PM,

A.M.

Noon

P.M.

NE

W

SW

WSW

WSW

Remarks.

August 18, 1837. A hurricane at the time ; it threw her on her heam-ends, and carried away the lee-quarter gallery ; endeayoured to wear the ship, could not get at the fore- topmast-staysail-halliards, they being on the lee side ; loosened the fore- sail (a new one) which instantly blew away : the ship at this time filling fast at the gallery, and down the companion and scuttles ; cut away the mizen and mainmasts ; the ship being on her beam- ends, and haying six feet water in the hold, it was some time before she paid off. After getting the ship before the wind, found she would not run : brought her to on the larboard tack, and sent all hands to the pumps. 6. A tremendous high cross sea, breaking on board fore and aft ) scuttled the cabin deck to let the water into the hold, and nailed sails oyer the companion and scuttles, &c. Midnight. Ditto wea- ther ; all hands at the pumps ; seyen of the crew unable for duty.

August 19, 1837. A.M. Ditto weather; all hands at the

Eumps; sea as before, but more inclined rom the westward, shipping much water oyer all. Noon. More moderate. Sun ob- served.

Latitude (by dead reckoning) 33° 7', lon- gitude 75° 37'.

P.M. Very heayy gales; wind W; a heayy sea running and breaking in almost eyery direction, making a complete breach oyer the ship fore and aft; boatswain and two hands employed securing the head- yards, &c. 6. Wind SW; set the dose- reefed fore-topsail, and run the ship to the NE. 8. More moderate; the sea more regular from the westward. Midnight. Got the pumps to suck for the first time ; seyen of the crew still off duty.

August 20, 1837.

A.M. A continuance of strong sales from the W S W, with a heavy sea ; fiye of the crew unable for duty. 8. More moderate ; let the reeft out of fbre- topsail. Noon. Squally, with rain. Sun observed.

Lat. (by acct.) 33° 47', long, (do.) 74** 52'.

P.M. Increasing gales; double-reefed the fore-topsail. 2. Heayy gale from the WSW; dose-reefed the fore-topsail ; a high sea nmning from the WNW, but irregular, shipping much water. Midnight. More moderate, with constant rain.

Third storm.

On beam- endji. . . ,

f,L.*^ *- **

Ship falling behind the storm.

112

STORMS OF 1837.

CHAP. V.

Third storm.

Narrative of the Ship the Duke of Manchester — couchdei.

Hour.

▲.M.

Noon

P.M.

A.M.

Noon,

P.M.

A.M.

Noon.

P.M.

A.M.

Noon.

P.M.

A.M.

Noon.

C!ourse8.

Windt.

8W

SW

Variable

N

North**. NtoNE

NbyE

to NE

Variable

Variable

Remarks.

August 21, 1837.

A.M. Moderate and fair weather, with a TerylonR high sea, running from the WSW; made all sail on the foremast; ship not making much water. Noon. Spoke tiM American ship Deucalion, of Boston, from the HaTannah, bound to Boston ; she had experienced the hurricane, but was At the time more to the southward; the '^♦*"* informed me (although she was a ship in fine trim, and 800 tons burthen,) that his ship was near going down with them.

Lat. (Noon) 34*^ lO', long. 74** 2f.

P.M. Light winds and sultry weather; a yery heavy sea running from the W 8 W ; wind S W ; crew employed preparing risgiag for a jury-mainmast ; set a roTal on a jnry- mizenmast. 8. Light airs ana fine weather. Midnight. Ditto weather.

August 22, 1837.

A.M. Light breese from the SW; all hands employed about getting up the Jnrj- mainmast 8. Squally, with rain ; clewed all the sails down. 9. More moderate ; made all sail ; set a topsail on Uie jury-mainmaat. Noon: Cloudy, with heavy rain.

Lat. (d.r.) 34** y. long. 74* 24^.

Sun obsenred. Four men unable for duty.

P.M. Fre«h breeze and cloudy, with rain. 4. More settled and fine ; a heaTT sea atill runninfc from the westward ; wind TariaUe. Midnight. Steady breeze and fine weather; wind N.

AuRUst23, 1837.

A.M. Steady breeze from the northward. 2. Wind yariable from N to N £, with fine weather until noon.

Lat. (by obsenration) 34^59', long. 74*" 40'.

P.M. Light winds and fair weather; wind ycering from N by £ to NE. Midnight. Ditto weather.

August 24, 1837.

A.M. Liffht breeze and fine weather ; all possible sail put on the jury-masts. Noon. Liffht yariable winds ana fine weather.

Lat. 35° 46'. long. 74° 49'.

P.M. Light winds and fine weather ; wind yariable. Midnight. Cloudy.

August 25, 1837. A.M. Commences with light airs and fine weather. Noon. Ditto weather. Lat. 36* 25', long. 74° 12'.

STORMS OF 1837. 113

" I have now given you, to the best of my recollection, the CHAP, particulars of the gale, winds, &c. A compass at the time was ^' useless, and in the midst of it I had none to go by. Third

" From the 25th to my arrival at New York had variable storm, winds and weather, attended with squalls, but nothing particu- larly deserving of notice.

" I experienced a hurricane in 1830, off Cape Florida, on the

15th and l6th August: several ships were lost and dismasted.

On the 26th same month had another, in latitude 31°, longitude

75°, which came on precisely in the same way as this of 1837:

we were dismasted, &c.

(Signed) " JOS. GRIFFITHS.''

These are the two storms on Chart II., described in the log-book of the Blanche frigate.

We shall now follow the track of the ship Castries, from the West Indies, and further develop a cause for variable winds. The track of the Castries will be found on Chart VII. By comparing the log-book with the Chart, it will be seen how this ship on the 13th (civil time) sailed into the southern portion of the third whirlwind storm, which caused her to have a N.W. wind at 6 p.m. But the storm was on that day making progress to the westward. When its centre had passed the meridian of the ship, the west wind would veer towards the south ; and as the ship then had a fair wind to run north, we might expect her to advance from the storm's southern half circle, in which the wind blows west^ into the northern half circle, in which it blows east.

Thus the log-book has the wind changing from N.W. to S.W., to S.S.W. to S.S.E., to S.E. to E.S.E., and E. before the return of the N.E. trade wind.

The Castries seems to have passed behind the

I

114

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP, hurricane, experiencing only what seamen call its

^___ "tail." It is probable that the storm must have

arisen between this place and that where the barque

Felicity is marked on the Chart; and it does not

appear to have been severe at first.

Ship Castries.

Third storm.

Seo foot of Chart VII.

Fourth storm.

From Mr. Mondel, Commander of the ship Cas- tries, from St. Lucia to Liverpool :

'' We left the island of St. Lucia at 6 p.m. on the 1 1th August, nautical time (1 0th August, ctvtV time), with a light northerij wind, passing through between St. Lucia and Martinique ; the wind continued light and variable for three succeeding days, bat with much lightning.

"On the 1 5th p.m. (14th, civil time), wind south-south-west to south-east ; very squally, with much thunder, lightomgy and rain, and by noon the trade-wind blew steadily at east.

" During the night of the 1 5th (I speak from memory) the brig Scipio, from Demerara to Dublin, experienced a hurricane, and on the following morning spoke a French ship that bad been dismasted in it.

" I am sorry I cannot give the corresponding latitude and longitude of this vessel (the Scipio). She arrived thirty-six hours after me in Dublin, and I had her log-book, but made no memo- randum. We had no swell in this instance, but it was very dark dismal weather, so that even the most experienced saw some- thing to be afraid of; however we escaped.

" The hurricane of the 25th of August was not preceded by any very particular symptoms of the weather. It blew steadfly from the east -south-east for the preceding twenty-four hours ; and at 4 p.m. on the 25th (24th mean time), we had split an old jib, and bent another with the intention of setting it ; a cer- tain proof, up to that hour, that the weather did not look very bad. But as the gale increased the wind veered to the mortk^ nud the rain came down in torrents, and continued to do so until the following morning, when the gale abated."

STORMS OP 1837,

115

Log of the Castries from St. Lucia, as far as latitude 39° 41'^ CHAP, longitude 50° 4'. — Kept in Nautical Time, ^'

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	L.W.	Remarks on board.
						August 12, 1837.
A.M.2	6		NE	WSW		Light winds and pleasant
4	6					weather; Point Ferre,Mar-
6	4			W		tinique, NlW; all stud-
8	3					dingsails set ; in all do. ;
10			Calm			wind from NE with rain.
12	2					At simset much light-
P.M. 2	2		NEbyN	SW		ning.
4	2					Midnight.
6	3					Out all studdingsails on
8	3					larboard side.
10	3
12	3			s		Light breezes and clear weather.
^smivttA	Dig. • •	Dif.	Depu-	Lat. by	Lat. by	Diff.	Long.by Longitude	Longitude
VHIUTBC*	Lat • •	ture.	Acct.	Obfl.	Long.	Acct.	by Obs.	byChron.
• •	• •	. .	16 l6	•..	O 0 60 10
						August 13, 1837.
2	3		NNEiE			Light breezes and clear
4	3	4		SE		weather.
6	3
8	4		NbyW			In all larboard studding-
10	4			ENE		sails; lightning.
12	3					Midnight.
2 4	2 2	4	Nby W NNW		i	Slight showers of rain.
6	2
8	3
10	3					Fair light trade winds.
12	4
o		/	/	o ' o /	/	O /		o /
N9W	68	66	10	16 16	16 26	11	60 21	• •	60 40
						August 14, 1837.
						(13 at noon, Civil Time.)
2	3		NW6 VV	NNEto		Light unsteady breezes
4	2			NlW		and cloudy; all sail set by
6	2	4	W6N			the wind.
8	4	4	NE6E			8. In royals & flying jib. 10. Squally with rain^
10	3
12	3	4	E6N			Midnight. Wind veered
2	4		NW J W			round to the N E ; stood
4	2		WNW	N		on starboard tack.
6	4		NE6N	NW		4. Tacked eastward.
8	4					8. Set foretop-mast and
10	8					main studdingsails, main-
12	6			SW		sails, and main>royal. Set lower and main- top- mast studdingsail.
ifE	53	62	16	17 l6	• •	16	O / 60 6	■ •	60 ij 1

Castries meeting third storm,

I 2

116

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.				Log of the Castries — anUlnued. •
	Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	L.W.	I
and crou-	1 Remarki on board.
ing behind
iu track.							Aogoat 16, 18S7. (14 at noon, CtvU Tmm.)
	2			NNE^E	SSW		Fresh breeiaa ft af nally,
	4 6				to SSE		with a dirty threatening ap- pearance. 4. In all atnd- ding-saila ; broke the atod-
	8
	10						ding- sail boom. 10. la
	12
	2	8			SE		much lightmnc. 11. Set
	4 8
	6 ; 7					Midnight. Mora aattltd ;
	8 7
	10	7					and jib.
	12	7					Midnight.
					ESE	thunder, lightning, and rain. Fair and dondy; oal main- royal.
	Course.	DU. 171	Dif. Lat 158	Depar- ture. 6^	Lat.bf Aect. o / 19 56	Lat.by Obe. o / 19 36	Diff. Lonf.	Lonf.b> Acct.	(..oofitudp bjChroB.	Lnofitodc byObe.
	N22E	5§ 5^	. •	5$ o6
						August 16, 1837.
	2	7		NbyE	E	\	(15 at noon, Ciml TVav)
	4	7					Frcshbreeses and ekMidy;
Qale	6	6 '	N			all sail set by the wind.
passed and	8	6 i				Settled; out fore- top-
trade wind	10	6	Nby W	ENE		mast and main atnddinf-
returned.	12	7				sail and flying Jib.
	2 4	6 6					Midnight.
	6	\0 4		N W JN			CTloudy weather.
	8	5				Showery.
	10	4				Employed Tamiahing tlia
	12	3					poop, ftc. ftc.
	Nl^W	131	2^	3f	o / 21 41	• •	40	5§ 3^	. .	59 64
					1	August 17, 1837.
	2	6		NNW	NEiE	k	Moderate breesca and
	4	6 5			'	pleasant weather.
	V 8	O 1 6	Nby W	NEbyE
	10	6	N W
	12	«1		1	Midnight. Cfloudy.
	2 A	4		NbyWJW		Squally, with rain.
	6	5		NbyE	1
	8	6			Increasing ^ireeies and
	10	6		NNE	1 E S E cloudy.
	12	7			1 1
	N l8 W	1 lis	1 hlli i	• 31	1 o . : 23 36 1	; 23 27 1	34	0 / 60 U	1 60 6 1 1	• .	1

STOBMS OF 1837. Log of the Castries — continued.

Hour.	K.	..	Connea.	Wiodt.	L.W.	Remarks on boud.
		«	NNE N NbjEiE NNE . NbyB	EbyS EbyS		August 18, 1837. Fine hrepiea and clear; all lul set by the wind. Set lower-mun-top and lOp-gBllBtlt-BCuddil)g-»ftil. Squally, with rain. Midnight. Light Bhowcm. Pair Hid warm.
Coont.	Uii	2!	l>p»r.	Tc*"'	t-^bi	Diir. Looj.	Lonj.bj Ltporltodt	Upfitndt
nJe	13fi	,.^	ij	2.4f		1&	69° fii S§ S4
10 12	4 4 4 4 4 4 4 i		N NNW NWbyN NNW NW	EbyN		Aogtut 19, 1837. Light wind, and fine weather. Midnight, ol«u weaihet. light winds and fine
N23'W	gs	8/	*&	2H	.1.4	44	60° 36	oWd ..
2 * 6 e 10 12 2 4 6 S 10 12	3 3 3 3 * i 4 3 3		NWbyN NNW NbyW ENE	NEbyN		AugnitM, 1837. Light breezes and plea- ■anl weather. Midnight. lacreaaing breezes and cloudy. Oat main-top and lop-
N20W	,7	Ti	,i	2Sd	,H	30	6t«	eUi		1

117

CHAP.

of the third

118

THE YARIABLB WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Swell probably from the third Rtorm.

Log of the Castries — continuetL

Hour.	K.	F.
2	2
4	2
6	2
8	2
10	2
12	3
2	3
4	4
6	4
8	4
10	3	4
12	3

Courses.

NbyE

NNW N

NEbyN

Winds.

E

L.W.

i

Remarks on board.

August 21, 18S7. Light airs and rtrj weather; thermoaietflr at sunset 87^^

Light airs; midnight*

Increasing; aet lower studding-suL

Light breezes.

Coune.

N 14 E

'^Lat.	Deprir* ture.	Lat. b) Aect.	Lit. by Obt.	Diff. Long.	Long.bj Acet.	Longitude bj Chi on.	LoBgitod* bjOU.
1 / 62 60 1	56	o / 29 3	o / 29 3	1^	o / 60 61	o / 60 48	• •

2 4

6 8

10

12

2

4

6

8

10

12

N33E

3 3

3 3 4 6 6 6 4 4 4 4

104

NE4N

Chron. fast

ssw sw

2k 42- 20* S

August 22, 1837.

Light winds and fine weather ; out larboard studding-sail.

Midnight.

Pleasant breeiea.

Light winds and di At 8^ 38- long, per ann

and moon . . 69.49^.

Per chron. . . 69.44|.

87

O /! O /

30 30 30 31

15 6^6

5§ 3^

6§4(

2 4

6

8 10 12

2

4

6

8

10 6 12 6

I

3 3 4

0

6 6 6 6 6 6

NEbyN

SSE

SEbyN

August 23, 1837. Moderate breeaaa and pleasant.

Midnight. Inoreaaing breezes and clear.

I Cloudy.

A high westerly swelL

I ,1

/ o

/I

<■■ /

NL'SK IJi lllP .')!» 32 1130 21 1 « .58 37

I , ;

o /

'»« 40

ft /

r>H 45

STORMS OF 1837.

119

Log of the Castries — continued.

Hour.	K. 6
2
4	6
6	6
8	7
10	7
12	7
2	8
4	9
6	8
8	8
10	8
12	8

F.

Courte.

N 18E

6

8

10

12

?

4

6

8

10

12

DU.

176

3 1

1 1 1 1 1 6 5

Dif. Ut.

167

Courses.

NNE NEbyN

NEIE JN

NNE

Winds.

ESE

L.W.

\

Remarks on board.

August 24, 1837.

Moderate breezes and hazy ; all staysails set.

In flying-jib and lower staysails.

In main - top - gallant main-staysails and fore- royal.

Midnight.

Fresh breezes and cloudy.

Ditto ditto.

Strong wind? ; in Qying- jib and gaff-topsail.

Oepftr- ture.

54

Lat. bj AccU

35 1

4 4

4

4

NNE

N|E

NNW (Midnight)

SW

ENE

Latby Oba.

3''5 46

Diff. Long.

0 /

1 4

Long.by Acct.

o /

57 33

LoD{fitade by Chron.

o / 57 45

Longitude by Ob«.

EbyS

E byN

NE NNE

N WNW

NW

h

2

NlOW

41

40

o /

35 37

August 25, 1837. Strong winds and cloudy. 3. In top- gallant- sails; increasing gides; double- reefed both topsails. 4. Furled both courses ; split the jib ; bent another. 6. Close-reefed both topsails ; blowing a hard gale, with heavy raiu. 9. Fore- topsail sheet broke, and split the sail; furled it. 11. Blow- ing a hurricane ; blew the main-topsail out of the ropes ; got a boat- sail bent to the ^aff, and another in the mam rigging; the ship keeps-to well } shipping much water over the lee- rail; pumps carefully at- tended to; washed most of the larboard bulwarks away. As the wind veered N to N E and to N W the vessel was continually with the sea, on or abaft the beam, which caused her to labour tremendous- ly, and I am afraid has tnrown some of the pun- cheons of molasses out of their berths, as the water is very much discoloured, and we can hear some of the casks rolling about.

9

5^

42

6^ 54

CHAP. V.

Fourth storm, overtaking Castries,

and

passing over her.

120

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.				Log oft	he Castries — concluded.
	Hour.			L.W.
Fourth	K. F	Coiirses. ; Winds.	Remarks on board.
storm.			' !
			1		August 26, 1837.
	2	6 14 NEbyE WNW		Strong winds with a high
	4	6	4			cross sea. 1
	6	6	4	'	Set jib, mainsail, and
	8	7	4 NEbyJE NW ,	main-top-gallant-aaiL
	10	8		1 !
	12	8		,		and gaff-topaail.
	2 8		■		Sea more regular; out
	4	8		1	topmast- studding -aaila. Strong breeiesanddoady.
	6	8		1
	8	8		1 1		Kain and lightnhig.
	10	8	ENE	Fair and strong bmies ;
	12	8	1 1	carried away fore-top«gal- lant-mast, sent it iown;
	1	1 1			m top main-stayaaiL
	r*niirA^	Dii	Dif.	Depar-	".at.bj	\M. by	Uiff.	LoDf.by	I^nritude by CnroD.	Longitude
	\^UIU«l..	vis*	Ut.	ture.	Acct. c /	Obs. , Long.	AccL	bjUb*.	!
	0	/ /	0 J 0 /'	C /	c /		1
	N53E	180	108 144	37 1h 37 9 2 58 54 44 1	54 56	• .	1
	1					1	August 27, 1887.
	2 8		ENE	NW	i	Strong breezes ft dondy ;
	4 8					carrying moderate Mil,
	6 8
	8 8		i		stretched and ftrj looae.
	10 ; 8
	12 ' 7 2 7		•			Clear weather.
	tt f 4 7 6 7		1 i		Squally, with rain.
	8 7		1		Set main - top - gaUast-
	10 7			sail and spanker. |
	12 7 1		1		Set fore-top*gal]ant-aaQ.
	o		/	-O _ / 0 /	0 / 0 /	0 /
	N 63 E	176	80 1	156	38 29.38 25	3 10 •	51 34	52 26	. •
	2 6 '4	NE hyE	NNV		August 28, 18S7. Fresh breezes k souaUy ; out lower and mam-top-
	4 5	iK	1
	6 4 .		1	mast studding-saila. Pleasant breeiea and
	8 '; 4 .
	10	6 ,				cloudy.
	12	6 4		1
	2	6		W !
	4	4
	6	4		,
	8	3 4		'
	10	4
	12	5	1	sw
	N oO Ello A 1	«s	:U) 31)39 11	113 li) 11'	50 4 . . . 1
	1 _	1	1	'						1	L. 1

STORMS OF 1837. 121

Further remarks relative to the Castries, on the chap. 24th and 25th August, 1837 : ^-^

" The hurricane commenced with the wind at east by south, and veered to the north-east as it increased. At 11 p.m. the hurricane blew from the north- north-east, and veered about two Rate of points per hour until 4. 30 a.m. when it partially abated. veering.

"We had a sudden lull whilst reefing topsails ^at 4 p.m. on Lull, the 24th, by civil time),

" Had a high westerly swell for two Jays previous ; but as Swell, this is very frequently the case about the termination of the trade winds, / know not whether to ascribe it to the coming of this hurricane or to some preceding gale.

"Before the storm it was very dark and hazy, with much lightning in the evenings.

(Signed) "J. MONDEL."

By the log of the Castries, it will he seen that after the 14th of August, at noon (by dvil reckoning)^ that vessel had fine weather and the usual trade winds until the 22nd, notwithstanding the third storm that was raging not very far off to the westward. About this period, however, a heavy swell was felt from the west- ward for two days ; and there had been lightning in the evenings.

On the 23rd it became hazy, and a breeze from east-south-east freshened to a gale. This was not the great storm which had passed onwards on its course, and which on the 23rd had reached the place of the ship Wanstead. This other gale being a fair wind for the Castries, that ship was carried along with it, until past noon on the 24th {ciml reckoning). Although not entered on the log, the master states, that there was a sudden lull whilst close-reefing topsails, indicative of being in the centre of a rotatory storm ; and the log shows how rapidly the wind was veering, and how ** violently it was blowing just about this period.

122 THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. The Castries had to lie-to until noon on the 25tb, _ _1_ when she was enabled to bear away again for England.

On the principle followed throughout, of giving as much information as could be procured relative to each storm, the following extracts are added.

Ship "The Victoria, Dunn, from Lunenburg to Dominictt, ww

Victoria, upggt and dismasted in a hurricane, on the 24th of August, 1857»

in lat. 33°, long. 58°, and abandoned on the 12th September.'* —

From the Shipping Gazette.

wind.

Barque "The barque Clydesdale, from Barbados and Antigua, en- Clvdes- countered a severe hurricane ten miles north of Barbados, on the 26th of July, 1837. On the 24th of August encountered a hurricane more severe than the former, in lat. 32^ 30', long. 59° 30', in which the vessel was hove on her beam ends, and re- mained in that position for two hours. She righted after the whole of her top-gallant-masts and rigging had been cut away.** — Ibid.

Extract from the protest of the Clydesdale : —

" On the 23rd August, 1837, lat. 30° 21', about noun^ it came on to blow fresh breezes from the cast-south-east, accompanied with a heavy confused swell. At 4 p.m. sent down main-royal yard, and at midnight atmosphere dark, and wind strnthreoMt, Cloose-reefed at 5 a.m. on the 24th ) took in all sail ; at noon blew a complete hurricane ) ship lying over very low, sea wasliing over 3 at 4 p.m. top-gallant -masts and yards cut away to save the vessel 3 at midnight gale moderated. At 4 a.m. of the S5th kept away ; at 8 moderate, but still a confused swell.

The third storm had passed over the same part of the ocean on the 22nd of August, where the Castries was lying-to on the 24th and 25th, at which last date the greater storm was beyond the place of the Wanstead. Here, therefore, we have another instance of an expla- Variable uatiou of tlic Variable winds : for the great storm would cause a westerly gale on the 22nd, over the same part of the ocean, where tlie smaller storm, coming from

STORMS OF 1837.

123

the south-westward (and bringing up the Castries chap.

along with it in the right hand semicircle), changed '. —

the wind to east.

Bermuda lies between the courses of the two storms marked on Chart VII. By comparing the projections on this Chart with the following extract from a Regis- ter kept by Captain Page, of the Royal Engineers, at Bermuda, and given to me there, in 1839, further views connected with the causes for the variable winds will be suggested; for the greater storm on the 21st of August, 1837, caused the wind at the Bermudas to blow hard, with squalls, from the south-west; and as it advanced in its course, the wind became west.

On the 24th of August the lesser storm, though it did not reach Bermuda, changed the wind to north; whilst a very heavy sea from the east rolled against the eastern end of the islands, so remarkable as to be spoken of to me two years after, as matter of great curiosity at the time of its occurrence, because of the north wind blowing lightly.

Extracts from Register of Weather, kept in St. George's, Bermuda.

1837. Aug.	Barom.	Ther.	Winds.	Wind's Force.	• Weather.
2l8t	30.000	83.5	sw	7	Hasy dense cum. clouds; squalls
	29. 950	79.0			with rain ; lightning at night. Showers ; lightning in S E and
22nd	30. 032	83.0	SW	4.1
		78.5			E.
23rd	30. 062	84.0 79.0	s w and W	2.0	Fine ; passing clouds.
24th	29. 962	83.0 78.5	N •	2.0	Fine ; cumul. clouds ; a remark* dbly heavy 9weU of the $ea ; a tre* mendoua sttr/ breaking on the rockt ; quite remarkable and unusual. Mean of tide +5".0 above the mean, resulting from a series of observations.
25th	30. 205	80.0	Nor	2.0	Fine ; air very dry ; Dew Point
		75.5	calm.		from 12* to 15° below mean tem- perature.

124 THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. " And in the monthly summary of Observations it is thus V» stated : — ' The weather has been fine, serene, and very dry j the winds moderate and variable, amounting in force to a gale, in a part of one day only -, although, from accounts received, there has been a succession of severe gales or hurricanes, Ixith north and south of these islands, and at no great distance/

(Signed) " GEO. C. PAGE,

" Capt. Royal Eng."

Fifth By referring to the narrative of Mr. Barclay, at

1837?* P^o^ 89, it will be seen that on the 3rd of September

Bremen he Unexpectedly found a Bremen brig, which had sailed

"^' from Mantanzas, in Cuba, on the 18th August, up with

and alongside of him. This brig had come up by

having had strong westerly winds all her voyage. The

ffth stonily above alluded to, explains the cause of this,

for the Bremen brig appears to have been just within

the influence of the southern portion of it.

I have traced this gale back to Apolachicola and

St. Mark, in the State of Alabama. From thence it

crossed over Florida, and entered upon the Atlantic,

TheCa- w^licrc the Calypso under her jury-masts met it, and

lVD80

meets the had to auchor 30 miles to the southward of Cape Fear, storm. Although the storm came from the south-westj the Calypso had the wind first from the eastward. " During the night it increased, but fortunately backed into the northward (which was off the land), and at noon on the following day blew a very heavy gale of wind, and continued until the morning of the 2nd, when it backed to the west-north-west, and moderated." See page 81).

The following are the published reports relative to this storm :

Apola- " ApoLACinroLA, Sq)t. 1, 1837. — I write from the midst of

thircla. ruins. A hurricane yesterday swept our town and half destroyed

STORMS OF 1837. 125

it. Nearly every house is unroofed ; a number of the upper CHAP, stories are blown down, and many houses levelled. The storm ^• commenced on the afternoon of 30th Aucrust. but was not severe „.^^ until 4 A.M. on the morning of the 31st, when it became very storm, violent until 7 p.m. The wind was from the south-east to north.'* — Extract of a Letter published in the American Newspapers.

" The terrible tempest which visited Apolachicola completely destroyed the town of St. Mark. The lighthouse was almost the only building left standing, yet the town of St. Joseph suf- fered very little in the gale." — From the American Newspaper.

" There has been a severe storm at St. Mark, which commenced St. Mark, about sunrise on the morning of the 31st August, 1837> the wind being from north-east. At 8 a.m. the wind was north, and it had increased in violence : only one wharf has been left standing. At the lighthouse the sea rose eight feet higher than usual. At Pensacola there was no wind. The schooner Lady Washington was becalmed at the same time at Key West. The wind was oflf shore at the time of the storm, which makes it difficult to account for the high tide 3 but it is supposed whilst the north-east wind was blowing on shore, a south-easter prevailed at sea. This is frequently the case, and invariably produces a high tide.*' — New York General Advertiser.

" Another storm commenced about the middle of last night, Georgia, and at 10 a.m. this morning was blowing with some violence from the north-west. It continued with somewhat increased violence until noon, when the wind veered to about west. It is now 2 o'clock, and still blowing a severe gale.*' — From a Savannah Newspaper, Georgian, ^\st August, 1837.

" The ship Florence experienced a heavy hurricane on the 2nd Near Cape September, 1837> fifty miles east-south-east of Cape Hatteras. !!*'*««•• It commenced blowing at east-north-east, and veered round the compass.*' — New York General Advertiser,

" The Danish brig Maria, on the 2nd September, in lat. 36^ 6', long. 73° 40', was scudding in a gale from the south.

126 THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. '* The brig Stranger^ on the 2nd September, from Porto Plato

y* __ (in St. Domingo) to Philadelphia, experienced a severe gale from

Fifth south, changing suddenly to north,*'

storm.

'' The wreck of a ship, abandoned and apparently recently dis- masted, the sea breaking over her, and articles floating alongside, was passed during a heavy gale of wind, on the 2nd September, lat. 33° north, long. 74° west."

Variable It is Only uecessary to prove that the winds are ^° ' rotatory, and that by some fixed law of nature they revolve uniformly in the same way, and we are enabled to assign a cause for the variable winds. This subject is best studied by beginning at the equator, and fol- lowing storms towards the poles ; for the disturbing causes, although very violent near the equator, seem to occur less frequently, and we can there study the nature of a single isolated storm. But in high latitudes it is very difficult ; for the tropical storms seem to be car- ried onwards towards the poles, whilst other storms are there generated, probably also rotatory; and as the numbers increase, and they seem to expand in size, and the meridians approach each other by the d^rees of longitude diminishing, the winds become huddled together in a manner that has hitherto appeared inex- plicable. Even admitting the great probability that such is a fixed law of nature, it can only be satisfacto- rily proved by adducing as many facts in connection with each other as can be collected. As far as my in- vestigations have been carried, all the facts I have met with seem to be in accordance with such a fixed law ; and in one of Mr. Redfield's published papers he states, that not one instance of a contradictory kind has come to his knowledge.

THE VARIABLB WINDS. 127

We shall, therefore, return to the latter part of the chap.

voyage of H.M.S. Blanche, from the West Indies to ! —

Halifax, in August, 1830. By her log-book we find J-^s.

./ o Blanche.

a second gale coming also from the southward, over- ^ ^^ taking the frigate on the 24th of August, and becom- circle,

. . Ill Chart II.

ing a violent hurricane by 10 p.m. on the 26th ; and,

if we observe the veering of the wind, we find it to be \

similar to all the other storms described.

This hurricane is mentioned In the * American Journal of Science,' vols. xx. and xxi. ; and it is there •stated by Mr. Redfield to have been at Martinique between the 19th and 20th of August ; to have passed northerly, and, touching the American shore near Cape Hatteras, raged with great fury at each locality for about forty hours, as it swept the great central curve of their coast; and it passed from thence over St. George's Bank, in a north-east direction. On the American coast it was everywhere a north-east storm ; but it will be seen by the log of the Blanche that ship had the wind at south-east ^ veering to south-west and to west. The Blanche was on the opposite side of the whirlwind.

I have added, from the same volumes, an interesting narrative of what befell the corvette Kensington, built in America for the Russian Government. That vessel sailed from the Delaware, with fine weather, on the 23rd of August, and, steering south-south-east, met first " a disagreeable head sea," and then the storm on the 25th, without apparently being at all aware of what she was about to encounter.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M.S. Blanchk, Commodore Farqohar, ^- kept by Mr. Middlemist, Master R.N.— In CivU Tbmt.

[Continoed from Chap. II. p. 13.]

Blanche'

i"

SEbrE

P.M!. Fresh breezes tad cloudjr. B. Strong winds and iqamllj ~- 12. Strong galea and aquallj.

NRhrN offNEbyE

-NNE

JlNEbrN

NNE

off S E hy N

up EXE

NEbTE

ENE

E by N i N

B^N

SEbyS

Sby E

Augtut 23. 1830. A.M. Strong galea and iquaUj. i, Frpsh gafea and cloudy. H. Strong gales, with a hesTy aeti. 9.30. Down jury top-gallant-yard. 11.30. In flying jib.boam. 12. Strong gales and aqualty, with ■ tiovy sea. Wtcck mil, S M' B, 231 mUet.

P.M. Hard gslo. with hearj s^aalla. Ditto wratbeT', downiDalD'SMraalL 6. Hard galea and squally wwttllar.

Ditto weather.

Most violent gain, with hesry •qyall*.

. Ditto weslher.

Wreck mil, 8 76° E, 360 milet.

P.H. Hard gales and heary aqaaHa. B. Split main-BUytail i unbent it, mad bent another. Midnight. Strong galea and doaij.

Augu'.tas. igjo.

A.M. Slfmg galrt and clondy.

Do>vri tiiain-suywul and Ml mdn-trTMil.

I. lUrii irslw and iqually.

4.SII S.t rrr/id foniail J down miKa-

9. 311. A L'Bvy sea stove in cabin d«*d i

lij-his and windows ; up f.ire»ail ; hauled to |

the wind. I

12. Ilnrd gnW and hcBTT iquslla. 1

Wreck Hill, S .^7 K. 248 miles. I

STORMS OF 1837.

129

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Blanche — continued.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks, &c. H.M.S. Blanche, August 26, 1830.
P.M.
1	E	SbyE	P.M. Hard gales and heary squalls.
5	NEbyE ENE	V	Ditto weather, with a heayy sea.
7		Hard gales, with violent squalls.
10	£	SbyW	Violent hurricane ; fore-staysail blew to
U	ESE	•	pieces.
12 A.M.	SEbyE
August 26, 1830.
1	SE	SWbyS	A.M. Strong gales and squally weather. 2. 30. Set main-staysail ; down miaen-
5	SSE	W	trysail.
8	SbyE		Strong gales and squally. 8. Kara gales.
9	Wby S	9. 30. Set fore-staysail ; down main- ditto.
12	SbyE		Noon. Strong gales and squally. Lnt. 36« 1' N, long. 69° 2' W.
V« %M			Wreck Hill, S 46° E, 325 miles.
P.M. 1	S	WbyS	P.M. Hard gales and heavy squalls.
2	NNE		Ditto weather.
7	NW		Ditto ditto ; hauled to the wind in conse- quence of a heavy sea.
8	NWbyN		& Fresh gales and clear.
9	NW		12. Strong gales and squally.
10	N W by W NNW
11 A.M.
August 27, 1830,
1	NWby W	WbyS	A.M. Strong gales and squally weather. 3. More moderate.
3
4	NNE	W	4. Strong breezes and cloudy weather.
8			8. Strong breezes and cloudy weather; found ensisn and several flags damaged. 12. Fresh breezes and fine weather.
12
			Lat. 38** 16' N, long. 68** 1' W.
			Sambro Light, K 28"* £, 425 miles.
P.M. 1	NNE	WSW	P.M. Strong breezes and fine weather.
5		w
6			6. Fresh breezes and fine weather.
12 A.M.			12. Ditto weather.
August 28, 1830.
1	NNE	w	A.M. Fresh breezes and fine.
8			8. Light airs and fine. 12. Light winds and fine.
12
			Lat. 41° 21' N, long. 6r 2" W.
P.M. 1			Sambro Light, N 36° E, 233 mUes.
NEbyN	NWbW	P.M. Moderate and fine weather.
4		NW
8			8. Light airs and fine. 12. Moderate and fine.
12

CHAP. V.

Blanche's Log.

End of

{^ale, fol- owed by westerly winds.

130

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Blanohe't Log.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Blanche — comdmied.

Blanche

off

Halifax.

Hour.

A.M.

1

8

11

Noon

P.M.

1 3 6 0

12

A.M. 1 8

Noon

P.M. 1

2 4

Midn.

Conrftes.

NEbyN

NE NEbyE

Winds.

NW

NNW

NAV

WbyS

SWbS

SWbW" 8SW

SWestlJ^

Remarks, &c. H.M.S. Blanche, August 29, 1830.

August 29, 1830. A.M. Light airs and fine weather. Observed land, bearing N E by K.

Noon. Light breezes and fine. Lat. 43° 10' N. long. 65*' 29' W. Sambro Light, N 48"" 30'E, 114 mflea.

P.M. Light airs and fine weather.

6. Shelboume lighthouse, N f £.

12. Light airs and fine weather.

August 30, 1830. A.M. Light airs and fine weather. Ditto weather and foggy ; fired a gm lor a pilot, rioon. Moderate and hazy weather. Lat. 44'' 6' N, long. (none). Sambro Light, N E } N, 21 milea.

P.M. Light airs and fine. 2. Fired a gun for a pilot. Ditto weather. Midnight. Ditto weather.

At Bermuda, on the 2l8t of August, 1830, the weather was fine, with light airs. On the 22nd there were "stormy heavy showers," the wind changing from N.E. to S.E. On the 23rd and 24th it blew strong, and south-easterly. On the 25th the wind became south and squally ; and on the 2Gth it veered to S.S.W., after which the weather became fine.

STORMS OF 1837.

131

Extract from the Log Book of the Russian Ship of War Kensington^ Capt. W. W. Ramsay.

Hour.

P.M.

A.M. P.M. A.M.

Courses.

wsw

ESE

A.M. P.M.

A.M.

A.M.

P.M.

Easterly.

Winds.

Variable

South w'y

ENE

NE NandE

NandE

Remarks.

Monday, August 23, 1830. P.M. Cape Henlopen, bearing W 8 W. At 7, discharged ttie pilot, and steered offESE.

Tuesday, August 24, 1830.

A.M. Commences with light and variable weather.

P.M. From 4 to 6. Light airs from the souUiward. 6 to 8. Nearly calm.

A.M. From midnight to 4. Moderate and clear ; disagreeable head sea. 4 to 8. Wind fresh from ENE. 8 to meridian. Freshening ; took one reef in the fore and main and two in the mizen-topsails.

Wednesday, August 26, 1830.

A.M. Wind high from the N E ; took two reefs in the fore and main-topsails.

P.M. From 4 to 6. Fresh gales from the N and E, weather cloudy ; sent down royal*yards. 6 to 8. Wind increasing. 7. (40^) dose-reefed the topsails, reefed the courses, and furled the mainsail. 8 to mid- night. Very squally, with rain. Midnight. Under close-reefed topsails, reefed foresail and fore-staysail; the second gig washed from the larboard davits.

A.M. From 4 to 8. Wind not so strong, and hauling to the East.

Thursday, Ausust 26, 1880.

A.M. Fresh gales from N and E, with heavy head sea; attached an eight-inch hawser to the end of the bowsprit. Drought both parts into the hawse-holes, and set them weU up ; got a pull of the bobstays and bowsprit shrouds.

P.M. From 4 to 6. Gale increasing. In sending down top-gallant-yards lost fore- top-gafiant-mast and yard,. Furled the foresail, fore and mizen-topsailB ; got pre- venter-tackles from the foremast to the bowsprit. 6. Andrew M*Cormick was washed from the jib-boom and drowned. 6 to 8. Oale very heavy ; the sea increas- ing to an alarming height. 8 to midnight. Qtile most violent ; lying to undtr close- reefed main- topsail and fore- staysail.

* See the dotted circle on Chart XL The Kensington must have been near the Blanche.

k2

CHAP. V.

RusMan corvette Kensing- ton's Log.

Com- mencing.*

132

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP. V.

Russian corvette Kensing« ton's Log.

Extract from the Log Book of the Russian Ship of War

Kensington — continued.

Middle of gale.

/

.-w^

C-' ,*- r

Hoar.

Courses.

▲.M.

«>.« < » i,'*-'

P.M.

A.M.

Winds.

North

West

Rtmarks.

• Thursday, August 26, 1837.

A.M. From midnight to 4. Gale raging with great violence ; a tremendous sea. 1. The main and mixen-top-gallant-masta were hlown away close to the caps. 2. A perfect hurricane from the North ; taken a-hack : the ship in a very critical situation ; pitched away the jib-boom, with it the spritsaU- yard; sprung the bowsprit and fore and mainmasts ; attempted to relieve the ahip of the main- topsail, weather sheet partUig. the sail was instantly thrashed to pieces. 4. The situation of the f>hip was moat critical, working violently, and much distreiaed from the weight of her battery. 4.30. Fora- sail, fore* topsail, and mainsail burst fnm their gaskets, and were blown into ribbons. 4 to 8. Oale raging with unabated Aury; fore-staysail blown from the bolt-rope, and such the force of the storm that not a rag of canvas could be shown. 4.40. Main- topmast went by the cap. 6, Fore and mainmast badly sprung ; secured the part- ner wedges with heavy spikes ; to saTe the forcmsst and bowsprit cut away the fore- topmast, carrying with it the head of the foreman and part of the fore-tqp; cock- billed the fore- yard and secured the lee am to the cable-bitts. 6 30. Carried away wea- ther mainbracc bumpkins ; to save the maata cut away the main-vard, which no hmiiaa effort could secure : the situation of the ship awful in the extreme, five feet water in the hold, and the crew p»erfectly paralysed ; the wind had now attained a nirioua height, and the sea increased to such an alamiag degree that with great difficulty men ooulS be found to cut away the main- yard.

Friday, August 27, 1830. P.M. Oale yet dreadful. 4.30. Wind hauled to West ; set the misen- staysail to keep the ship to. 4 to 8. Gale somewhat abated; set the main-starsail. 6. Oale abating ; all hands employed clearing wreck ; weather cloudy, rrom 8 to mid- night. Moderate; heavy sea; ship very uneasy.

A.M. From midnight to 4. Very heavy sea. 4 to 8. Gale again increasing ; spoke ship Norfolk, from Sorjolk; receivea an offer of assistance. The Sor/olk teat noi im the gale.

133

The Racer's Storm ; and the Winds called Norths.

The Racer sloop of war encountered another hurri- chap. cane on the 28th of September, 1837 ; H. M. sloop ^' Ringdove being then in the same seas, and within its influence : a comparison of the logs of these two vessels enables us to lay down the probable course of this storm. It may be an instructive one to inquire into, inasmuch as it was moving over Yucatan and towards the Gulf of Mexico; and will serve, along with another storm to be described at the end of Chap. VIII., to explain (at least in some degree) those winds which the Spaniards call Norths^ and the gales of the eastern shores of Mexico.

By comparing the two log-books and the places of these two vessels, we find the Racer was the most to the southward. She experienced the storm first, and had the wind from E. N. E., whilst the Ringdove, a degree to the northward of her, had the wind more easterly. Both vessels ran with the storm ; but the Racer having lost her masts, the Ringdove ran the furthest into the Gulf of Mexico, and therefore longer experienced the storm. It lasted with her until mid- night of the 1st of October } whereas it left the dis- masted Racer on the morning of that day.

The account of this storm is introduced^ in the hope that it will lead to further inquiry into the storms of the Gulf of Mexico, and ultimately to an explanation of the true nature of the winds called Norths.

The wind's force in the log of the Racer is recorded

134

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP, according to Captain Beaufort's rules ; which will be

' — found explained at the end of Chap. X. It is a

method so simple and expressive, that it is to be hoped it will be adopted in all records of the weather, both by sea and land.

The paragraph from the * Jamaica Dispatch/ which follows the Ringdove's log, was only met with after the figure placed above had been engraved ; and it shows that the Racer's storm passed over part of Jamaica.

WINDS CALLED NORTHS.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Sloop Racer, James Hope, Esq., CHAP. Commander ; between 1 p.m. of the 28th September, 1837, ^' and 12 a.u. of the 30th September, 18S7. rI^7~

Log.

H.K.F. Coum,.	Wind.. 1 1	Wealber	i
		J
					September 28, 1837.
1 2 SW					P.M. 1.30. Spoke an Eng-
2 4 6 WSW	ENE	7	OCQ		lUh schooner from JaoiHicii.
3^ SEbyS					2. Spoke uiEngliobbngi
4 S 5 1 6					furled the cou^b, anil trimmed □□ lubosid tack ;
6 1 6					rove top tar kle- falls.
1 1 fi					5. Sent top-ea11«it-?srd« OD deck ; housed top- gallant-
i\ BhjE		7	QHW
* I ITpSE					masts, und infljingjib-bsom.
10 1					7.30. Furled the tajisaila.
11 I Off s a w		8	HQR		and set themaintry-BBil 1 bat- tened the haluhwaj'a dunn.
12 1					Midmehc. Set forc-stu}'- sail, and wore ; daim diiio.
September 29, 1837.
1 1		B	UQH	6	A.M. 6. A sea washed
a 1 UpN 8 1					awB7 life-buoy, stove Blum- boat, and cnrried away Btar-
4 1	EbyN	g	GHK	e	board-faU- gripes and laah-
6 1 6 I					Cut a way ditto.
1 1 6 OffNW					9. Down aain-UyBoil; a
8 1 6					heavy sea running [ sent
B I fi 10 I fi	ENE	10			top-gallont-masti on deck.
11 1 5 12 1 G		10	QUR	6	Noon.
CoDTH. oil unit.	L.t.N.	LoBfllud* W.
		o "■■■ '
8 4W 3^	iS 43	8§ 2l	None. CapeAjitonio,N33 W156
14 2 NWiW	ENE	to	QUB		P.M. Shaped a ooune N W i W.
2 4 fi					8. Sea washed away part . ofleehammock-netlingsand
h < 5					twoupperhalf-ports. 7. IS. In a heavy gust of
4 4 i		11			wind the ship went over on her beam-ends, and Isy with
S i 4 e 4 1		„			her lopa in the water for two minutes 1 when the roatta aoing she righted, with bi feet water in the hold.
7*6		13			Found bowsprit goneat the collars ; foremast six feet abofB ihedeck. mainmast at the hounds ; everything on

Furled Inpaaib, Battened hatchoi.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

Extract from the Log	ofH.M.Slc	mpB
B.K.	F.	Counei. Wind*. 11 |	Veit.he> »	B«m>rkj.
			.&(S	J
			1
			ENE 1	QUR	the lower deck hOTe to lee-
						and pul of the ahol ud
						chiin c»hli* thrown oat
						hMeh wnihed «w»y; lea
						wiULinchor .drift; rat
						awai ditto; tnitetuiut down batches aireih, elMriiic
						wreck, and pnmpinf ahip;
a		Drift to Ilu N W				M S.30. the wreck beinc clear, Bent a watch below to clear up lower deck. e.Sa.PuDipaauckedi ah^
		Inulepor				wei>t oTer on he. beam-cndt.
					but righted imiDedUUlr, with 2| feet water in the
		lioai
						atovc in, the weather waiat-
10						anchor and •wingiii|-boom deck a< abo»e: ho*e orer- board two after Ics curo- naile*. >hoi, and aU other BOiaJl deck lumber; pump- inic .hip, Becuring hatchea, and clcuing lower drck.
'^					OtlU	11.10. Departed thia lift, Charles Gambridge (boy), the lower deck.
12				12		Midnight.
	September 80, 1*31.
I !			12	OQU	A.U. S.Gotheadofoiaia-
!'		ESE			tryaail hoUted twelve bet up the slump of maioiMM. 7. Mualered ahip'a ciew.
i ! 7	Drift to the N W				and found niiuing U«uy Langmede (k.k) and lanwa Martin (capt. rnrecaatle).
8		11
9					full of water, and (he nuun-
10	1 mile pet				spritis of No. 374 (Anold)
11	hour				lioke"n.
					the deep.
12			10	OCR	Noon.*^
Ceuw	Di>Un«. 1 Lil. N. 1 Loxrllud. W. 1	..™..	BMJDttHdDMMea.
Nr9W	HI	20 li	M <:■ None	CapcAntunio.NsWlOl

WINDS CALLED NORTHS.

137

Extract from the Log of H.M. Sloop Rkcka— concluded. CHAP.

H	K	F	Couno.	Windt.	- 1			^
We.iher	Betoarki.	Racer'
					s£		J		Log.
								September 30. 1837.
								P.M. Emplaned itowing
■1			Drift w the					the boatB. 3. Got top-gBUant-maiU
			NW 1 mile per					lashed SB jurv-muta and crossed lop gKllant-yudB u lower yardfl. Set an inner Jib a» a miin-stajaail.
I 1			ESE	10
i			liour.					8 Employed ss molt re- quisite, clearing the deets,
10								&c.
11
13
October I, 1837.
	■1		NW		9			A.M. Setfoie top-gsllant-
2	2							asil and main-lrysail. Day-
								light. Set spendee-jib on
4	2							bowsprit and main •lop-gal'
	2							lan^BB^ ; held a BUFTej on pcoTisioDB, &c., and hove
8	2		N	ESE		QRO
7	2							OTerboHrd those ipoited ;
«	2					C
8 2	5						board ahcet- anchor and
10		S	NNE					niounling auns; departed this life, a child— committed
n	2	2		SEbyS	7	BC		the body to the deep.
12	9							Noon.
CoaT.c.	DtiUnci.	Ltl. N.	LoDgltadi W.	Cbita.
N 21 W	u'o	a^"Vi		85.36	Capo Antonio, S !il W 9(
	.		NNE
	2 2			Eatterl;	e			bread-room 1 drying ilopa, flagB. tc. [ aet fore and main
		S	NNW	NB^	s	Be
		6
11		6 6	NWhjN
	2							Midnight. Wore.

The Racer and the Ringdove, being both on the north side of the whirlwind stonn, had easterly winds.

THE VARIABLE WINDS.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Sloop Ringdotb, Joha Shepherd, Master.

Lacoftbe		n
^Kdote.	Qoui,	K.	F,	CoiUMi.	Wind).
	r					September 27, 1837. AtAncTioroffLaiiiiiieFueTO. i
	6				NE
	8				ENE	At 8, aeni ■ boftt to loand to (he eHt- ' ward.
	10				SSE	Standing to Ihe SSE.
	11					At 11. weighed & mid« uU to tke S8B 11.30, abspTted a Btianee lail on th« bw- 1)0». iliercd Doune tu dou her. U.45. .hartened»nil.w<.t«hip.ho»etot.bo«dc>d the Spiinuhbrig Gurtunrdo, 63 dan from BKcelonn. bound to Trinidad de CuU.
	12					Noon. Fteshbrcera and cloudy: hen upai>dmadei)aUtoiheSSB:Sag>rU.r Mount N N E. wid norUi point Lbcm de
						Feuro, E j N.
						Lai. 21° 23' N. Long, IS" fi*' W, noRh
	■"■"■	6		SEbyS	Euterl;	end<>fLar>a.ElNMnnuUi. f.U. Uodemte and fine, with hMiy
		S	<			swell from the eaatward.
		3 3 3	4	Sb^E NbjW	ESE	At 4, ditto weather; Caro Bratcn, EN RIO or 12 mile*. e.30, equKllj, with rain, thunder, nd
		3 2 3	6 4	SEbyl	NE	AtB.moderatc k cloudr, with Ughtalas.
		3 3	4 S	SbfE
		2	e	E	Midi>ight. Fresh breeHW and One, «Ui
						heavj iwell from the eaitword.
	A.M. Freah breeze, and fine.
		2	4	8B
		3	4	SEbyE
		2 *		EuterlT
		4 ' 5 '* S *	}nje NhjW		At 4, freah breetes and squally. Al 6. Cayo Breton, N E bjf N. At 7, strong winds and cloudy ; inthna At 8, ditto weather.
		.	NiW
		* "			At 9, obiened the high land ofTrinUad a-hcad.
		i fl
					LariB de Fcuio on the weather bow.
		4			Noon. Stronghreecesuidenc. Sugar Lo«fMouM,NbyE4E. Conne E, diatanec. seren miles.
					Lat. 21° 2S', 21° 23' X. long. 79=47' W 79' 43'. Larcii do Ff iin., E by X nine or ten mile*.

WINDS CALLED NORTHS.

139

Extract from the Log of H. M. Sloop Ringdove — continued.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Windi.	Remarks.
P.M.			September 28, 1837.
M	2 2	0 4	NbEiE		P.M. Moderate and cloudy, -with rain. 1.30, a heavy squall.
2	6	4	WSW	Easterly	2.16. More moderate.
3	5	4	WbyS
4 6 6	6 8 6				At 4, moderate and cloudy.
		ESE
7	7	6	WSW
8	6				At 8, fresh breezes and fine, with heavy swell from the eastward ; in top-gallant-
9	8				sails ; carried away the long line.
10	8
"i	6 2	2 2	....	E
12 A.M.	8		SWbW		11.46. Altered course to S W by W.
September 29, 1837
1	7	4	SWbW		A.M. Strong winds and thick weather, with high sea.
2	8	6
3	9			E	3.30. Up mainsail.
4	9	4			At 4, squally.
6	9				At •), fresh gales, with high sea ; down top-gallant yards and masts, and close reefi^ the topsails ; in jib-boom, and furled the courses.
6	9				6. Altered course to W.
7	8	4	W
8	8	2			8. Fresh gales and dark gloomy wea-
9 10 4 m	fi				ther, with heavy squalls and rain.
o 8
11 12	8 7	6			Xoon. Fresh gales and heavy squalls,with high sea ; ship under dose-reefed topsails. Course, S 83'' W, distance 179 miles.
					Lat. 21° 4' N, long. 82^ 66' W.
					Cape Corrientes, N 61' W, distance 96
P.M.					miles.
1	8		W	E	P.M. Strong gales and heavy squalls ; set fore-staysiul.
2	9
3 4	9 9				At 4, ditto weather, with passing showers of rain.
6	9
6	9
7	8	6
8	8	4			At 8, strong gales and dork gloomy weather, with rain.
9	10
10	11				At 10, carried away the tack of fore- stay- sail, and split the sail ; unbent it to repair.
11	10
12	11			Midnight. Heavy gales, with hard
				1 1 i	squalls and high sea.

CHAP. V.

Log of the Bingdove.

k

THE VAKLABI^ WINDS.

CHAP. Extract from the Lag of H.H. Sloop Rinoootb — etHtkmti.

E. F. Counw. Wiad.

NNE KKB^E

September 30, 1S37. i

A.M. StronEgale»,«ithheKT7«qiuUii, lightning, Knd rain. 3. Altered counc to "W by N. 3.40. Trimmed, and •!- tered coune to WNW. 4. Straig gala, with hard iqualU and heB*y rmin. I 6. Set fore-itajsail and fiulco for*- ' topaail; got the jolly-boat in off tlia . quarter to prevent her being wkatud away, the foiemaat darit being bent by the tea ; found the ^ atove durins tbc ' night by the tea itrilcinK her. 8. Hcavj I guea, with hard iqualU ; furled aaia- ' tojMul, ael fore and main trjaaiL i

Noon. Hard galea, with beavjrtqnalb | and high bcb ; «hip tmdei tryaaila and ' fore siaysaiU.

Courae, XT1°W, di>ian»e211mile*.

Lat. 23^ 13' N, long. 88° SV W.

Cape Conientea, S 7S° E, diatanoe 111

P.M. Freeh galea and aqnallr, with high sea.

4.16. Set n

o-top»ai], and hoT* ahip

waihed away the binnaclea.

At H Btrong galea, with hard aqnalla and high ica.

At 8 freah galea and thick wvatfacr, with high sea.

At 10 gale moderating i >et «lo*»- reefiid main-topiail and fbie-trjMul.

Noon. Slronfi winds and Mually ; ship under naui-topuil, trjtaila, and fore-itayiaiU.

Coune, N 35" W, die lance 76 milca. I jit. 23° 40-, 23' IC N, long. 88' ll* W. 87" 48'.

gringo I.ighthoute, >' 80^ B, diatanes 29-^ miles.

WINDS CALLED NORTHS.

141

Log of H. M. Sloop Ringdove — concluded.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			P.M. Fresh sales and squally, with
1	2		NEbyN	ESE	high sea.
2	3	6			At 2 a heayy squall ; clewed up main-
3	6		NNE		topsail.
4	5				At 4 fresh gales and dark gloomy weather, with neavy passine squalls. 6. Ditto weather. 6.16. Set main-
6	6
6	4	2	NEbyN
7	2	4	w		topsail.
8	3	4			At 8 ditto weather.
9	4		NNE		At 9 hea^y squalls ; in main-topsail.
10	3				9.15. Set ditto.
11	3	3
12	3				Midniffht. Fresh gales and thick wea- ther, with passing squalls.
A.M.
October 2, 1837.
1	3	4	NNE	ESE	A.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy sea, gradually going down. Course, N 28"" E, distance 99 miles.
					Lat. 26** 10', 26° 7' N, long, sr 17' W
					87° 22'.
					fRrtugo Lighthouse, S 80° E, distance
					237 miles.

CHAP. V.

Log of the RingdoTe.

"Kingston, Sept. 28, 1837.— State of the Weather.— The See rains which comiQenced on Monday Evening last, in Spanish piJIfJaJ* Town, Kingston, and the neighbouring districts, have continued Kacer and unabated up to the present moment. During the last two days "^ ^^®' the streets of Kingston were continually inundated, and all business suspended, except in the daily printing offices.** — Jamaica Dispatch.

" We are sorry to state we were visited during the whole of Tuesday and yesterday with a severe gale of wind, which drove from their moorings three vessels in the harbour. The brig Clorinda, Moore, was driven upon a neighbouring wharf, where the schooner Admiral Colpoys, Darrell, was lying. The con- cussion took away the cut-water and bowsprit of the latter. The harbour-master directed the scuttling of the Clorinda, to save the adjacent wharves and vessels. The brig Cadwallader dragged her anchor a considerable distance -, and the sloop Chatham parted her anchor, and has drifted down as fiar as Greenwich. Mr. Stewart, the harbour-master, has been in-

142 TH£ VARIABLE WINDS.

CHAP, strnmcntal in protecting the shipping, by his decisioii tml V. exertions.** — Ibid,

Canadt. The storms detailed in this chapter explain the reason why north east winds bring rain and stormy weather in Canada ; and they account for the extra- ordinary tides which sometimes happen in the river St. Lawrence. Variable Here also we have a cause for currents of the ocean events, being suddenly accelerated, or unexpectedly chanpng their direction. The effect of diminished atmospheric pressure combined with the action of the wind in creating ocean currents will be noticed further on. Wreckers. A far greater number of storms pass over the Gulf of Florida than seem to fall to its regular share, thereby increasing the danger of jts navigation, sufficiently imminent from currents, rocks, and shoals. This has given rise to the business of wrecking, followed as an occupation, and in which considerable capital is em- barked, on both sides of the Florida stream, by Ame- ricans as well as English. The crews are required to take out a licence, that they may be registered and under control. Necessity 'I'^c interests of navigation and of the social world trolling require that a strict control and watch should be ^^™' maintained over the conduct of inhabitants of islands which border one of the most frequented as well as the most dangerous thoroughfares on the ocean.

Had Mr. Wilkinson and his crew agreed to abandon the Calypso, as he was asked to do, that vessel, in all probability, would have been immediately afterwards taken possession of by the brig, which so shamefully abandoned him at a time when he and his men had

WINDS CALLED NORTHS. 143

only three-quarters of a puncheon of fresh water chap. amongst fourteen persons, in a hbt climate ; and when '

they were reduced to eat raw salt pork, being at the time without masts or sails. Mr. Wilkinson's situa- tion serves to exemplify that of masters of ships when they have to treat with wreckers.

Since the account of the Racer's storm was first published, its further course has been traced by Mr. Redfield across the Southern United States to the Atlantic Ocean, where it became an Atlantic gale, north of the Bermuda islands.

144

CHAPTER VI.

ON STORMS IN THE SOUl^HEKN HEMISPHERE.

CHAP. The storm tracks already traced in north latitude,

VI •

! with few exceptions, are seen to follow nearly similar

courses, and in their progress to pass gradually to- wards the North Pole. While studying the subject, I was led to conclude that, in accordance with the beautiful order and regularity of Nature, storms in south latitude would be found to revolve in a precisely contrary direction to that which they take in the northern hemisphere ; I therefore earnestly sought for facts, to ascertain if this were really the case or not.

The first observations I obtained were from Captain Locke Lewis, of the Royal Engineers, who was for several years stationed in the island of Mauritius, between the 20th and 21st degrees of south latitude; and I soon afterwards received others from Captain Grierson, also of the Royal Engineers, who had like- wise been stationed at the same island.

On first atti^mpting to lay down these observations of storms in south latitude, by means of the figure used for those of north latitude, they were found only recon- cileable with revolving storms, travelling towards the equator instead of towards the i)ole ; but a little inquiry proved that this was not their true course. When the other figure was used, wliich represents a storm revolv- ing like the hands of a watch (being the second figure

ON STORMS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 14i5

at page 5), then their progress was of course reversed, chap.

and tended towards the south pole ; and such will be '- —

found (as far as I have been able to obtain records) to be their real course and mode of action.

It was not until I had laid down these observa- tions from the Mauritius, and others in south latitude obtained at the India House, that I received from Mr. Redfield, of New York, a copy of the pamphlets written by that gentleman on the subject of storms ; and found in those of the latest date a sentence expressive of pre- cisely the same opinion as my own. Mr. Redfield had not then published any detailed proofs in support of it. The following is the sentence alluded to :

" There is reason to believe that the great circuits of wind, of which the trade winds form an integral part, are nearly uniform in the great oceanic basins ; and that the courses of these circuits and of the stormy gyrations which they may contain, is, in the southern hemisphere, in a counter direction to those north of the equator, producing a corresponding difference in the general phases of storms and winds in the two hemispheres."

Neither was I aware, when the first edition of this work was printed, that Professor Dove, of Berlin, entertained opinions somewhat analogous, viz., that the winds do revolve, and that in different direc- tions, in the two hemispheres. Professor Dove and Mr. Redfield do not appear to have been known to each other; It therefore strengthens the probability of the correctness of what is here stated, that three individuals should have formed similar opinions on the subject before they had any communication with each other.

L

146 ON STORMS IN THB

CHAP. Since the mode of action of the wind in storms can ^' ' only be satisfactorily ascertained by procuring many simultaneous observations regarding the same stormSi recorded at distant points, I proceed to give such de- tails as I have collected from south latitudes. But the number of ships navigating the southern seas is few compared with those sailing on the North Atlantic; it has therefore proved proportionably difficult to pro- cure simultaneous observations of one and the same storm in the southern hemisphere.

Though much less perfect than the obser^tions ob- tained from north latitude, the facts brought together and arranged in this chapter can hardly fail to interest those who navigate the southern hemisphere. I have printed extracts from the logs in some instances, where I have met with a single ship only in a storm in south latitude, without being able to find a vessel which encountered the same storm at a second pcnnt: and though such logs may be of little value in proving by themselves the rotatory nature of storms, yet they may be the means of tracing out other vessels which have encountered the same hurricanes.

I was not aware, when I commenced this inquiry, that it is an observation among seamen, that the storms near the islands of Mauritius and Madagas- car generally begin at south-east and end at north- west. Shipt mmy This wiU commouly happen when ships are sailing ■tormt. from the Cape of Good Hope towards India ; but on the returning voyage, it would appear as if the ships sometimes overtake the storms, and by sailing faster than tliey move along, plunge into them from the east side, receiving the wind from the north-west-

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 147

north, or north-east. The case of the Neptune, which chap.

. VI.

will be given hereafter, is an instance of what is here '- —

supposed to happen.

The most useful observations for our purpose are those made at several islands within the sphere of the same storm ; and if the tracks of ships can be added, little more seems required than that such observations should be made and recorded at each place with proper care. In 1824, Captain Locke Lewis, R.E., proposed, that regular observations regarding hurri- canes should be kept by the French at the Isle of Bourbon, and by the English in the island of Mau- ritius, and that duplicates of these observations should be exchanged. This should now be done, and the sphere of observation extended to the island of Rodri- guez eastward, and to Madagascar and the coast of Africa westward.

The small vessels which supply Mauritius and Bourbon with cattle, which they bring from Madagas- car, although they seldom venture to make the voyage during the hurricane months, sometimes meet with storms; and the reports collected from them by the harbour-masters would be very useful. If such records as are here suggested were kept, the logs of ships which may meet with storms in the same seas would be of great value ; and the whole, when put together and compared, would either prove or disprove the rotatory nature of tempests.

It will be seen in this chapter, that the severe storms experienced off the Cape of Good Hope are, in all probability, sometimes the Mauritius hurricanes and Madagascar gales; as the storms off Cape Hatteras are certainly very often no other than the hurricanes

l2

148 ON STORMS IN THE

CHAP, of the West Indies; and these two capes are in cor-

'__ responding latitudes in opposite hemispheres.

Thebaro- In this chapter will be found many more perfect ^^ ' observations on the barometer during hurricanes than in any preceding one ; and the results they present by the gradual fall of the mercury until the middle of the storm is passed, and its rise until the storm is entirely over, is very striking. This occurs so regularly and so constantly in all the storms we have traced, that it seems of itself almost a proof that storms revolye in circles, and are progressive.

That there are portions of the same latitude within the tropics which are more subject to Imrricanes than others, there seems no reason to doubt. The great continents may change the courses of the storms, and they may probably diminish their violence when they do not changie their direction. The localities subject to hurricanes are,nq;t so limited as has been supposed; and we find them in the Pacific Ocean. In 1837, an American ship, called the Independence, Fisher, master, was in a severe hurricane at Vavaoo, one of the Friendly Islands, latitude 19° south, longitude 173° west. She went on shore ; when her masts were cut away ; a shift of wind took her off again. In 18 — , a whaling vessel experienced a severe hurricane at the Navigator's Islands, about latitude 12^ south, longitude 160° west; and in this storm two others were lost. The very interesting narrative of Mr. Williams, of the London Missionary Society, giving an account of part of fifteen years' residence in the South Pacific, proves, that in the latitudes where he sailed for so many years in tlie southern oceans, there are hurricanes exactly corresponding in nature to

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 149

those of Other similarly situated tropical latitudes, chap.

We find for example in his book, allusion made to the '- —

breaking of the banana leaves as a measure of the force of the wind when threatening to amount to a hurricane; and this is the common mode of express- ing the dread of its approaching strength in the West India islands.

I subjoin a short extract from another part of Mr. Williams's work, to show with what violence the storms of the Pacific Ocean sometimes rage. The hurricane alluded to happened at the island of Rarotonga, one of the groupe called Hervey Islands, situated in latitude 19"^ south, longitude 160° west, on the 21st and 22nd of December, 1831. The vessel belonging to the mis- sionaries was at the time hauled up on shore to be lengthened. By Mr. Williams's account, it will ap- pear that the ground swell preceded the " coming tempest;" and the sea was raised .so high that his vessel was carried some distance inland from the shore* When the east end of their chapel was blown in, we must conclude that the wind was easterly, and it is stated that the gale ended in the west<

Extract from the Rev. Mr. Williams's narrative, giving an account of a hurricane at Rarotonga.

"Oq the morning of December 21, 1831, I received informa- Hurricane tioii that a very heavy sea was rolling into the harbour -, and if *V^ ^*" It increased (of which there was every probability) the Vessel tnust sustain damage. I set out for Avarua, and was alarmed on arriving by the threatening appearance of the atmosphere and agitated state of the ocean. I instantly employed natives to carry stones, and raise a sort of breakwater round the vessel; One end of the chain cable was then fastened to the ship, and the other attached to the main post of our large school-hous^^ which stood on a bank, ten feet high, forty or fifty yards from the siea 3 and having removed all the timber and ship's stores to

k.

150 ON STORMS IN THE

CHAP, what I conceived a place of safety, and taken every precantioa ^^' to secure my ship and property from the coming tempest^ I re- turned to Ngatangiia. As I was leaving Avama, I saw a heavy sea rolling in lift the vessel several feet ; she fell however gently to her place again. Next day (Sunday) was one of gloom and distress -, the wind blew most furiously, and rain descended in torrents from morning to night. We held however oar rdigioot services as usual. Towards evening the storm increased; trees were rent and houses began to fall : among the latter was a large shed used as a temporary school-house, which boned my best boat in its ruins.

" About 9 P.M. notice came to me that the sea had risen to an alarming height; that the vessel had been thumping all day on the stones 5 and that at 6, the roof which covered her was blown down and washed away : to complete the evil tidings, the mes- senger told us the sea had gone over the bank and reached the school-house, which contained the rigging, coppers, and stores of our vessel ; and that if it continued, all our settlement would be endangered.

" As the distance was eight miles, the night terrifically dark, and the rain pouring down like a deluge, I determined to wait till morning.

" Before daylight I set out for Avarua^ and in order to avoid walking knee deep in water all the way, and to escape the Mling limbs of trees, which were being torn with violence from their trunks, I attempted to take the sea-side path 3 but the vrind and rain were so violent. I found it impossible to make any progress. I was obliged to take the inland road ; and by watching oppor* tunities, and running between the falling trees, escaped without injury. Half-way I was met by some of my workmen> who in- formed me that the sea had risen to a great height, and swept away the store-house and its contents. The vessel was driven in against the bank, upon which she was lifted with every wave, and fell off again when it receded. On reaching the settlement, it presented a scene of fearful desolation : its luxuriant groves, broad pathway, and neat white cottages, were one mass of mint, among which scarcely a house or tree was standing. The poor women were running wildly with their children, seeking a place of shelter, and the men dragging their property from the minf

of the prostrated houses On reaching the chapel. I was

rejoiced to see it standing ; but as we were passing, a resistlesi gust burst in the east end, and proved the premonitory aympUmk

SOUTHERN HEMIBPHERE. 151

of its destruction. The new school-house was Ijring in ruins by CHAP. its side ; Mr. Buzacott*s excellent house, which stood on a stone ^^' foundation, was unroofed and rent : the inmates had fled.

" Shortly after my arrival, a heavy sea burst in with devas- tating vengeance, and tore away the foutidation of the chapel, which fell with a frightftd crash. The same wave rolled on, till it dashed on Mr. Buzacott*s already mutilated house, and laid it prostrate with the ground. The Chiefs wife had conducted Mrs. Buzacott to her habitation ; but shortly after they reached it the sea dashed against it, and the wind tore off the roof, so that they were obliged to take refuge in the mountains. They waded nearly a mile through water, in some places several feet deep, to reach a temporary shelter, and found that a huge tree had fallen and crushed the hut. Again they pursued their way, and found a hut standing, crowded with women and children taking refuge, where they were however gladly welcomed.

" The rain was still descending in deluging torrents | the angry lightning was darting its fiery streams along the dense black clouds, which shrouded us in their gloom. The thunder, deep and loud, rolled and pealed through the heavens, and the whole island trembled to its very centre as the infuriated billows burst upon its shores. The crisis had arrived — this was the hour of our greatest anxiety j ' but man's extremity is God*s opportunity.' Never was this sentence more signally illustrated than at this moment — the wind shifted suddenly a few points to the west ; which was a signal to the sea to cease its ravages, and retire within its wonted limits. The storm was hushed j the lowering clouds began to disperse ; and the sun, as a prisoner, burst forth from his dark dungeon and smiled upon us. ***** *

"As soon as possible, I sent a messenger to obtain some information respecting my poor vessel, expecting she had been shivered to a thousand pieces j but, to our astonishment, he returned with the intelligence, that although the bank, the school-house, and the vessel, were all washed away together, the latter had been carried over a swamp, and lodged amongst a grove of large chestnut trees, several hundred yards inland, and yet appeared to have sustained no injury whatever.* As soon as practicable I went myself, and was truly gratified at finding that the report was correct, and that the trees had stopped her wild progress; otherwise she would have driven several hundred yards further, and have simk in a bog.'*

The first hurricane of which I received any account

152 MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1818.

CHAP, in south latitude, was that which happened on the 28th

'- — of February and 1st of March, 1818, at the Mauritius,

when the Magicicnne frigate was lying there, moored in the harbour of Port Louis : and on that occasion, tills frigate and forty other vessels went on shore, or were sunk ; the American brig Jason being the only vessel out of forty-one which rode out the storm.

By a communication from France, I find tliat this storm was felt at the Isle of Bourbon, though it was not 60 severe as at the Mauritius; but I hare not succeeded in getting either the date when it reached Bourbon, or any account of how the wind blew during tlie time it lasted.

A figure is here annexed explanatory of its progress over Mauritius.

" Oarag&n h Maurice, An 2« Fi'vrier an soir, an I Mars, 181S.

" Lfs pitmoM aiixquel on rccntinutt h Maorice ra]i|>rocbe dra i;ranilrs tcmp^tea n'ont point aiinonci- celle-ci. Dana lef Joan |>n'i.x'd<;iis Ic niercure dea barumJ^tn-s de la villc cUit descenda

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 153

deux fois au dessous de 28 ponces (29*8 English)^ mais le 28 CHAP. Fdvrier^ il avait repris son niveau ordinaire. Senlement dans ^* I'aprfes-midi, le vent se mit k souffler par rafall^s variant de Test-sud-est au sud-est et au sud-sud-est. La force des grains augmenta progressivement jusques k la nuit et cependant peu de personnes con9urent des inquietudes. Plusieurs fois dans cette saison, des menaces de temp^tes plus caracteris^s n'avaient eu aucun r^sultat f^cheux. Aussi les marins du port^ et les ha- bitans des campagnes n6glig^rent-ils ^galement les precautions que Ton prend d*ordinaire lorsqu'on craint un coup de vent. Peu de navires renforc^rent leurs amarres -, aucun habitant ne songea k couper les tiges des maniocs pour en sauver les racines. La nuit survint et Touragan commen9a ses ravages. La force du vent toujours croissante, et la descente rapide du mercure dans le barora^tre, ne laiss^rent plus de doute sur le fl^au dont on allait eprouver les terrible effets.

*' Jusques au milieu de la nuit les vents souffl^rent du sud" Wind

8 8-E to 8 sud-est, au sud avec une extreme violence. Vers une heure apr^ ' -d»wo.

minuit^ ils commenc^rent a toumer vers Pest; au point du jour^ East.

ils etaient au nord-nord-est et au nord; le mercure ^tait descendu K. N. £.

k 26 pouces 4 lignes (2800 English), hauteur r^duite k cellc dtt ^o'^-

niveau de la mer. Jamais on ne Tavait vu aussi has. Plusieurs

personnes crurent que leurs barom^tres etaient d^rang^, celles qui

ne pouvaient se m^prendre sur la cause de cette depression, 8*at-

tendaient k une grande catastrophe. Heureusement pour la

colonic que cet etat de Tatmosph^re, n*eut qu*une courte dur^e.

En effet on pent juger, par le mal qua fait louragan, de celui

qu*il aurait produit si sa violence, telle qu elle etait, de 4 heures

J k 6 heures du matiu) se fOit prolong^e de quelques heures.

En passant au nord-ouest, le vent se calma assez promptement ; N. W.

le mercure remontk avec toute la rapidity qu*il avait mise k

descendre, et dans le joumee m^me du premier Mars, on parvint k

communiquer avec la plupart des vaisseaux echou^s dans la rade^

et Ton put s*occuper de porter quelque rembde aux accidens causes

par la temp^te, k ceux du moins qui en etaient susceptibles.

''On k observe le lendemain du coup de vent que les eaux avaient partout un goClt saumatre. La pluie, pendant sa duree^ avait elle-m^me une saveur tr^-saiee.

" La salle de spectacle est un tr^-grand edifice. Sa forme est celle d*un T dont la t^te est un avant-corps considerable, puisquc la partie posterieure, formant la queue du T, a seule 53 pieds de largeur sur 82 de long. Si cet edifice eM ete brise par "Eiett m la temp^te on aurait pu attribuer, cet evenement k la manl^re ^'

154

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1818«

VI.

Flat ri:of8.

CHAP, dont il ^tait construit ; mais, ce qui est k-peine crojrable, eeC iramense arri^re-corps de 34 pieds et surmont^ d*iin oombie en charpente, li^ en outre avec Vavant'Corps qui forme la la^ade^ a cependant chass^ de pr^s de cinq pieds sur son soabastemcnt Quelle force prodigieuse que celle qui a pn prodnire^ le d^>lace- ment horizontal d*une telle masse ! son renversemeirt eat M im ph^nom^ne ordinaire ; sa translation, si Ton pent employer oe terme, ne se con^oit pas.

" Toutes les maisons couvertes en bardeauz (shinglew) et c'ett la presque totality de celles de la colonie, ont 4iti inonck^ in- t^rieurement par la pluie. On n'imagine point la vioknce cC Fabondance avec laquelle elle est lanc6e horizontalement pendant nos temp^tcs. Alors les couvcrtures imbriqu^ aont inntiks et dangereuses m6mc car clles donnent an vent one grande prise, ct contribuent k la destruction des Edifices. Si rooragan ent durd jusques k midi seulement avec la m6me-force la viUe n*ent ^t6 qu'un mon9eau de mines. Ddjk, au moment oh il a cess^ beaucoup de belles maisons, intactes en apparence, ^tai^t en- tam^es par le toit. Celles qui n'auraient pas ^t^ renverato, eussent it6 emport^es pibce h. p'itce.

"Les maisons couvertes en terrasscs ou argamasses, k la manibre de Tlnde, ont r<^sist^ k la temp^te, et on y a 4t6 k Tabri de la pluie. Mais aucune sorte de couverture n'a mieox sootenn cette ^preuve decisive que cellc construite suivant le proo^d^ de M. Cbaix, c*est-k-dire en briques unics par ten ciment r^nmemx ie sa composition.

*' Les couvertures en ardoises ont ^td enlev^s. La plnput de celles en cuivre et en fer-blanc ont 6ti enlcv^s anssi, et cependant les totts de cette deruih*e sorte ont sur les bardeanz Tavantage inappreciable de ne point donner de gontti^res et d*tec facile k rdparer. Le mal est venu de ce qu*on n'avait pris pas les moyens convcnablcs pour les fixer sur le lattis des combles.

" Autrefois les habitans aisds construisaient une petite mainon servant babituellement de ddpendance, mais destine sortout k leur servir de rdfoge pendant les coups de vent. Quoiqii*il soit probable qu'un fldau pareil k celui du 1 Mars, ne sc reproduira pas de longtemps, on ferait bien de revenir k cette sage pre- caution. Un petit pavilion en pierre soigneusement bAti, peu ilev6 sur le sol, et convert d*un toft plat dtroitcment li^ k la ma^onnerte, ne coute pas beaucoup plus, que construit k la manibre ordinaire, et il a le double avantagc d*une dxa6e in* ddfinie, et d'etre un lieu dc surety, pour les families lorBqoc Touragan sc declare."

Resinous cement.

Hurricane houses.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

155

Log of H.M.S. Maoictenne, commanded by Oatytain Purvis, R.N. CHAP.

Mauritius, Feb. 28, 1818. This log is in Civil Time.

Hour

P.M.

Wind.

SSE

Squally

A.M.

SSE

SE

ESE

Bar.

falls 29.5

Ther.

NE

28.0

Kemarks.

February 28, 1818. Wind SSE. p.m. fresh breezes and squally ; heavy rain at times ; at 3 sent party on board the Agile (a detained schooner) to take her lower yards and topmasts, and secure her afresh ; observed a chasse-mar^e upset in the middle of the harbour ; sent the barge to her assist- ance ; at 6 a pilot came on board, in con- sequence of the fall of the barometer, and threatening appearance ; at 8 squally ; at 12 midnight strong gales, heavy squalls.

March 1, 1818. Wind SSE. a.m. 2.10, strong gales, heavy squalls, and rain, blowing exces- sively hard; the best bower bent to a mooring- anchor ; ship driving slowly; got the spars out of the rigging; SE, at 2.40 a merchant ship drove athwart us, and carried away the jib and flying-jib- boom, with gear; then went clear and upset ; at 3 a schooner drove athwart us, remained some time, and then drove on shore ; at 4, blowing a complete hurri- cane, ship still driving ; drove on board the Prince Regent, merchant ship ; car- ried away the ensign staff, and cut the stern down to the cabin windows ; carried away her jib-boom, and sprung her bow- sprit; jolly-boat swamped and w^nt down ; the barge went adrift, and stove her broadside in with the Prince Regent's anchor ; made fast a cable to the careen- ing hulk ; ship aground ; heeling very much to port ; E S E, tt 5 a brig drove athwart us ; carried away her mainmast, and went on shore ; daylight, hurricane still unabated; observed all the ships in harbour (except ^the American brig Jason), forty-one in^^mber, were either on shore or sunk ; foQnd the main and mizen channels shifted with the violence of the wind, and the hammock-cloths, rails, and boards blown away; at 6 parted the sheet-cable ; the hulk parted her mooring-chains, and we drove on shore at the point of the entrance of the fort ; N E, ship heeling yery much to starboard ; sounded round the ship, and found ten feet water from the fore to the main chains, seventeen feet under th^ stem, and eighteen feet under larboard

VI.

Log of the

Magi-

cienne.

^^^^^^Hl^

156

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1818.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the

Magi-

cienne.

Log of H. M. S. Maoiciennk — cmUimietL

Hour.	Wind.	Bar. i	Ther. 1	Remarki. i 1
P.M. A.M.	ENE Easterly ESE	29.5	March 1 1818. bow ; at 8 hard gales, with hesrf aqiialk and rain ; issued a gill of spirits to itup*n company ; at 9 more mooeimte ; noon, strong breeaes and squally; found m the weather moderates th€ waUr ikoaM hal ; Under starboard foreehsins only seven feet, astern fourteen, and on the Isibosid bow fifteen feet: N £. between 2 snd S P.M., fresh gales and soually. With vain; at 4 fresh breetes and rainy wetttbcr; attempted to heare the ship off by the ftingle bower fast to mooring-snchor ; at 4.30 lound anchor coming home ; E N E, at 7 and 8 fresh breezes and cloudy wee> ther; easierly at 10.30 ; midnightt osodeo rate, with rain.
March 2, 1818. Wind ESE at 8 a.m.

Extract from the * Asiatic Journal' :

" The frigate Magicicnne, Captain Pun'is, is on sboi^, and many houses in the town are in ruins. On the plantations the buildings have suffered as much as the fields : many planters have lost their all, and the distress is general. The barometer sunk lower than ever was known, and most of those who ob- served it were unable to account for the notice it gave in so extraordinary a manner*

" It appears ^lat the most violent blast was from the north* east, but with a force very upequal, as we could see small vessels withstand it, whilst others of the greatest strength were destroyed at a small distance from them.

" Many persons observed that the rain water was salt ; and, on the day after the storm^ the water which flows near the town Xvas found brackish.*'

The Magicienne suflTered greatly, whilst on this station^ from the effects of hurricanes ; and^ by the following extracts from logs kept in the ship (which I received from Capt. Evans, R.N.), she experienced

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

167

two storms in 1819, though less severe than those in chap. 1818. _^1_

The first one is that which immediately follows; and, like the one of the previous year, began with the with at south -south-east, and ended with the wind about north-west*

Extract from the Log of H.M. S. Magiciennk, moored in Log of the

Magi- cienne.

Port Louis^ kept by George Evans, Midshipman.

Hour.

n

Noon

P.M.

1.30

6

6.30

7 7.40

8 8.30 8.40

12

Wind.

SE

SEbyS

SSE

SWJ w

ssw

NW

Bar.

Ther.

29.79

79

29.14 29.10

29.14

rigmg 29.58

76 76J

77

77§

Remarks.

Monday, January 26, 1819.

A.M. Moderate breezes, with rain at times.

11. Strong breezes and squally ; down royal and top- gallant-yards, and struck top-gallant-masts.

Xioon. Ditto weather.

1.30. Qot top- gallant- masts on deck; sent a launch to the port- office for cables to secure the ship ; the barometer haring fallen greatly, struck lower yards and topmasts ; run out one 12-inch havrser to an anchor on shore ahead; secured it on board, and secured the other cables afresh.

At 6 strong gales, with rain; employed securing boats, &c. ; seyeral ships in the harbour broke from their moorijigs ; got the awnings down, and jib and spanker- boom in.

6.30. A brig off Magazine Point parted her stem moorings, and swung alonsside our starboard quarter ; fiast moored her afresh; pointed the yards to the wind. At 2 hoisted the barge in, and hauled second cutter and jolly-boat up on shore ; sent a party to secure the Voyageur, and a 12-inch hawser to the Shawfield to secure her; got the top- gallant-yards and skysail -masts out of the rigging.

At 7 strong gales, with hearj squalls.

7.40. Blowing a perfect hurricane from SSW.

At 8 hurricane increasing; saw the flash of a gun to the westward.

8.40. The wind shifted to the N W, more moderate; barometer rising; pointed the yards to the wind.

12. More moderate.

158

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1819.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Magicienne, moored in

VI.

Log of the

Magi-

ciennne.

Port Louis — continued.

Hour.

Wmd.

12.30

N

NNE

8 9

10 Noon

P.M.

Midn.

Bar. Ther.;

Remarks.

29.62. 77§

29.80 75i

29.80 75)

Tuesday, January 26, 1819.

A.M. 12.30. Strons gales and aqmlly ; a hulk astern parted her stem mootiafi, and swung under our stem.

At 4 heavy gales, with rain; at daylight every vessel in the harbour on shore, inth the exception of two brigs ; one sUp on Tonnelieo reef dismasted, and another oa shore near her, with her masts standing and signal of distress up ; sent an oficer on board her ; sent a party to moor the hulk astern, and another party to heave the Voyageur oC

At 8 dark cloudy weather, with rafau

At 9 sent the lugger St. Jaquea oat to the Wolfe's Cove on shore oflf Fort Ton- nelieo, to take her cargo out.

At 10 squally, with rain at times.

Noon. Moderate and cloudy.

P..M. Moderate breeze and cloudy ; got the jib and spanker-booms out, and got the top-gallant- yards and skyasil-masti in the rigging ; swayed the gaff up ; sent the Voyageur with an officer to the Wolfe's Cove to assist in unloading her; hove a brig off Magasine Point ; sent a boat to tow the St. Jaques up with pert of the Wolfe's Cove's cargo.

Midnight. Moderate and fair.

The next extract from the log of the Magicienne describes a third hurricane, which that ship encountered whilst lying in Port Louis Harbour, Mauritius, on the 28th and 29tli March, 1819. The centre of this storm would seem to have passed nearly over, or a little to the northward of where the ship was lying; for we find the wind moderating in the middle of the gale, yet veering from the south-south-east, where it com- menced, to the north-east, and ending like the two former storms in the north-west. It will likewise be seen how regularly the barometer fell, until the wind began to veer about to the opposite quarter from where the gale commenced.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

159

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Magicienne, moored in CHAP. Port Louis, kept by George Evans, Master. ^'

Log of

thellagl-

cienne.

Hour.	Wind.	Bar.	Ther.	Remarks.
				Friday, March 26, 1819.
A.M.	ESE			A.M. Moderate and cloudy.
P.M.	EbyS			P.M. Ditto.
Saturday, March 27, 1819.
Hidn.	ESE			Midnight. Strong squalla of wind and
A.M.	EbyS EbyS			r*xu. A.M. Squally, with rain ; received on board the crew of the tender, And gave her to the Liverpool. Midnight. Strong squalU of wind and rain.
Sunday, March 28, 1819.
1	SE			A.M. Fresh breezes and squally.
4				Came on board a pilot to unmoor the ship ; sent a launch a-head to weigh the small bower anchor, but finding the baro- meter falling, and other indications of bad weather, let it go again.
10.30		29.90	80}	10.30. Heavy squalls of wind ; struck top-gallant- masts .
11	SSE
12		29.77	88^	Strong breezes and squally.
P.M. 1				P.M. Ditto.
2	SSE			Small spars out of the rigging.
3		29.74	82}	3.10 Got top-gallant-masts on deck.
5		29.70	81}
5.46				5.45. Fresh gales and cloudy; struck
6	SSE	29.70	81	lower yards and topmasts ; in jib and spanker-^oms ; down gaff, and pointed
7		29.70	80
				the yards to the wind.
8	SSE	29.69	80	At 8, strong gales and heavy squalls, with rain.
9		29.66	79J
10	S *S E	29.66	79}
11	SEbyS	29.55	794	At 11, gale increasing ; squalls much more violent ; wind Teering round to the eastward.
12		29.46	79}	Midnight. Gale increasing violently ; expended forty fathom four inishes for
			IV
A.M.				additional lasmng for the cables.
Monday, March 29, 1819.
1	SEbyS	29.25	79	A.M. Blowing a hurricane ; thick haie
2		29.24	78}	and sprays.
2.18		1	w	At 2.18, the ring of the anchor on shore, to which the best bower cable was clinched, gave way, in consequence of which the ship
3		29.16	77	drifted on shore on the larboard bilge, bringing home the small bower anchor and carrying away a 7f inch hawser; hove in the best bower cable.

k

160

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OP 1818.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Magiciennk, moored in

VI.

Log of

theMagi-

cienne.

Moderate, windTeer- ingfait.

Port Louis — continued.

Hour.	Wind.	Bar.	Ther.
A.M.
3.19
4	S	28.98	77
4.30	• NE
5	WN W	28.98	78
6		28.99	78
7	NW	29. 70
8		29.20
9		29. 32
10		29. 40	79
12	NW	29. 42	80
P.M.
1
2	N
3	• .... .	29.50	80
7	NNE
8		29.71	79}
12

Remarks.

Monday, March 29, 1819.

At 3.19, hurricane more Tiolent; o^ •enred H.M.S. LiTerpo<^ on ahoiVt a-aten of ua, and a numher of merchant ahipa.

At 4, more moderate, wind mmrim$ rotmd ; ran out the heat ho wer cable again, and clinched it ; ran out the aheet cable on the larboard- quarter, and clinched ic

At 4.30, quite moderate, wind Tearing round fast to N £; ahip atill agnmnd; carried away the messenger in tmng to heave the ship off; roTe a purenaae on the cable.

At 8, strong gales and squally ; carried away the purchase- fall.

Noon. Ditto weather.

P.M. Strong gales and sqaally; up lower yards; rove a purt-haae-faU, and lashed the purchase-blocks afrrah; en- deavoured to heave the ship oil^ bnt find- ing the tide lowering and the ahip iMt aground, with hut twelve feet water un- der the lee- main-chains, deferred* and commenced lightening the ship.

At 8, moderate, and squally with rain. Midnight. Dark cloudy weather.

The next storm is the hurricane of 23rd February^ 1824, at the Mauritius. It appears to have begun with the wind more at east than the three preceding, and seems to have ended with the wind nearly at west : this would indicate a course about south.

By an extract of a letter from the Commandant of the Isle of Bourbon, tlie same storm docs not appear to have visited that island: and the reason will be apparent, on inspecting the figure drawn to explain the Mauritius hurricane of 1824, at page 165.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

The registers from three different barometers for this hurricane have been preserved by Captain Locke Lewis; - and it will be seen how nearly they agree in the gradual descent before alluded to, during the Brst part of the hurricane, and the gradual and regular ascent during the latter part of its continuance.

The French extract, which follows Captain Lewis's tables, relates to the manner in which these storms blow in gusts or veins, which seems to be a distinguish* ing character of hurricanes.

Observations of the State of the Barometers during a Hurricane at the Mauritina. on the 23rd February, 1824.

HOUT.	Ho.l.	No. a.	No. 3.	Rcinailu.
At 7. Oi.M.	29.75	20.77	29.60	Wind S E; v»r. to E: strong gales.
8. 0 „	., 75	,, 77	,, 60	Dilto dltlo
8.30 ,,	.. 70	„ 73	„ 60	Ditto ditto
9. 0 ,,	,. 70	,, 73	,, fiO	Ditto ditto
9.30 ,,	., B8	,, 70	,, fiO	Ditto ditto
10. 0 ,,	,, 6S	,. 70	,, 60	Ditto ditto
10.30 ,,	,, Ci	,, 68	,. *7	Ditto ditto
11. 0 ,,	,, iS	,, 66	,. «	Ditto ditto
11.16 .,	„ 60	,. 62	■ ■ <5	Ditto ditto
11.30 ,,	,, £6	,, 68	,, -40	Ditto ditto
11.45 ,.	., 66	., 68	,, 40	Wind nUAcd to tlic outward.
IS. 0 .,	,, 53	,, 66	,, 38	Ditto
12. IS P.M.	,, 40	., 60	,, 33	Ditto
12.30 .,	.. 44	,, 48	„ 28	Ditto
12.45 ,,	>. 40	.. «	,, SB	Ditto
1. 0 „	., 57	,, 40	,, 20	Wind E N E.
1.15 .,	„ 30	., 34	,, 18	Ditto
1.30 „	„ 29	.. 3*	„ 16	Ditto
1.46 ,,	,, 25	.. ^8	., 10	Ditto
2. 0 ,,	„ 20	.. 22	., 06	Ditto
2.15 ,,		,, 13	28.96	Ditto
2.30 ,,			,, 96	Ditto
2.45 ,,	" 02	',', 05	.. 88	Ditto
3. 0 ,,	28.07	28. -99	.. SO	Ditto
3.16 ,,	., 86	,, B3	,, C9	Wind N E.
3.80 ,,	., 76	.. 77	.. S'"	Ditto
3.46 ,,	,, ea	,, 69	„ Si	Ditto
4. 0 ,,	., 6S	,, 60	,, 43	Wind N N E.
4.16 ,,	,. 68	„ 60	,, 46	Ditto
4.30 ,,	., 69	>. 80	,, 46	Wind North.
4.4S ,,	,, 69		.. 47	Wind N N W.
6. 0 ,,	,, 69	'.', 60	.. 47	Wind N W.
6.15 ,,	,, 62	,, eo	.. 47	Ditto
6.30 ,,	., 67	,, 60	„ 53	Ditto

162

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1824.

CHAP.	Observations of the State of the Barometers — contimmei.
VI.
	1 Hour. ,No. 1.	No. 2.	No. 3.	RemAtlu.
	1 At 6. 46 P.M. 28. 67	28. 60	28.53	Wind N W.
	6. 0 ,, ,, 72	., 71	,, 59	Wind W ; gale decreasing.
	6.16 ,, .,, 80	,, 83	,. 73	Ditto ditto
	6.30 ,, 1.. 97	,. 94	,, 80	Ditto ditto
	7. 0 ,, 29.09	29.06	,, 90	Wind S W.
	7.30 ,, „ 17	,, 14	29.00	Ditto
	8. 0 „ ;, , 28	,, 23	,, 08	Wind S E.
	8.30 ,, '.. 33	,, 30	,, 10	Diito
	February 24.				Wind S W.
	6. Oa.1I.	,. 67	,, 60	,, 46	Ditto
	7. 0 ,,	,, 09	,, 62	,, 49	Dttto
	8. 0 ,, ',, 70 1	., CO	,, 50	Wind W.

(Signed)

THOMAS LOCKE LEWIS. Captain Royal Engineers.

In the hurricane of the 23rd of February, 1824, at the Mauritius, upwards of thirty vessels were wrecked there.

The following remarks, printed in a Mauritius news- paper, relate to the manner in which the wind appears to blow in veins differing in degrees of strength :

" II parait qu'une trombe, ou tourbillon (de ceux qui ont fait donncr aux ouragans le nom de typhou)^ a parcoum une ligne sur laquelle se sont trouv^^es plusieurs maisons du Champ-de- Lort, et particuli^rement le College Royal.

'' C*est contre ce terrible ph^nom^ne, qu*il faut se pr^cantionner dans Ics ouragans : aussi n'est il pas prudent en pareil cas, de demeurer dans les maisons ^Icvdes ; dans celles surtoot qni soDt poshes sur de haut soubassemens en pierre formant le rez-de- chauss^. C*est tr^s mal raisonncr que de dire, qu*une maisoa a rdsiste k tcl ouragan ou h tcl autre. Ellc nc 8*est pas trour^ sur le chemiii d'un tourbillon, voilh ce qui Ta preserv^e. TeBe est aussi la cause d*un fait observe dans tons les ouragans cclai de la preservation d'une maison tombante de vetustd, ^troite, ^levee, qui n'est pas mtymc cbranlcc k pen de distance d'on edifice ncuf, qui est renverse ou mis on pieces.

" La mctdorologie est encore dans son enfance. Tout-cc-qw nous savons c*cst (|ue, dans ce (^n'on appelle los mauvais temii.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 163

la pesanteur des colonnes atmosphdriques decroit plus on moins ; CHAP, mais les proportions entre ce d^croissement, et Taction de Tair ^• h, la surface de notre plan^te, demeureront probablement long- temps ignor^es. Probablement aussi ce n*est pas nous qui ^ verrons construire Tan^nom^tre capable de mesurer la force acquise par Fair, lorsqu*il r^duit en filamens, et qu*il tord comme un cordage le tronc d*un arbre vigoureux, ou qu'il fait toumer sur sa base une Edifice en pierre comme la Maison Laffargue, Aussi les di verses denominations donn^es r^cemment aux dif- f^rens d^grds de la temp^te, en raison de Tespace que le vent par- court dans une seconde, nous semblent telles fort insignificantes. C*est le tort de beaucoup de savans. lis ont la fiireur de r^duire pr^maturcment en theories certains points des sciences naturelles, sur lesquellcs on est entibrement d^pourvu de faits sufRsamment observes. " J. M."

Copy of a Letter from the Commandant of the Island of Bourbon, to Captain T. Locke Lewis, Royal Engineers, relative to the hurricane of the 23rd of February, 1824:

''Nous avons ressenti k Bourbon, le contre coup de votre temp^te. II est k remarquer, que le 22 F^vrier, noiis eiimes aussi des apparences de mauvais terns ; qui s*accruerent jusqu*au lendemain, au point de me determiner, k donner le signal d appa- reillage k nos batimens. Mais ces deux jours les vents rest^rent k Test et au sud-est, ils s*appais^rent dans la joum^e m^me du 23. Le lendemain le tems fut magnifique, et se maintient en cet ^tat jusque dans Taprbs-midi du 25, que le vent s*^tant d^clar6 an nord,a mena des nuages et une simple apparence de pluie. L*indication barom^trique, n*^tait nullement d^favorable. Par malheur les batimens ^toient revenues sur la rade -, dans la nuit la mer devint affreuse, et contribua surtout k en pousser neuf d'entre eux sur la c6te. Le vent soufila altemativement du nord et du nord-ouest ; mais sans une extreme violence. Le barom^tre etoit descendu alors k per long. 27*7 (or 28.2 inches English)."

There was a severe hurricane at the Mauritius on the 19th and 20th of January, 1834. Captain Grier- son. Royal Engineers, who was stationed there at that

M 2

164 MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1834.

CHAP, date, has informed me, that the wind scarcely veered

'- — at all during the continuance of this storm ; and that

its general direction was that of the trade wind at the Mauritius, or nearly south-east. Captain Grierson^s statement was from memory, having made no Tecord in writing at the time.

Mr. James Tilley, who was then master of the ship Emma Eugenia, was also there at the time ; and he states that the wind was eastj veering to the southward. His ship and seventy-nine other vessels were driven on shore. Mr. Tilley describes the wind as blowing in sudden gusts.

If this storm were a rotatory one, revolving as we suppose those of the southern hemisphere to turn, a portion of its west side only would pass over Mauri- tius, as represented in a figure hereafter annexed; and it was probably moving on a course nearly south. Had it been moving towards the contrary direction, it would have been carried towards the Seychelles islands ; but there it is said hurricanes never happen ; and they are probably of rare occurrence so near the equator. During the war it was the practice of our ships to go to these islands for safety during the hurri- cane months from the Mauritius, as it was the custom in the West Indies to go to Trinidad : thus we find in both hemispheres our ships of war sought to avoid hurricanes by approaching the equator. Yet further on in this inquiry, one great storm will be traced, which seems to have been felt within a degree of the equator.

If the Mauritius storm of the 19th and 20th of January moved southward, this would bring it to the place of the ship Duke of Buccleugh, on the 21st and

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

220d of January. By referring to her log, it will be * seen this ship was proceeding on her voyage from - Calcutta and Madras towards England, when she met a storm on the afternoon of the 2l3t of January, which has every appearance of being this hurricane. She was then standing on a course W. i S., her place at noon being marked in the log ; and her place at about 5 P.M. is on the foregoing figure.

At 6 P.M. she had the wind at east-nortk-etist ; at midnight it had veered to east hy north, and was in- creasing, with the weather cloudy. The ship ran in

166

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1834.

CHAP, the gale until past noon, the wind veering to east-

! south-easty and to south. Then the vessel had to be

laid-to ; and we have again in the log the description of what occurs when a ship is near the centre of a storm. From south the wind veered to sauth-Mauth- west J and next became south-west; and at 4 next morning, which was the 23rd of January, when the wind was west^ the gale began to moderate.

Log of the Duke of Buc- cleugh.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Duke or Bucclbugh.

Civil Time,

Ilour.

Noon

Coursen.

W8W

Winds.

ENE

Remarks.

Tuesday January 21, 18S4.

Steady breeze and hasy weather. Em- ployed Tariously under the boatswain; cleaned the lower deck.

Noon. Fresh breeso.

Ditt. I per Log j Course and DUt.

8uii*s Lat

S 67** W 200'

24° 36' 8

Long. Chro.

61° 49' E

Bar.

30.00

Ther.

Sjap.

80i

29.60

Dift

.40

W i S £ by N Fresh breeze and hazy weather; all sail

set. ENE 6. Cloudy ; in top gaUant-stadding-tails, and fore ana mizen-royals, and top-gallant* sails. 6. In main-topmast-studding-saila. £ by N , Midnight, Increasing breeze and ekmdr weather. In lower and fore-topmaat-stud* ding-sails and main-royal.

ESE

Wednesday, January 22, 1884. Fresh breezes and unsettled weather; furled the fore and main-top-gallant-aaila.

4. Increasing; double- reefed the topsails

and sent down royal yards ; heary rain.

i 8. Thick rainy weather and sharp squalls ;

, spar-lashcd the long-boat and booma, and

battened the hatches down ; furled the main-

I sail.

11. Fresh gale : in third reef fore-topaail« and housed the flying-jib-boom.

Noon. The gale increasing, with a high irregular sea on ; the ship libouring hearuy !

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

167

Log of the Duke of Buccleugh — continued.

Hour.

Courses.

Winda.

South

Remarks.

Wednesday, January 22, 1834. and shipping quantities of water ; furled the fore-topsail and foresail, and close-reefed the main- topsail, and rounded- to, under the main-topsail, and main-trysail on the hr' board tack.*

Dist. per Log K.	Course and Dist.	Sun's Lat.	Long. Chro.	Bar.	Ther.	Sjmp.	Diff.
226	S 74° W 243'	26° 39' S	67° 32' E	29.76	80°	28.94 •	.82

P.M.

ssw

sw

P.M. At 30"* past noon, the gale increased to a severe hurricane, and blew in furious gusts yrom S S W, the ship laying oyer on her beam^ends, labouring heavily, and shipping great quantities of water ; broke the main- trysail-gaff, and split the sail to pieces; broke the inner bobstay* chain ; got the fish- tackles and preventer- tackles up to secure the foremast and ease the bowsprit; split the main-topsail ; a considerable quantity of water came in at the lee lower quarter-gallery, although the slide was shut, and through the lee lower dead-lights ; the carpenter employed caulking and securing them ; employed bale- ing water from the lower deck and work- ing the pumps ; found a quantity of water rushing in on the lee-bow ; loosed the fore- topmast-staysail and lowered the driver saff ; split the sail to pieces to try to wear the ship ; split the staysail; loosed the foresail, and split it to ribbons, and afterwards the fore- topsail, which split also ; got tarpaulings in the fore-rigging, but the ship lay on her broadside in the trough of the sea, and re- fused to wear, with her lee- waist full of water, the gale blowing furiously from S W, and the sea occasionally making a complete breach over us; stove the lee- quarter cutter; cut her away; cut the lee guns adrift, and threw them overboard, and all the bales of hay from the top of the long-boat to ease the ship ; the lee hammock-nettings washed away. At 3, discovered the leak, which proceeded from the lower sill of the upper-deck scuttle under the top-gallant- forecastle having been knocked away; stopped it; cut away all the head- sails, and put tarpaulins in the weather mizen-rigging, to bring the ship again to the wind ; empleyed baleing the lower-deck and working the pumps ; found the bilge- water

See the left-hand vessel marked in the figure, p. 166.

CHAP. VL

Log of the Duke of Buc- cleugh.

L

168

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1834<

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Duke of Buo- cleugh.

Log of the Duke of Buccleugh — conchided.

Hour.

P.M.

Courses.

A.M.

Winds.

Remarks.

Wednesday, January 22, 1834.

strongly impregnited with nitre, from the cargo l>cing damaged. The gale blew with I great fury until 4 o'clock, when it be||an to | moderate ; got hold of the bobatay-chain and , set it up with a preventer-tackle ; bent the new driver and set it, balance-reefed. 6. The gale abating and the ship easier ; continued pumping, and at 8 pumped her dry ; fresh ^ale with a heavv cross sea ; ten to eleven inches in the well ; pumped her dry. Mid- night. Fresh gale and a high sen.

Ht ail to the

NNW

Thursday, January 23, 1834. A.M. Strong gale : pumped her out every two hours. 4. Moderating ; bent beat fore- topmast-staysail.

7. Set the close-reefed mizen-topeaiL 8.

Reefed mainsail and set it ; a high sea nin-

, ning ; got wreck main-topsail cleared away ;

, bent new one ; set it treble-reefed ; unbent

the remains of foresail and fore-topaail, and

; bent the new ones, close-reefed foa^topsail,

' and reefed foresail and set them ; observed

bowsprit slightly sprung outside the

moning.

DUt.

p«r lA>f

K.

Course and Dist.

Sun's Lat.

Ix>ng. Chro.

N 3r E 64'

24'' 53' S

58'' 4'

B4r. I Ther.

29.76 76

i

Symp.

29.43

Diff. I

.33

Head to the

NW

and

NNW

From

SW

to

W

Wednesday, January 23, 1834. Moderate gale and passmg squalls; re- paired chain-bobstay with a spare iron skackle and set it up ; got the flying jib- boom in ; furled mainsail ; sent down Ibre- top-gollant-yard, and houned the mast ; sent down mizen-top-gallant-yard ; sent down broken main-trysiul gaff; pumped when we had about twelve inches water; was used every four hours ; strong winds and paaaing fquaUs, with a high cross sea.

'* It is surprising that previous to so severe a gale a greater fall of the barometer had not taken place, having not been lower than 29.76 inches. It may be accounted for, from tbe wind blowing from the southward. The sympiesometer bad been for the last week about .:i.S decimals lower than the barometer ; bat

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

on the morning of the gale it fell .82 decimals lower than the < latter ; therefore the indications of thia eenaitive instrument ought to be attended to.'

(Signed) " A. H., Commander."

The following table of Observations was given to me by Col. Lloyd, whilst this edition was in the press.

Meteorological Observations taken at the Observatory in the Hurricane, on the 20th January, 1834.

Jan. 1831.	Buomeur
D.y.	Hour.	Eng.Inch.
19	7 r.M	29.S85	Wind incrcniiiiig in violent guiu.	Cloud! flying and oc- oaaionnl rain.
30	T A.]t	29.776	Wind in lUong and	Look.ing«ild& gloomy with hcttTj- rain. Rainingheavily.BPudB
	101 >>	29.685
			heaTj- guBW,	flying and looking wild.
	Hi „	29,605	SE by E wind in
		TCTy Tiolenl and sud-	little, acuda atill flying
			den gusta.	& looking vcr^ gloomy.
	Hi >•	29.6.55	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	la 1.	29.628	Wind increwing in	Raining TBry heavily
	i2i .,	29.676	»ery heavy busM. wind .tin Sicressing.	& looking very wild. Raining very heavily.
	1 ci	29.670	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	'i ..	29.510	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	r	29.476	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	2i .,	29.426	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	3 ;;	29. 3S6	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	H ,,	29. 2B.i	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	* ..	29. 310		Stm raining beatily.
	*i .,	29. 230	Wind Incrcaring in heavy guals.	Ditto
	6 ..	29.196	Ditto ditto	HiUQing very heavily.
	B} >>	29.165	Ditto ditto	Ditto
	4::	29. OSS	Wind incrcating in den cu«t*.	Ditto
	8) ..	29.135	Wind abating sUtUe.	Raining lest heavily.
	» V,	29. 170	Ditto ditto	Rain not quite »o heavy. Ditto ditto
	B! .,	29.200	Wind BtiU decreu-
			ing. buloecMionallyin
			heary gusts.
	10!..	29.2S6	Ditto ditto	Raining heavUy at
	\^::	29.300	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
	29.330	Ditto ditto	Ditto ditto
21	sj;.;	2U.650	Wind much ub«ted.	Ditto ditto

• A ahip called the Aaia was also in thia atonn, and some observation*

} found in Mr. Thon South of the Equator," page B!

"The Nature of Storma

170

MAURITIUS HURRICANE OF 1836.

CHAP. VI.

Jan. 1834.

Meteorological Observations — contmued. Barometer.

Day.

22

Hour.

Hi

2J P.M.

3 12

> »

A.M.

Eng. Inch.

Winds.

Remarlu.

29. 69r> 29. 78.5 29. 795

29.782 29. 782 29. 895

Wind still abating. Ditto ditto Still abating but oc- casionally strong. Ditto ditto Wd. increasing a little. Very light wind.

Raining oceaaionaUy. Very dull and cloudy. Ditto ditto and oc- casional rain. Ditto ditto Raining heavily. Cloudy.

J. A. LLOYO, Surveyor Qencral and Ciril Knginccr.

Storm of Another storm was experienced at Mauritius on March 6, 1836 ; during which, according to the state* ment of Captain Grierson, Royal Engineers (made from memory), " the wind blew, during the first half of the storm, from south by west, or nearly south. There was a calm of about an hour in the middle of the storm, after which a very heavy sea came rolling in from the north by east, or nearly north ; half an hour after which occurrence, the wind came on again from the opposite quarter with very great violence."

In the "Nautical Magazine for June, 1837," the fol- lowing report has been published of observations which were made during the storm by the Surveyor-Gieneral of Mauritius, at the Observatory, apparently with great care. The wind in that table is marked as oscillating in a remarkable manner. A mean of these oscillations makes the first portion of the hurricane to come from a little to the eastward of south, and the last portion a little to the westward of north, or nearly the same as the observations of Captiiin f Jrierson.

Immediately over Port Louis, where the Observa- tory stands, is a high and steep mou.itain, which pro- bably influenced the direction of the gusts of wind. This liurricnue came from the direction of RiNlriguez.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 171

Meteorological Observations takeD at the Observatory, Port C H A. P. Louis, Maa.itins, during a Hurricane on the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of March, 1836, — {Copied from the Nautical Magazine for jj^

i 29.740 :9.770 030

I 29.770. 29.220 6fiO

>i 29.190 030

' 29.176 0:

i 39.176 . 29.120 0-

Ij 29.110 0:

\ 28.996 11

27 10.86 B3.' 27 11.19 S2.i

I

27 11.19 82.1 27 6.00 81.(

27 4.44

27 3.88

27 3.76 8]

27 2.63 81

28.94 . 28.98

J 11.96 79.5,28.04 ,

lll'28.696[080'28 11.03 79.o!27,93

•". 28,646 050 26 9 36.79.0,27.84

;(28.61t 031 26 9.01179,6 27.78

28.470!04i:26 8.66| 79.8 27.72 ,

1 28.376 096 26 7.43 79 H 27.60

■■ '"0 04.5 26 6.98 80.2 27.52

11 28.77608621

12i2) I 21 1121

0 Light wind. Very variable, and bloiriDK

hard: «iii<l yBripd fron

by WioENEbyN. S E very ttroae, E S B by B

to S S W by 8 : raining. S E very strong, and in guats,

8E by E to 3W by 8:

En'k diito. NE by N I S^W; raining heavily.

Varyiii« from S to E in yery

Blrong i:usl3. Slade 4

plete vi.riBlioii Jurini

Varying

a-ong

ludde:

S b A\ bj- W, in heavy and sudden gu»la: aiill ditto, ipletevntifttion inhtavy

and

endou!

Varj-iiiV {ram E N E by N to 8 W by W, in bM*y

Varviiiu Srom E by' N l„ WSW, in heavy blMts: ■till raining. ''raryingfromENEbyN to I SSWby S, in heavy and I sudden pntb : raining very

I heavily.

i A complete variation inheary

and sudden gusts: ditto. I Diitfl, ditto.

'arvine from N E by N to

S W : Jilio.

■.iryuii! from ENE by N

Ditto, ditto: stiil n Ditto, ditln. Ditto, ditto. DittoioyswbyW: ditto. DitIo,siillhi;ili. nn.' ' ' Vurjliig from NE

decreasing is violence, and

raining less heavily.

THE CULLODEN S STORM.

CHAP. VI.			MeteorolOEJcal Obaervations — coMliiimed..
Mi. Llofd'. tiOM.	S_	i	1	i 036	1	ii!	i o s	yruoa.
	filh	2}	■2a.2D5	2S	6.63,80.b!27.52	0 o'o	VaninE from BNE by X to S8W br W. in ocim- !
		3	29.215	030	26	5.97'S0.6 ...		sionslly hoTT pub. Ditto to SS^Vl in ditto. I
		3i	2B.273	030	26	6..'iO,80.B .-.
		1	28.263	020	26	0.08:80.3 ...		Ditto to S by W: ditto. '
		*i	28.240	013	26	6.97 80.6, ... 1 i		Varying from E bj- S to V , by IS ; ditto.
		B	28.280	010	26	3.8380.71 ...		\t,;:_ from due S todiu W: u.VI-.yht r..i.,;rj. 1
		^	28.233	OOS	26	6.86 81.0' ...
			28.343	010	26	6.9781.0, ...		Varying from d. Ste NNE '
Calm.	^	6}	28.2S6	010	26	6.0e|8).3	...		by E. TCTT light. N by W, almu^t calm : wind
			varying from N W by N 10 . X by E. Varying from N B to NS W 1
	I	7	28.276	02O	26	8.30 81.0
									by W, cloudy, rind mJb. ] W by S t.. N by W, wry
		7i	28.326	030	2S	6 87,81.0; ...
						1 1		cloudy, and binwina. Varying from S\V toKW
		S	28.120	096	26	7.99 80,2,27.60
								by N. ditto. ;
	7ih	7	29.333	935	27	ft.47 79.0 28.77		Varying from N by E to \< R W by 8. blMri>g hard, and rtininit hnrilT. 1
		n	29.385	030	27	8.80 79.0 28.81		Varyingfrom WNWtoN by'w, ditto.
		g	29.400	016	27	7.03 ;79.0 28.82 \ 1		Varying from W by N to< N by V. ditto. Varying from W N W to NNW, ditto.
		8i	2S.410	010	27	7.14	79,0.28.83
		9	29.443	036	27	7.48	78.6 2S.SG		Varying from due W to 4w N, ditto.
		8*	29.430	008	27	7.69	70. S 28.86		Ditto, ditto.
		10	29.460	010	27	"'	79.0j28.86		Vn-V'SS..'" " "
		10*	29.460	000	27	:.,.	79.0|28.B6		Varying from N bj W to NW, ditto.
		•	29.468	008	27	7.82	7B.T	28.87		Varying from due W to do* N, ditto. Varying fronk due W to dne
		li	29.480	012	27	7.93	7a.fi	28.88
										N ,u,-.|u:,..,ohigh.
		2J	29.323	046 2T	S.38	78.fi	•8.92		Ditto, ditto.
		4	20.350	025 27	8.72	78.fi|2S.96		Ditto, wind dtrcrcaaiog, but
					1		itill in hravy blaati occa-
		H	29,396	04627 2W27	9.17'78.fi,29.01		Ditto, ditto. [lioiiallT. 1 Varying fr. S W to N by W. 1 Ditto, WSWtoNNW. ■
		7	29.833	11.8T;7H.3	29.24
	8th	12	29.843,010!27	ll.OS'Hl.fl	J9.23
			29.S4filoO0 27	11.9g!Nl.l<	•9.23		Ditto, W by N l« W by 8. ' Ditto, NW to SW.
		8	20.035 090	28	,.»	80.0	>y.3i

dtiring the gale of Iht lluromttcr— l^glish, 1.700 in.; Fmich, I7.l."i in. J. A. Ll.UVD, SurTeyoT-deneral and Civil Hnginen.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 173

Whilst searching for records of storms in south chap.

latitude, my attention was directed to two, very dis- '. —

astrous in their consequences ; which, even after a lapse of thirty years, have left a deep impression on the minds of many persons, from the great loss of life as well as property they occasioned. These were the storms of 1808 and 1809, encountered by the fleets of the East India Company, under convoy of his Majesty's ship Albion, Captain John Farrier, and of the Culloden, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, the first Lord Exmouth. The East India Company's ships Glory, Lord Nelson, and Ex- periment, foundered in the storm of 1808. The Lady Jane Dundas, Jane Duchess of Gordon, the Calcutta, and the Bengal, with his Majesty's brig of war Har- rier, foundered in the hurricane of the year 1809.

A court of inquiry, composed of twelve East India Directors, was engaged for a considerable time inves- tigating the subject of these losses ; and the minutes of their proceedings are preserved at the India House, as well as the logs of the surviving ships. From each of these records I have been allowed to make any extracts I desired.

On Chart VIII. will be found the storm which was experienced by the East India fleet, under convoy of the Culloden line-of-battle ship and the Terpsichore frigate, in March, 1809. These ships had crossed the equator, and had sailed on their homeward passage, with fine weather, until about the 1 1th of March. The place of the fleet, at noon the next day, will be found on the chart, and the ships sailed in company until the 14th : on that day the storm became so violent, that they were dispersed ; and I have taken advantage of

174 THE culloden's storm.

CHAP, this circumstance to compute each ship's place, where

. it was not previously marked on the log ; and have

also endeavoured to trace out the track of each vessel

in the storm, in order thus to obtain simultaneous

observations of the wind at different places.

Whilst this fleet, under the convoy of the Culloden, was sailing from India towards the Cape of Grood Hope, four British men-of-war left the Cape on the 21st of February, 1809, intending to cruise off the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon : one of these, the Caledon, put back, having sprung a leak ; the Nereide frigate, with the Racehorse and Harrier, proceeded for their cruising ground, and kept together until the 24th of February, when the Nereide separated from the other two, and followed a more northerly track. Their respective tracks are laid down on the chart from the 8th of March ; and we shall find them, by the logs of the Nereide and Racehorse, encountering the stonn <m different days, according to the courses they sailed; but the Harrier has never been heard of since.

So many ships dispersed by the same storm over a great extent gives us the means of judging its nature, and of the course it took ; and we find it, after having travelled obliquely with regard to the trade- wind firom the east towards the west, recurving at the 25th and 30th degrees of south latitude, and going off to the south-eastward, with a remarkable degree of simi- larity to the manner in which hurricanes already traced in the northern hemisphere pass off to the north-eastward.

In the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee of Inquiry at the India House, most of the commanders speak of this hurricane as two distinct storms ; and

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 175

throughout their evidence used the terms first and chap. second gales. ! —

This appeared an enigma until Chart VIII. was projected ; but when the chart was finished, this very circumstance helped to explain the nature of the storm : for we see at once why the Huddart, William Pitt, Harriet, and Euphrates had fine weather for two days ; and why the Huddart again met a storm with the wind blowing violently from the north-west^ so that she was obliged to put all her guns but two down in the hold to stiffen her. These four ships, on the shaded portion of the plan, by lying-to and falling to the southward, got out of the hurricane ; but the Huddart met it again when it had recurved, and this vessel en- countered the last part of it about the time when the first part had reached the Racehorse.

The Northumberland, Indus, and Sovereign, also lay-to, and got out of the violence of the hurricane soon after the four ships on the shaded portion of the plan ; but the Sir William Bensley and the St. Vincent scudded, by which they ran a day's sail a-head of the seven ships already named : and the chart shows where the Sir William Bensley was forced to lie-to, on the 17th, for twenty-one hours under bare poles, with the wind veering from north to west.

The CuUoden scudded, the Terpsichore and the four missing Indiamen following her ; and if they put before the wind, they must have sailed towards the track of the storm's centre, near which in all proba- bility they foundered.

The Terpsichore lay-to on the 15th for sixteen hours, but the CuUoden still stood on. By the 15th at noon the centre of the storm was due north of her, and

176 THE culloden's storm.

CHAP, was overtaking her when both ship and storm changed * their courses, the ship (excepting for five hours) run- ning under her foresail and close-reefed main-topsail to the south-west, whilst the hurricane commenced the curve which was soon afterwards to direct it to the south-east. There the CuUoden, in her turn, got out of it with the wind blowing at south-west, whilst the dismasted Nereide was in a north-west storm on the opposite side of the great whirlwind.

The Nereide was sailing with fine weather and studding-sails set on the forenoon of the 15th; but by three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day she had reached the centre of the hurricane, where, by the last part of the Northumberland's log, she had a lull for half an hour ; and before this period she was dismasted.

The Nereide's place on the chart for noon on the 16th March is her place computed by the dead reckon- ing ; but the ships appear to have been all set more than twenty leagues to the southward in the current This would place the Nereide to the south-west of the CuUoden at mid-day on the 16tb, and therefore on the middle of the storm's track, as dotted on the chart.

The account of the sail which the missing ships were under when last seen cannot fail to be interesting to every seaman, and I have found the following in the minutes of the Inquiry.

The Calcutta and Bengal were last seen about noon on the 14th, near the Admiral, and under their close- reefed main-topsails and foresails.

The Jane Duchess of Gordon was last seen on the 14th, by the Inglis, with her fore and main-topsails close-reefed and set : it was then blowing a storm.

M

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 177

and she lost sight of her at three o'clock in the after- chap.

° VI.

noon.

The Lady Jane Dundas was also last seen that day, with close-reefed fore and main-topsails set.

Each ship had on board from five to seven thousand bags of saltpetre ; and^n hurricanes, when water gets into a ship's hold, sucK cargoes as saltpetre and sugar are well known to melt, and the trim of a vessel thereby . becomes deranged, and it is in consequence in danger of oversetting. In the Calypso, and H. M. ships Raleigh and Racer, we have instances of ships upset- ting when under bare poles.

I have placed on the same chart. No. VIII., the The track of the ship Boyne, commanded by Mr. Stockley, gale. and marked the progress of a gale he encountered, as recorded in his log here printed. This stonn crossed the land of Madagascar, and had been previously met on the east of that island by a Glasgow ship, the name of which Mr. Stockley was not able to recollect, and which he could not ascertain, as he was leaving England outward bound when I received his log. The Boyne's log will be found after those of the Cul- loden's fleet.

If this storm followed a course similar to that traced as encountered by the East India fleet and the Cullo- den, it must have passed near the Cape of Good Hope. To afford the means of verifying the chart, the whole of tl^ logs are printed in detail. The four first given are those of the ships of war.

N

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Colloden (bearing the ttf ^- of Vice-Admiral Sir E, Pellew, Bart.), Captain P. B. PeUn,

Loffoftb CuUoden

Ship in from of

Hour	K.	F.	Counei,	Winds	Renutlu.
			WSW	SB EbyS	Wedn«dB7, HiTch 8, 1S09. A.M. U<>der.te brctze^ Fieth windi, with rain. Ditto neither.
		;;
P.M.			WSW	E3E SE	I*t. 18° IB* 8, lotif. 79° SO* E.
				P.M. Strang windi mnd (qoally.
				Took in the third reef of the topMlI*. Seiil the tojal-niwt* on deck.
					maiii-lopsul.
					Strong ynaii, t«th a grtat tta/nm Ik*
	7 7 7 7	2	WSW	SE	Thursday. Much 9, 1809. A.U. Strong wind* and tquallj-. Ditto wewher.
	7 6
	7 8 8				laaa. (br Rno aad dwoo) TB" 16'B Strong wind*.
4	8 7		WSW	SE	L«t. 19° 22' S, long. 76° 38'. Roderique, S Sl° W, 130 lekgaw.
	7 7 7 7				F,M.Strongwind>;1ooeedaiBm£aMiL Ditto w«Bth« ; conToy in company.
	7	0 1		Fiulcd the miintkil.
	7 I			SEbyS	filTong wind*, leilh a gnat na from (Af

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

179

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Culloden — continued.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
▲.X.				Friday, March 10, 1809.
1	7	2	AVSW	SEbyS	A.M. Strong winds.
2	7	4	• • •	S£
3	7	6
4	7	4			Ditto weather; convoy in company,
6	8	0			except the Northumberland.
6	7	6			Up foresail.
7	7	2			Saw the Northumberland a-stem.
8	6	4			Long, (by lunar obs.) at a.m. 73^63' 30".
9	7	0
10	7	2
11	7	0			Lat. 20'' 17' S. long. 73° 58' E.
12	7	2			Thermometer 77°. Cape St. Mary, S 79° W, 533 leagues.
P.M. 1	7	0	vvsw	SEbyS	P.M. Strong winds.
2	6	6			Set the fore and main- topmast-staysails.
3	7	4
4	8	0
5	7	6
6	6	4
7	6	6
8	7	0			Strong breezes, irtVA a great noell from
9	6	6			the S E.
10	6	6
11	6	6
12 A.M.	7	0			Ditto weather ; twelve ships in sight.
Saturday, March 11, 1809.
1	6	0	wsw	SEbyS	A.M. Strong winds.
2 3	6 6	0 2			Split the foresail ; set the mainsail and
4	7	2	• . • •	SSE	main -topmast-staysail.
5	6	6
6 7	7 7	0 2			Unbent the foresail, fore and mizen-top-
9 8	■ 7	0	WbyS	SbyE	sails, and bent new ones.
9	7	4
10	8	2
11	8
12	8				Lat. 20° 58' S, lonj? . 71° lO' E. Cape St. Mary, S 79° W, 483 leagues.
P.M. 1	6	2	WbyS	SSE
2 3	6 6				P.M. Strong winds and squally.
4	6	^	• • • .	SEbyS	Ditto weather ; convoy in company.
5	7
6	6	^	....	SSE 1 1
7	6	^ i	1 1
8 9	2 2		Strong breezes, with rain.
10		6
11		6
12		4

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Culloden.

Swell from the coming storm.

N 2

180

THE CULLODEN S STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Loff of the Cimoden.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Culloden — contmmed.

Swell.

Fleet Btill in firont of Btonn.

Storm now oTer- taking the fleet.

Hour.	K.	F.	Coursefl.	Winds.	Remarki.
A.M.			Sunday, March 12, 1809.
1	7	0	WbyS	SbyE	A.M. Strong winds; doae-reefed the
2	7	2			fore-topeaiL
3	7	4
4	7	6			Ditto weather ; ten aail in sight.
6	8	0
6	8	2			Strong winds and squally, wiik a §rmt $ea; all the fleet in sight.
7	7	6
8	6	6	• • «	SEbyS
9	7	4
10	7	4			Fresh winds and squally. Cape St. Mary, S 80'' W, 430 leagues.
11	7	4
12	7	0			Lat. 20° 41' S, long. 68^ 14' B. lliermometer 78°.
P.M.
1	7	0	W by 8	SE
2	6	0
3	6	2			P.M. Strong winds and squally.
4	6	4
6	6	4			Ditto weather ; conyoy in company.
6	6	2
7	6	4
8	6	4
9	6	4			Squally, with rain ; seren ships in ii|^.
10	7	0
11	7	0
12 A.M.	7	4
Monday, March 13, 1809.
1	7	2	WbyS	SE	A.M. Strong' winds and squally.
2	7	2
3	7	4
4	7	4			Ditto weather ; handed the fore-topsail
5	6	4			at daylight ; set it again.
6	6	4
7	6	6
8	7	2	W		Strong breezes and cloudy ; oonToy in
9	8	0	W by S	SSE	company.
10	7	0
11	6	0			Cape St. Mary, S 80° W, 370 leagUM.
12	8	0			Lat. 22° ly S , long. 66° 23^ B. Thermometer 77 J°.
P.M.
1	8	0	WbyS	SE
2	7	6
3	8	0
4	8	0			P.M. Strong winds and squally.
5	7	4
6	7	4			Ditto weather, with rain.
7	8	0
8	8	2
9	4	2			Fresh gales and squally.
10	7	4
11	i	4	• • • •	SSE	Five ships in sight.
12	7	4			1

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

181

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Culloden — continued.

Hour.

A.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4 6 6

7

8

9 10 11 12

1

2

3

4

5

8

7

8

9 10 11

12

P.X.

1

2

3

4 5 6 7 8

K.

7 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 7 7 7

7 7 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 7 8

9 9 9 9 8 8 8 9 9 7 7

8

8 8 8

8

7 7 7 7

F.

0 0 6 4 2 6 0 0 6 4 4 2

4 0 0 6 4 6 2 4 4 4 6 2

2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 4 0

0 6 0 0 6

CoureeB.

WbyS

Winds.

SSE

SE

WbyS

WbyS

wsw

SWbW

S\V|W

sw

S£

SEbyE

ESE

ESE

E

KemarkB.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809. A.M. Strong winds and squally, with hard rain ; at daylight, squally, with hard rain ; down top-gallant-yards ; got the flying jib>boom in, and handed the fore- sail.

Strong gales and squally ; got the jib- boom in ; handed the fore-topsail ; bent main-staysail and trynail.

Strong gales ; six ships in sight.

Lat. 220 64' S. long. 62** 14' E.

S W point Isle of France, N 65^ W, 118 leagues.

P.M. Hard gales and thick weather, with a ereat sea.

Took m the main-topsail ; set the main- staysail ; it blew to pieces.

Hard gales, with a heavy sea ; none of the ships in sight.

Very hard gales and a heayy sea.

Wednesday, March 15, 1809.

A.M. Heayy gales.

The fore-staysail blew to pieces ; a sea struck the larboard-quarter boat, broke the davit, and stove the boat ; the star- board quarter gallery was washed away.

Attempting to cut away the micen-top- mast it went, and carried away the head of the mizenmast, the ga£f, and part of the top ; lost the whole of the ringing, &c. ; bent tne fore- topmast- staysail for a main- staysail.

S E point Isle of Bourbon, N Or W, 170 miles.

Lat. 22" 34' 8, long. 68** 38' E.

P.M. Qot the fore and main-top-gallant- masts on deck ; double breeched and elected the lower-deck guns; got the main-runners up.

Took in the slack of the lee main rigging.

Hard gales, with tremendous heavy gusts.

The gale appeared to break.

More moderate, with less sea ; set the reefed foresail.

CHAP. VI.

Loff of the Culloden.

Mainstay- sail blew away.

Ships sepa- rating.

Xear

storm's

vortex,

and

running

parallel

to it.

182

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Loff of the CuTloden.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Culloden —

Storm re-rurring towards S.E.

P.M.

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2 3 4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

At H •

1 2 3

'I

9) 10)

12)

K. F.

7 7 7

7 7 6

7

8

8

9

10

9

9

10

10

9

9

4 4 3

3

8 I 0

8 6

8 0

8 0

0 0 6 4 2 6 0

4

6 4 0 0 0 4 4 0 0

7 4

0 0 6 4

Courses.

Winds.

SW

sw

upSSE otfSbW

£

EbvN

WNW

W

WbyN

EXE

NEbyF

up SWJW

off

ssw

NNE

N

NNW

NW

Remarks.

Wednesday, March 15, 1809.

Stronff gales, with rain at timet.

Found 150 yards of the spanker tared, the rest was lost with the miaenmast head, and spanker- boom ; found several knees broke, the transom worked yery much, and the nails of the lower deck planks drawn three or four inches ; the upper f croke broken in the wake of the malnmatt, Ac.

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

A.M. Strong gales and cloudy.

At 7, up faresail; brought- to for the convoy : employed mending the t^rrice of the rigging, putting the ship to righfii, &c.

Lat. 26* 6' S, long. 56^ 37' E.

Cape St. Mary, N 8r W, 213 letfiut.

P.M. Strong winds and hazy.

Set up the larboard main-rigging.

Hard gales, with rain and a heayy tat.

Larboard gallery washed away.

A yery haid squall; deved up the maintops^ail; it blew away; hauled up the foresail and handed it ; the ship strained and laboured much, one chain and one hand pump kept her free.

Friday, March 17. 1809. A.M. Very hard gales, with hearj

Set the trysail.

The ship strained, and leaked in erery

5 art of the upper works and deck ; at aylight, found the fore and main belly- stays, the inner bob-stays, and laniards of the two foremost fore-shrouds carried away.

W N W Cape St. Mary, N 82' W. 194 league ' Lat. 260 53' S, long. 54° 42' E.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

183

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Culloden—cohc/ikM.

Hour.

K.

F.

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

2 2 2 2 2 2 4

0 0 0 0 4 6 0

Courses. Winds.

Remarks.

SSW ,WbyS

off j

SbyE ,

N \V b Ni

NWbN

NW ' NWbW SW

Friday, March 17, 1809.

P.M. Fresh gales and cloudy, with a great swell fiom the S W,

Wind Teering to the southward; fine weather.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Terpsichore, J. M. Gordon, Captain.

Hour.

A.M.

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12

K.

F.

7 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

5

7

0 4 0 4 0 0 0 2 4 4

4 2

Courses.

WbyS

Winds.

Remarks.

SEbyS

KM.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

7 7 7 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7

0 4 6 4 6 2 4 4 0 0 0 0

up SSW offS W Why Si SE

W by S

SEbyE

SE

Monday, March 13. 1809.

A.M. Strong breezes, with hard squalls and rain. 12.30. Up foresail; ship making five inches per hour.

Ditto weather ; Admiral W } S.

At 6, fresh breezes and thick cloudy weather.

At 10, up foresail, and hove-to. 10.15. bore up ; furled the mainsail and mizen> topsail.

Strong winds and squally weather ; Ad- miral W by S 3 or 4 miles.

Course. S IT W, distance 155.

Lat. 22*^ 14^, long. 64° 42/ E.

Cape St. Mary, S 80° 20' W, 399 leagues .

P.M. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain.

Ditto weather ; Admiral W by S.

Set the foresail. Up foresail. Squally, with rain.

Strong breezes and squally weather ; Admiral W by S.

CHAP. VL

Log of the CuUoden.

Log of

theTeit>si*

chore.

184

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of

thoTerp*

sichore.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Terpsichore — continued.

\

SweU firom east- ward.

Calloden in sight.

Sails splitting.

Hour.

A.M.

1

2 3 4 6

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4

5

6

7 8 9

10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3

4

5 6 7

8

9

K.

6

6 6 6 6

6 6

7 7 6 5

6 6

4 5

6 6 6 6

6 6

7

7 7 7

7

7 7 8

8

F.^Counes.

0 2 4 4 6

0 0 0 4

0 4 4 0

0

G

WbyS

Winds.

ESE

WbyS

2 0

4 4

4

0

4 0

4 6 4

0 WbyS 0

SEbyE

SEbyE

W

Remarks.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809. A.M. Fresh gales and squally, vrith rain. 1.30. Burnt a blue light. At 2, lowered the main- topsail.

Ditto weather ; close* reefed the maiii- topsail and furled the fore- topsail.

Strong gales and thick squally weather ; down main-top-gallant-yard and nuzen- top- gallant- mast; bent storm-staysails and reefed the foresail.

At 8, strong gales and thick hemry weather ; struck the fore and main-tcm- gallant-mast and set storm-staysail; carried away the strap of the main-stay- sail-sheet and split the sail.

Noon. Strong gales and thick rainy weather, a heavy ua from the eeutward; six of the conyov in sight.

Course, S 82** W, distance 168.

Lat. 22** 36', long. 61** 66' E.

Cape St. Mary, S 80** 16^ W, 343 leaguea.

P.M. Hard gales and thick cloudy weather; ship making nine inches per hour; sent top-gallant-maat on deck and rigged jib-boom in.

2.40. Carried away the tiller three feet from the rudder-head ; clewed up & furled the main-topsail ; shipped the short tiller.

At 4, ditto weather.

At ^.40, a sea broke oTer the stenit stove the jolly-boat to pieces.

At 6, ditto weather.

At 8, strong gales, with rain, and a heayy sea running; employed at the chain- pumps.

At 11, the Admiral's light W by N. Midnight. Hard gales & squally weather.

Wednesday, March 16, 1809.

A.M. Hard gales and thick cloudy weather. At 1, the ship brought by the lee ; loosened the foresail ; burnt a blue light ; the spare main-topsail-yard washed away from chain.

At 4, ditto weather.

Excessive strong gales and thick rainjr weather; split every staysail we at> tempted to set.

At 8, do. weather ; shipped a sea over the larboard- quarter, which greatW damaged it.

At 9, saw a sail in the W*N W ; ship making two feet per hour.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

185

Extract ftrom the Log of H.M.S. Terpsichore — continued.

A.M.

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3 4 6

P.M. 1

2 3 4

6 6

7 8 9

K.

7

7 7

8 6 4 0

3

7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7

7 7 8 9

7

F.

Courses.

W

Winds.

W

upSSE offS

upSSE offSbW

do.

upSSE offSSW

up SB offS

upSEbE offSSE

WbyS

W

E

EbyN

ENE

ENE

NE

NE

NNE

Remarks.

Wednesday, March 15, 1809.

Noon. Hard gales, with abeavy sea running.

Course, S 76° W, distance 160.

Lat. 23° 13' S, long. 60° 1' E.

Cape St. Mary, Madagascar, S 8° 10' W, 304 leagues.

P.M. Strong gales and thick weather, with rain ; shipped a number of seas.

At 2.30, being under the goose wing of the foresail, it blew from the yard, and the ship- broached- to ; attempted to set the fore storm-staysail, but it blew to pieces ; found we could set no sail ; cut away the mizen-topmast, but to no effect ; put the helm a-lee and kept her to ; ship laboured much ; at the pumps.

At 6, nothing in sight ; found two of the main-shrouds gone larboard-side; got the runners and tackles up, and secured.

At 8, ditto weather; employed at the pumps.

At 12, heavy gales and thick weather.

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

A.M. Hard gales, with heayy rain ; wind and sea somewhat abating ; ship making two feet per hour. Strong winds and cloudy weather, but much clearer. At daylight, more moderate ; found most of the topmast-stays and a number of the laniards of the lower rigging carried away.

7.40. Made sail and lK>re up.

At 8, strong winds and cloudy weather ; nothing in sight.

Noon. Strong breezes and clear weather ; nothing in sight. Course, S 67° 0' W, distance 81. Lat. 23° 44' S, long. 68° 41' E. St. Mary's, S 82° 36' W, 276 leagues.

P.M. Freah breezes and cloudy weather.

At 4, ditto weather.

At 6, fresh breezes and cloudy weather ; set the foresail. At 8, strong ditto, ditto.

CHAP. VI.

Log of

theTerp.

sichore.

HoTe-to.

No ship ii^ Bight.

Storm moving south- ward.

186

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Terp- sichore.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Terpsichors — cmUmmed,

Storm re-cunring towarda S.E.

Swell from west- ward.

Storm leaving Terpsi- chore.

11 12

A.M.

1

2 3 4 5 6

8 9

10

11

<

Hour.	K.
P.M.
10	6
11	6
12	6
A.M.
1	6
2	4
3	3
4	3
6	3
6	3
7	3
8	3
9	3
10	2
11	2
12	2
P.M.
1
t	0
2
3	1
4	I
5	2
6	1
7	2
8	2
9	1
10	1

F.

2 2

5

6

0

Courses.

Winds.

Remarks.

W

NNE NE

Thursday, March 16, 1809. At 10, hand pumps kept going.

At 12, frefth breezes and haxy weather.

W by S N

WSW NWb.N

SWb.W

NW

upSW offSb.W

SWbyS

i SSW ISby Wl

NW WNW

Friday, March 17, 1809.

A.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy ; ship ; making twenty inches per hour. At 2, took in the fore-topsail. '

At 4, fresh breezes, with a head sea; close reefed the main topsaiL

2	21
2	4
2	0
3	0
4	4
5	0
6	4
6 1	4

SbTW

s

SbyE SSE

WbyN W

Noon. Moderate breezes and cloudy; weather ; hove- to, to sling the main*ysjd afresh.

Course, S. 64° 0' W, distance 126.

Lat. 25« 29' S. long. ^ 28' E.

Cape St. Mary, N 88*" W, 180 leagues.

P.M. Moderate and cloudy weather.

At 2, filled and set the mainsail.

Ditto weather; a heavy noeU Jrom th§ westward. Pumped ship occasionally.

Light breezes and dark cloudy weather.

3 W j Ditto weather ; wore ship.

▼ariable

7 ; 2 0 W by S

0 6

0

6

rWbyS I 4S

Saturday, March, 18. 1809.

A.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy ; fidded top gnllant-mast.

2.30. Out third reef of the topsmilf and set the jib.

Ditto weather ; observed a deal of the copper off on each side of the stern. At daylight, saw a sail bearing S E by E ; .shortened sail.

At 7, the stranger proved, by signal, to be the Earl St. Vincent, one of the convoy.

At 8, moderate breezes and hazy weather.

W

SSW

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Tbi

-emduded. CSJlP.

Log of ths Terp- ■ichtne.

B.„.JK.	F	Counes.	Wind*.	Hemuks.
10	1	0 2 3	W.	88W •	Saturdnv, Much It, 1809. _ Noon. Fresh winds j E«l Si. Vincent "'^t!'ii"sV S. lonp 66- 8' E. Cape St. M«y. N 88^ 10' W, 180 leagnn. P.M. FreslibreeiM and cloudy weather. At 4, ditto weather ) Earl St. Yineent in TTnfidded the fore-topmast, At e. ditto weather.
Copy of the Log of H. M. S. Nkreide.— In Civil Time.
Hour. •1 10 13	K.F	CoureEB.	Wind..	Rcmuha.
5 5 6 6 e 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9	6 t 6 3 0 S 2 3 3 2 0 2 2 0 6	NE 1 NE ) JN NK NE	ssw SbyE SE SSW	Wednesday, March 13. 1809. A.M. Moderate bree»es and cloudy. Vaiyina to the eastward. At dayligh% moderate brecKes and flue Set fore lower-atudding-saila. Set the fore-topmast and top-gallsnt- (tudding- tails. Wind frpBhcnirg; down flying-jib. In itudding-aaila and I op- gi. 11 ant- sails, L«t. sT'sa'^S, long. srao'E. Isle of Bourbon, bearing N 4° E, 370 miles. P.M. Freth gales and clear weather ; in f econd reef in the topsails. main-topsail: down top-gsUmil-jaids ; tha tame wenlher- Struck the top- gallant- mas ti Strong gales and hazy weather.

Good

THE CULLODBN » 3T0RU.

Copy of the Log of H. M. S. Nbreide-

Hour.'K. F. Counci. Wind.

upNB br E off NN

SEb^S

Thiu.daj. Hanh 16, 1809.

A.M. Udndcil the fora tmd m>m top- isili 1 u[i foiraai] utd furled it ; b«nt uic tryiiil.

At 1, lUDDg g&Ic* Mid clondj waktber, Kilh run..

Strong fialts: carried away Ih« mam- ■toyinil aheet and aplit the *>il.

SiTimg giles, <*ith a heavy aea; ibis Uhouring very much; a black boy fril over and wu druwoed.

11.40. Oalo still increanng toahnni- canp: putthchElijiupibutfouadahewoiild not [all off; lo»~>>ned ihe fortaail, which blewoDlortbe^ltropei righted the bell tried her again. H.th no bettetmMcM; I Eile vioienilj un'Teaiing, toand itnroi tuyrortheinrv^Fortheship tocntawn the miienm^iBt. 1 1 A6. Cut it away, atiU ■he would not na off; the main-toprmaat blew orer the side. 11.66. Cut away tb* malnmant.irbcn (he Tfcred before tbawlad.

At 12, diito wiRihet.

No obier'atiun.

P.M. Heavy (.'ilea and tqoaUy I kat, ia culling away the maati, apuikl ~~'*

miicn.topsiil, uiih all tbe '

Tunning rigging ; maimail,

with ttandmg nivd running rigging. 1.30. Cut away the (aTetopnuk

preeeive the foremast i laved tM to I with pan of standing and mmiiti I ging : foresail tii<littiDg, aaved fifty

of cmTu, with theboltrope; loaiai

from tbe quarter. I At 3. wind *ofred toW. WXW At 4, heavy i-qualU; got the ft

I ready for briojiin^-totbcyard; ditto galea; j employed aecuiing fbicmaii and Ibicyaid.

At 8, heavy aquallf, with constant iaia>

E NW

xwbw!

NW I At 12. 8( I pooped in. a

i.,„pto,rf ...

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

189

Copy of the Log of H. M. S. Nereidb — concluded.

Hour.	K. F	. (bourses.	Winds.	1 * RemarkB.
A.M.				Friday, March 17, 1809.
1	11 4	t SbyE	N by W	Heavy gales and squally.
2	11 -1
3	11 i	[ SSE	NN W
4	11 (			Ditto weather.
5	9 (
6	10 (			Ditto, ditto.
7	10 (
8	9 (			More moderate ; bent the foresail.
9	9 i	[ SEbySNWbN	Ditto weather; people yariously em-
10	9 1	2 SE	NW	ployed clearing the wreck.
11	8 i
12	9 (			Ditto weather.
P.M.				No observation.
1	7 (	) SEbyENWbW	Fresh gales and cloudy weather ; bent
		iE		and set foresail and fore-topmobt-staysail. Hauled to the wind on the starboard
2	6 (	) 3 E by E
	2 (			tack.
3	2 (	) SWbyS	NW	Ditto weather.
4	3 ^	I SSWJW ) SSW		4.30. Down topmast-staysail.
5	3 (	WSW
6	2 *	I SbyW
7	2 (	) NbyE
8	2 ^			Fresh breezes and cloudy ; wore ship.
9	2 ^		NWbW	More moderate, with a heavy swell.
10	2 1
11	2 .
12 A.M.	2 1	2 N	i	Moderate and cloudy weather.
Saturday, March 18, 1809.
1	• • 0	. NbyW	Variable
2	* * •	. NW	SWbW
3 4	• • •	. ywbw	SW	Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
5	• * •			Ditto weather, with ram at intervals;
6	• •	. WNW		got up a pair of sheers; set maintop-
7	• • •			gallantsail on it.
8	AC •			Ditto weather; made all possible sail;
9 10	• • « • • •			cut the stump of the mast up.
11 12	• • • • •			Ditto weather. Lat. 26** 46' S, long. 68° 16' E.
P.M.				Juan de Lisboa, N 85'' 30' W 156 mUes.
1 2	• • • • • •	. W by N	SbyW	Fresh breezes and cloudy ; down miaen.
3 4	• • • • • •	•		Ditto weather.
6 6	• • ■ • • •			Fresh breezes and cloudy; down mizen.
7 8	• • • • *			Ditto, ditto.
9 10	• • •			Moderate and cloudy.
11 12	• • • • •			Ditto, ditto.
A mm	• • •			(Signed) CORBET, Captain.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Noreide.

V' •^^

./t>^-

lA^iy^.

^0»>«O»-vi, J*

J.

/ •

190

THE CULLODEN S STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Kaoebone.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Racehorse, Wm. Fisher, Esq., Commander. — Kept by R. Nfellsou, Master.

H.M. Brig Harrier in company.

Harrier aBtern.

Harrier when last •een.

Hour.

A.M.

1 2 3 4 6 6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M.

1 2 3 4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

K.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 3 4 4 3

3 3 4 2 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 4

6

4 4 8 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 I 1 0

0

F.

Courses.

Winds.

RemarlLs.

EbyN

EbyN

EbyN

WNW

WNW

WNW

WbyS

WSW

SW

EbyN

Monday, March 13, 1809. Fresh breeze and cloudy weather ; down main-staysail.

4. Moderate and fine weather. Altered the course to E by N. Made signal 89 to Harrier.

[in company. Light breeze and fine weather ; Harrier Course. N 62° E, distance 168. Lat 36" 69' S, long. 66^ 30', d.r. Island of Roderique, N 19'' £, 1 100 mQet.

Light breeze and fine weather.

6. Light airs and clear weather.

Moderate and clear weather.

Ditto weather ; Harrier in company.

EbyN

Head fr. SE to ENE

Tuesday, March 14, 1809. S W by S Light breezes and fine weather.

At daylight ditto weather; taw the Harrier.

8. Light airs and fine weather ; Harrkr astern.

Light airs and cloudy weather. Courfte, N 61° E, distance 96 milet. '

Lal.35'' 58' S, long. 68° 28 30". chro.fiS^y, , Roderique, N 16^E, 983 miles. [d.b.

SW

Light breeze, inclinable to calm.

4. Ditto weather; Harrier a long way astern. Calm and cloudy weather ; shortened sail.

THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

191

Extract from the Log of the Racehorse — continued.

Hour.	K. 0	F. 0	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 7	Head fr.		Tuesday, March 14, 1809.
8	0	0	EtoSE		7.30. A Ught breeze from N N W.
9	4-3	4
10	3	4
11	3	4
12	3	4			12. Light breeze and cloudy; Harrier
A.M.					not in sight.
Wednesday, March 16, 1809.
1	3	4	EbyN	NWbW	Light breeze and clear weather.
2	4	2
3	6	4
4	6	4		W
6	6	0			6. Harrier not in sight.
6	6	2
7	5	4
8	6	0			8. Ditto weather.
9	3-2	0
10	3	6	ENE	SW
U	4	2
12	4	4			12. Harrier not in eight. Course. N 49° E. distance, 83 miles. Lat. 350 2' S, long. 59^ 22' E. D. e.
P.M.					Roderique.N 12^23' E.distance,964milmi.
1	4	4	NEbyE ENE	SSW	Fresh breeze and fine weather.
2	6	4
8	7	2	NEbyE	SSE
4	7	0			4. Ditto weather.
5	8	4	NE	ESE
6 7	9 8	0 0	.		6. Fresh breeze and cloudy weather.
8	8	0			8. Strone breeze; furled main-top- gallant-sail; close-reefed fore-topsail;
9	6 am	0
10	7	0			took third reef in main-topsail; struck fore- top-gallant-mast.
11	6	0			1 1 . Close- reefed main-topsail, and reefed
12	6	0			12. Fresh gale. [the courses.
Thursday, March 16, 1809.
1	6	0	NE	ESE	Strong breeze and cloudy weather.
2	6	0
3	6	0
4	6	4
6	6	4
6	6	0			6. Fresh breeze, with rain.
7	4	6	NEbyN	EbyS
8	6	0	NNE	w	8. Ditto weather.
9	6	4
10	7	4	NbyE	EbvN
11	6	0	ENE
12	6	0	SE		Noon. Ditto, ditto. Course, N to E, distance 1 44 miles, [d.e. Lat. 32° 40 S, long. 61° 14' Ech.. 59*> 62' Port Louis, Lnle of France, N 9** 40' W, distance 761 miles.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Racehorse.

Getting into the storm.

Port- tack.

192

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Raoehone.

Extract from the Log of the Racchorsb — eonttnued.

Wore.

Storm moTing south- eaitward.

P.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 II 12

A.M. 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

"I

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M.

1

2 3 4 5

6

7 8 9

10

11

4 6 6 6

7 6 5 4 6 5 6 6

3 4 2 2 1 2 6 6 6 7 5 3 8

8 7 6 3 1 1 2 2 2 3 6 6 8

8 8 8 7 6 3 3 7 7 8 9 9

F.

Courses.

0 SE 0 SEiS 0 SEbyS

2 0

2 SE|S

6

0 SE

0

2 SEbyS

2

Winds.

ENE

SEbyS

ESE SEbyE

SE SEbyE

SEbyE

BbyS NE

NE

NEbyN

NbyE

NbyE

NbyW NWbN

ENE

ENE

EbyN

EbyN

EbyN

NEbyN SE byE

S

SEbyS

Remarks.

Thursday, March 16, 1809. Fresh breeze and doady weather.

8. Ditto weather.

Midnight. Strong breese and ekrady.

Friday, March 17. 1809. Strong breese and cloudy weather.

4. Ditto weather.

8. Fresh breese, ditto.

Noon. Ditto, ditto.

Course, S 57° E, distance 121 miles. ri>.a. Lat. 33* 44' S. long. 62*> SC chro. 61* 49'. Roderique, NO*" 40' S, distance 844 mika. Fresh breeze and cloudy, with raia at times.

Ditto weather.

6. Light breezes and cloudy, with raia. 8. Thick, rainy weather.

Fresh breese and rainy weather.

Saturday, March 18, 1809. Strong breeze and squally, with raia«

3. Strong gales, with heary raia.

6. Ditto, ditto. 6.30. A heary swell; down try and foresaUs ; kept before the sea.

8. HeaTy sale, with rain; got ia the spritsail-yard.

THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. Extract from the L»^ of the Raceborbb — concluded.

193

CHAP.

Hour.	5! 9	. Counei. 1	Wind*.	Hemwks.
13	i NW	SBbyE	Saturday. Mweh 18. 1800. 12. Theeea running very high; brought and fote sUyaaila. Coune, N 26° E. diaunce IM mile.. Lai. 31=42' D.R., long. 63" 41'. Nu obaervalion n. h. Hoderique. N, diiUnce 722 mile*. Port Louia, N 25° 45' W, 092 mile..
		opESB offNE npESE off EN E	8	Strong gales, with heavy Bqualla and rain. 4. Ditto, ditto. B. The amall cutler waa earned away (by a lea) from the atcm.
		upEbN
t)		offNE upEbN offNE	SSE SSE
Sunday, March 19, 1809. Strong gale and squally, with rain.
	upBNE offNE by N upNE		a. Mure moderate weather.
13	::i: * 3	DffNbE NbyE NJE	Eh, S	8. Fresh breeie and cloudy. 12 Modernle and clear weather. Courae, N 34° W, distance 22 mile*. Lai. 31° 26' S. long. 62" 48' chro.. 63° 26' Itoderique, N 1- W. 706 mUet,
1 10 11 13	3 3	N	ENE
3 2 3 2	■N by W 0 NbyE	Variable	4. Light brceie and rainy nreaihcr. Ditto, ditto.
3 0	0 NiW 0 htad ir. NtoNW		11. Squilly, with rain. 12. Dittti, ditto.

194

THE CULLODEN 8 STORM.

CHAP. VI.

The four next logs are those of the ships which first got out of the hurricane, and whose places are marked on the shaded part of the Chart, viz., the Huddart, William Pitt, Harriet, and Euphrates.

Log of the Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Huddart/ Captain Wm. Httddart- Nesbitt, towards England.— In Nautical Time.

P.M. 1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

5 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

5 6

4 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 I 4 ' 4

F.

Coanes.

4

4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

0

0

0

4

4

4

4

Oi

0,

0

4

WSW

Remarka.

Monday, March 13, 1809. S £ by S P*M. Freth breezes and aqually wwidier throughout.

WSW

SEbyS

A.M. At 8.30, departed this life Captam John Robinson ; at noon, committea the body to the deep with the tisttal cere- monies.

Lat. observed, 22'' 25' S, long. 65" SS' K

(Signed) C. ABKCOLL.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809. P.M. First and middle parts a strouj trade, the weather heavy and unaettlM, with constant hard rain and a risiiig tea, ; latterly increasing to a heavy gale, with : violent squalls from the S S £, and ship* , ping much water.

* H. C. S. Honourable Company's Ship.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

195

Extract from the L<^ of the H. C. S. Huddart — continued.

Hoar.	K.
▲.M.
1	3
2	3
3	3
4	3
6	3
6	3
7	4
8	4
9	4
10	0
11	0
12	0
P.M.
1	0
2	0
3	0
4	5
6	5
6	6
7	6
8	5
9	6
10	6
11	6
12	2
▲.M.
1
2
3
4
6
6
7

F.

Counefi., Winds.

WbySiS E S by S

WSW

SE

[8 W<» up to S S E

offtoSW

Remarks.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809.

A.M. At 4.30, the Admiral's light bore E 8 E ; at daylight very thick weather, could see only three of the fleet in the 8 E, but could not distinguish the ships ; the gale increasing rapidly.

At 8, the Harriet passea us under close- reefed topsails and foresail.

At 9, in a violent gust of wind, the fore- sail blew to ribbons, and immediately after the main-topsail in like manner ; got the new foresail ready to bend, but the gale was so violent could not haul it to the yard ; set the storm, main, and fore staysails, and laid the ship to the wind ; one ship bearing S 8 W likewise hove- to; latterly a very heavy sea running, with furious gusts of wind and hard rain.

Noon. The William Pitt and Earl St. Vincent on our weather-beam, and two others in sight ; could not see the Com- modore.

No observation.

Lat. 22° 24', long. 64° 11'.

(Signed) F. DOW.

Wednesday, March 15, 1809.

P.M. The gale increasing; reefed the main 'Staysail and set it, the sea running excessively high, and making frequent breaches over the ship.

At 3.30, shipped a very heavy sea, which upset most of the gims, stove the cutter to pieces (on the larboard quarter), the wea- ther waist and gang boards, washed off the lee ones, with the rail, &c. ; laid the ship for some time on her larboard side, and tore with the weight of water her main-staysail to pieces ; hove overboard several of thestar- board guns ; set the fore-topmast staysail.

At 4.30, wore ship and Kept her head W S W, all pumps going, blowme with ex- cessive violence m gusts ; ship making good weather till 1 a.m., when she most unfor- tunately brought by the lee, in doing whicii she shipped a heavy sea on her starboard quarter and stem, and was immediately afterwards laid over on her larboard beam- ends, her lee-side being entirely under water ; her gunwale-rail, gang-boards, &c., were soon swept away, and every thing on that side dashed to pieces and wauied overboard ; made every exertion to wear ship, but without success ; the storm fore-

o2

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Huddart.

IL.

THE CULLODEN S STORM.

C 11 A P, VI.	Entract from the Log of	the 11. C. S. HUDDART— CMfMMJ.
Log of the	Hour.	K.	f.	Courw.. Winri..	Reiurki.
Huddui.
	AM			WJopioP S8E offioSW,	"Wedne^duj, Uurh IS. 1809. Hliyuiil nii'l firv-topniagl atBifiail blowing h) ribbons ; Bltempted to Mt the )>b. but
				it WB* likevHue initanllj liloiiii t« piMM ;
		;^		the nighi being excMMvelj d*xk, tt wu
y		('			r*^	Judnd too dMnarrous to stteinpt cnuiag away the miienmait tUl daTlight; cDt iwsj nnd hovo oTcrtioanl u m>ny of our
			'^y		l<~eetllUB<iH-ecouldp<»ubljget kt, and kept «11 h.ncl.«t the pump* ft.no the time
					..{ (,\a being brought by the lee tiU ncu
						layligbti the jiitu»tlQn o-f tho ■hip WM
						very periii>u». herlerboMd Hde up to At quently under wolei. «nd Lh» ship Uyinf
						orer^O murh thai theinen could acwMly
						■Und to thi! pump*, *iid in the darkaea
						of the Tiii h% from the railing being duhed iiWDT toTvewud, tl waa daogatoua tor the
						dnylight, (he gale abating and lb* m* father fallintc. we were enabled 1« kMp
					the water under by the pump*.
	s					woathrt. the ftu>l* being leai rialcnt, and
	9
	10					ihereaMi'iRfMi.
Ship
following						.»T..il.
■torm.					NE	At 11.30, wjrt ,hip and itooi bt/an 1*# ,ciad. in hopca of joining the fleel; »t It. th^ fii.t part of the gale th* wind waa S a ^ aUtling Ultcrly to B and N B.
Imt Mir	12					NooD. Fair weather.
behind it.						Lai. 23° 8'. long 83° 37'. (Signed) C. ARCKOLL.
	ThiiTulsT. Maich IS, 1809.
				sw	NE
	2
	3 4		^			squalls at timet.
fipcChwt	e T		^
VIII.	8 e	e 0			Tlie ship pumped out Axj.
	10			W 8 W
	n
	A.X. I 2	G
	3 S	0	I 1 ■;, 1	A M, .\t r,, ^aw ilittc (htpa from tb* inninmail hULid biaring E 8 K.
	1 1 1

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

197

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Huddart — continmed.

Hoar.

A.M.

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M.

1

2

8

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

1

2 8

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

6 4 4 4 3 2 2

4 5

4 4 4 6

F.' Courses.

3 0

4 0 4 4

4 0

4 0 0 0

6 iO 6 0 6 0

5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

WSW

W

WiS

WbyS

WSW

SWbyW

SW

NNW NWb.W

Winda.

Remarks.

N£

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

At 10, the headmost stranger made big- \ nol; made our number, which he answered,

informing us that he was the William Pitt, I and the other two were the Harriet and j Euphrates, which had been damaged in j the gale, and leaked ; informed the Pitt

by telegraph that we had suffered in ihe

gale, thrown guns overboard, and feared

our cargo was much damaged. Lat. observed, 25** 14' S,Tong. 61° 46'.

Friday, March 17, 1809. X E P.M. First part, fresh breezes ; middle and latter, blowing hard and inereatmff ; N N E employed drying sail and clearing ship ; bent and set main- topsail.

NNW

No observation.

Ut. 'lb"" 34', long. 60°.

NW

NW

WbyS

Saturday, March 18, 1809. P.M. Strong breezes throughout, with hard squalls at times; gun* all but two, and everything of ang weighty down in the hold to stiffen ihe ehip.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Httdd«rt.

Meeting the storm when re- curving.

but gains below.

198 THE CULLODBN'g 8T0RK.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. HuoDARi^-emteUM.

teL""	Hour.	K.|.	Co»»«j W,nd^	R«ii«ki.
	'l' 2 4 5	s 3 3 3		NW NWbW WNW W	Why 8	Lst. ob.erT«i, 26= 33* 8, S6- W E.
	8 9 10 11 13	3 a 3 3 3				(Sisnrf) C. ARKCOLL.
Htt.	Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Willmh Pitt, Optain Chariee Graham, towards St. Hdena.
	Hour.	K.	p.	Couww. j Wmdi. 1 Remarlu.
	P.M.			Why S	ESbyS	Mondajr, Mueb 13, ISO*.
					1 Lit. ar IB' 8.
	I			WbyN WbV8
				WbyS	SSE
	T S T 8	Tu»d.y.lUrchl»,lB09.
	A	1	*

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

199

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. William Vnrr—contmued. CHAP.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.	» ^.
Log of the Wniiam
				Pitt.
P.M.					Tuesday, March 14, 1809.
6			WbyS	SSE
6
7
8						1
9						1
10		0
11		0
12		0
▲.M.					NoLat.
1		0
2		4
8	8	0
4	8	0
6	8	0
6	8	2
7	6	0
8	3	0		•
9	3	0
10	6	4
11	6	0
12 P.M.	6	4
Wednesday, March 15, 1809.
1	7	4	WbyS	SSE	P.M. Stronff sides with violent squalls, first and middle parts; latterly, fresh
2	8	0
8	8	0	VViS		breezes and pleasant weather, a very
4	8	0 0			high sea throughout.
6	o 8	V 0
n	0	0
8	0	0			,
.s-	0	0	upSb.W
0	0	otfW
111	0	0
12J	0	0
A.M.					lAt. 23** 49*
n			upSbrE offS		A.M. Weather began to dear up.
2/	• •	• •
8\			upSSE offSbyE
4/	• •	• •
6	0	0
6	0	0
7	0	0
5}	0	0	upSEb.S
0	0 otfSbyE
10	0	0
11	4	0
12	4	4	SWJS
P.M.	Thursday, March 16, 1809.
1	4	4	WNW	NE	P.M. PleatarU trade with fair weather	See Chart
2	4	4			throughout; strong south-east swell.	vm.
8	4	4	WSW
4	6	6

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Lc« of the H. G. S. William

Log "f the WiUiam

MMting ttu*tuim

Hour. K. F. CoDraei. Wind*.

8W Wa E byN WhjS

Tliundiy, March 16, ISW.

n GompKiijr wiih the Williun Pitt.)

Friday, Uiteh IT, 1809.

First and middle parts, frwh bgeww Biid pleuanc weather I latUrlf fmkmii»t' with a cpry conftiied iirM.

wsw

WIN

WSW

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

201

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. William Pitt — concluded.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds. ,	Remarks.
P.M.		1	Saturday, March 18, 1809.
'4	0	0	upWSW	NW	If r w
0	0	offSW
6	2 ;0	SE
7	2 0	NNW
8	2 !o	NWbN
9	2	4
10	2	4
11	2	4	NW
12	2	4	NWbW
▲.M.					Lat. 66° 6'.
1	3	0	WNW
2	3 4
3	3 4
4	3 4
5	3 4	WbyN
6	3 6
7	8 4
8	8 4
9	3 4
10	8 4
15}	0 0	upWbS
0 0 1	^ffWbN
Extract from the Log of the	H.C.S. Harriet, Captain W. Lynch,
towards En^	rland.-^In Nautical Titne,
Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds	Remarks.
P.M.					Monday, March 13, 1809.
1	7	4	WbyS	SEbyS	P.M. UHzy; fresh galea and a heavy
2	7	4			sea ; pumped ship every watch ; most
8	7	4			water 12 inches^
4	6	0
6	6	0
6	6	4			•
7	6	0
8	6	0
9	6	4
10	6	4
11	6	0
12	6	0			Noon. Fleet in company, and Euphrates and Northumberland well up towards
▲.M.					noon.
1	6	0	WbyS	SEbyS
2	6	4	!
3	6	4
4	6	0
6	6	0
6	6	0
7	6	0

CHAP. VI.

Log of the

William

Pitt.

Log of the Harriet

202

THE CULLODEN's STORM. ^

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Harriet.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Harriet — aminmtd.

A.M.

8

9 10 11 12

P.M.

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

12

ik« M«

1

2

K. F. Coarsee.

5 5

6 6 G 6 6

6 6 6 5 7

Winds.

WbyS

Why 8

SEbyS

S£

WbyS

WbyS

upSW offWbS

■upSSW 'offSW

' upS offSSW

ditto upSSE offSbW

SE

SSE

SE

ESE

E

Remerke.

Monday, March 13, 1809.

A.M. At 10, brought* to, by sifiial ; at 10. 30, filled. Lat. observed, 22** 19^ S.

(Signed) ALEX. RAMSAY.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809. P.M. Cloudy, with tmall rata; ftwh gales durine the first and middla paru with squalls and rain, latter hlowiBg yiolently, and the sea rising.

During the a.m. $aw the Admind wmdk one mile, and Calcutta and Hugh la^is SE; weather very thiek, and emr ap- pearance of a yiolent gale ; pumped ahip

every half hour. No observation.

(Signed) JOHN JONES JAMBS.

Wednesday, Mareh 15, 1809. P.M. Thick mist; blowing witliovt in- termission till 4 A.M. most Tiolentljv

it moderated.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

203

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Harriet — continued.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
A.M.					Wednesday, March 15, 1809.
41			upSE oflfSbE	ENE	A.M. At 4, the pumps sucked for the
'	• •	• •		first time since 8 p.m.
6)				At 5, brought-to, finding it impossible
					to run; the ship labouring excessively,
					and the sea washing over all ; kept both
					pumps going, but from the immense
					quantity of water which got between decks down the hatchways could not keep
6	0	0
					her clear, and most part of the night we
					had two feet and two and a half in the
					well; all hands employed throughout
					the night at the pumps, and in attendmg
					the scuppers on the lower decks.
					At daylight, observed only the Euphrates in sight ; kept lying-to till 7 a.m., when no
7	0	0
8	6	0			other ship appearing bore up on a VV by S course, and made her signal to follow.
9	6	0			At 9, were joined by the William Pitt.
10	6	0			Towards noon the swell abating, and the
11	6	0			weather bearing the appearance of con- tinuing moderate.
12	6	0			No observation.
P.M.					(Signed) ALEX. RAMSAY.
Thursday, March 16, 1809.
1	6	0	WbyS	WbyN	P.M. Uazy; breeze steady; repairing
2 3	6 A	0 0			the ravages of the late gale.
o 4	6	4
6	6	0
6	6	0
7	7	0
8	6	4
9	7	0
10	6	0
11	6	0
12	6	0
A.M.
1 4	5 5	4 4	WbyS	WbyN
St 3	1/ 5	4
4	4	0
6	5	0
6	6	4
7	6	4
8	6	4
9	7	0	,
10	7	0	I
11	5	4
12	6	4			(Signed) JOHN JONES JAMES.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Harriet.

Hove- to.

and

thereby dropped out of the storm.

204

THE CULLODEN8 STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Har&ibt— coiicImM.

VI.

Remailw.

'	Hour.	K.			1
Log of the	F. Courses. Winds.
Harriet.
	P.M.
	1	6	4	WbyS
	2	6	4
	3	6	4
	4	6	4
	6	6	0
	6	6	0	1
	7	7	4
	8	7	4
	9	7	0
	10	6	0
	11	5	4
	12	5	4
	A.M.
	1	5	0 Whys
	2	6	0
	. 3	6	0
	4	4	0
	5	3	4
	6	3	4
	7	3	0
	8	2	Oi
	9	2	0
	10	2	0
	11	2	0
	12 PM.	2	0		1
	1		0 WbyS
	2		0	WNW
	3		0
	4			S W
	5
	6
	7			NNW
	8
	9	2	0
	10	2	0
	11	2	0
	12	2	0
	A.M.
	1	2	0
	2	2	0	NW
	3	2	0
	4	2	0	WNW
	6	2	0
	6	3	0	WbyN
	7	1 3	0
	8	3	4
	9	3	4
	10	3	4	■
■ 11	2	0
	1 12	2	0 1

Friday, March 17, 1809.

Saturday, March 18, 1800.

Noon. Lat. 26 9' S.

T..J- .1

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

205

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Euphrates, Captain Philip CHAP. Herbert, towards St. Helena. — In Nautical Time, ^-

Hour.	K.	F	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			Monday, March 13, 1809.
1	7	0	WbyS	SE	P.M. Strong breezes, squally through-
2	7	0			out; pumped ship twice in twenty-four
8	7	0			hours.
4	7	0			Lat. observed, 22° 18' 8.
5	7	0
6	7	0
7	6	4
8	6	4
9	7	0
10	7	0
11	7	0
12	7	0
▲.M.
1	6	4	WbyS	SE
2	6	4
8	7	0
4	7	0
5	7	0
6	7	0
7	6	0
8	6	0
9	6	0			(Signed) JOHN GILLESPIE.
10 11	3	0	Hove- to
5	0			Tuesday, March 14, 1809.
12	7	0			Hazy, with frequent squalls and rain ; carried away the foot-rope of the fore-
P.M.					tops lil.
1		0	WbyS	SSE	P.M. First and middle parts thick hazy
2		0			weather, with frequent hard soualls, latter increasing to a heavy gale with hard rain.
8		0
4		0			the ship labouring much ; shipped a great
6		0			deal of water.
6		0
7		0
8		0
9		0
10	6	4
11	6	0
12	6	0
A.M. I	6	4	WbyS	SSE	A.M Handed the fore and mizen-top-
2		0	*		sails and lowered the gaff and top- gallant-
8		0			yards ; pumped the ship evt- ry two hours ;
4		0			no ships in sight.
6		0
6		0			No observation.
7		0
8		0
9		0
10	6	0
11	6	0
12	6	0			(Signed) GEORGE NORRIS.

Log of the Euphrates.

206

THE CUIJX>D£N8 STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Eophratet.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Euphratks — ctmimmd.

All leefs out.

P M.

1

2 3 4

K.

4 5 4 3

5 6 7

8 ' 9 10

12/

A.M.

I]

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2

3 4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2

3 4 5 6

7

8

9

10 11 12

2 2 2 2 2 2

2

2

2 4 4 4

5 5 5

4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 5 6

6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 f)

F. Counet.

Winds.

4

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2

4

4

4

,4

4

14 !4 |4

4

:4 4

8W

ssw

10 w

up 8 oflfSW

ditto

W ioW8\V

Wby8

SSE

SSE

ESE

WSW

WbyS

WbyS

E

Remarkt.

Wednesday, March 16, 1809.

P.M. A hard gale with heary aquilk and rain ; atruok the fore and main top-gaUant- masu and ^ot the jib-boom in. I/mingthe gale the ship laboured much k made a great deal of water in her upper worka ; ahiracda great quantity down ner hatehwaja ; kepi the pumpe constantly going and halonc the water from the middle deck with hodLeia.

At 5, one of the long 12-potmdtri broke adrift, which we were obliged to heave overboard, and seTcral empty watef-bstti.

At 8, split the foresail.

Midnight. 8plit the mainsail

A.M. At 1, under bare polea, with squalls and tremendous high Bent the bt. foresail.

Noon. In company with the WUBmi Pitt and Harriet ; the Admiral not in aight. Lat. obserred, 23^ 66' 8.

(Signed) JOHN OILLBSPIB.

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

P.M. Moderate breesea, moMlj elev^ a very heavy swell, and the ah^ lollfaig much ; out reef in the fore and a sail ; drying some sails ; oat all the main-topsail.

Lat. observed, 25^ 4'.

(Signed) GEORGE NORRIS.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

207

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Euphrates — concluded. CHAP. VI.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

A.M.

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

K.

P.M.

1

2

5}

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.X.

1

2 8 4 6 6 7 8 9 10

12}

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 6 7 6

7 7 7 7 6 6 6 3 3 2 1 1

1 1

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

4

4

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Courses.

WbyS

Winds.

ENE

WbyS

W

SW"

sw

upWSW

offSW

ESE

SSW NWiN

NbyE NWbW

NE

.VE by N

Remarks.

Friday, March 17» 1809. P.M. At 8, increasing breeze and cloudy.

Log of the Eupbraten.

Meeting the storm when re- curving.

SW

upWbS

offWxVw;

A.M. At 3, strong breeze.

At 10, increased to a gale.

General Remark. First part a moderate breeze* and fair; middle, strong breezes ; and latter, strong gale with much sea. Lat 26° 21'

* (Signed) JOHN GILLESPIE.

Saturday, March 18, 1809.

P.M. Hazy, with rain ; lying- to for the Commodore.

First part a fresh breeze; latter part squalls from the S W.

Lat. observed, 26° 7'.

(Signed) GEORGE NORRIS.

208

THE CULLODEN S STORM.

CHAP. VI.

The following are the logs of the Northumberland, Indus, and Sovereign, which were the next ships to get out of the storm after the Huddart, William Pitt, Harriet, and Euphrates, and near the border of the storm.

Log of the Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Northumbsrlano, berland. ' Captain John Rohertson Franklin. — In Nautical Time.

	Hour	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
	P.M.		1 1 !		Monday. March 13, 1809.
See Chart	1	6	6 WbyS	EbyS	P.M. A »tron« breeie, with hard aqvaDt
VIII.	2	6	6		and rain throughout.
	3	6	6
	4	6	6
	6	6	0
	6	6	0
	7	6	01
	8	6	0
	9	7	0
	10	7	0
	11	6	4
	12	6	4
	A.M.
	1	6	4	WbyS	EbyS
	2	7	0
	3	7	0
	4	7	0
	5	7	0
	6	6	4
	7	6	4
	8	6	4
	9	6	4
	10	7	0
	11	7	0
	12	7	0			Lat. obserred, 22'' 16' 8.» long. W ST.
	P.M.					(Signed) H. KKMFT.
	Tuesday, Mirch 14, 1809.
	1	7	0	WbyS	EbyS	P M. First part, a strong breeae* widi
	2	7	0			frequent hard squalls and rain ; middW
	3	7	0			part, gale increasing ; latter part, blowing a hard gale, with violent haitl sqnalla ana
	4	7	0
	5	7	4			constant rain.
	6	7 !4
	7	7 '0
	8	7 '0			reefed the topsails.
	9	7 .0
	10	7 2			No observation.
	11	7 ;4		1
	12	7	6		1 1

._ A

THE CULLODENS STORM.

209

Extract from the Log of H. C. S. Northumberland — continued. CHAP.

VI.

Hour.	K.	F.	Ck)ar8e8.	Winds.	Kemarks.
A.M.				Tuesday, March 14, 1809.
1	7		W byS	EbyS
2	7
3	6
4	5
5	6
6	6
7	6
8	5
9	6	0
10	5	0
11	6	0
12	6	0			Lat. 22« 49' S, long. 62° 49'.
P.M.					(Signed) HENRY J. OLIVER.
Wednesday, March 16, 1809.
1		0	WbyS	ESE	P.M. A strong gale till 10, with constant
2		0			rain and very severe squalls ; middle more
8		0			moderate ; latter quite moderate, and the
4		0			sea going down fast.
5		0			At 5, thinking it not prudent to continue
6					under sail, brought-to under the mizen- stay-sail, the gale increasing and the sea
7	0	0	upS offSSW	ESE
8				getting very high.
®i					Durine the gale, washed away the side of both lower quarter-galleries.
n	0	0	ditto
I2)					Noon. Up top- gallant-masts.
A.M.
0	0	upS offSSE
3) 4
6)	0	0	ditto		At daylight, only the Lord Eldon in sight ; it being moderate, made the signal
7	5	0
8	6	0			53, and bore up.
9	6	4			Pumped the ship every watch during the
10	6	4			gale.
11	6	4			Lat. observed, 23° 48^ S, long. 61° 40'.
12 P.M.	6	4			(Signed) H. E:EMP.
Thursday, March 16, 1809.
1	6	0	WbyS	EbyN	P.M. A moderate decreasing breeze
S	6	0			throughout, with hazy weather; water
8	6	0			getting smooth.
4	6	0
6	5	4
6	5	4		Bent great storm mizen-staysail.
7	5	0		Crossed top-gallant-masts, shifted the
8	5	0		mainsail with the new one, ditto fore-
9	5	0		top maa t-stay sail, and fore-top-gallant-sail
10	5	0		with ditto.
11	5	0
12	6	0

Log of the Northum- berland.

Hove- to.

Bore up.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

CHAP. Extract from the I.ogof H.C.S. Nortbtihbkrland — eoMlumed.

Log ol (he North um-

Approtch- ■Run.

Wind •wellSW.

Thundif, Harch IS, 1809.

A.M. Emplojed diyingwet Mit*. lie. Pumpnlahip, cleren mohM.

Fndny. MiTch 17, IS09. P.U, First part, A modersU brMoa.b- treuing : middle, blawing Ir«*h, with

Xalii ; Utterly, ■ hree »c» K«ni*V <»■ ch mUie* the ship plunge mep. Pumped ship, elcTcii inclie*.

Piiinped ihip. eleven inchn.

tluw ntft In company with the Lord EldoB, Pumped *hip, eleren inehes.

ti^iutday. MaralilB.]Uft.

I P.M. In thtllr*tpan,Rn '

rrom the N. a Fwy hravy ^,

S W ; lattetl]-, a freah biera* from lb* B ard cloudy trcathpr.

I Close-rMfed and handed fore-i

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Extract from the Log of H.C.S, Northumberland — continued. CHAP,

Hour.	K.	F.	Coureee.	Winda.
p.Ji. 10 11 ts	3 2 3	4 4 4	NNE BEbyS	KW	Saturday, March 18, 1809. standing tu the Bouthwaid ; aupposius them Xa be psit of our fleet, bote up and ing officer Bpoke them at midnight ; they prored lo be the Indus and SoTCreign ; made the signal to wear.
*""■	2 2 3 3				A.M. Shaped and cleansed ship below.
3 4		WNW	SWbS Out third reefs. 1
S 6 7	3 I				Pumped »hip. eleven inches.
8 9 10 11 13	4 6 S G G	4	W by N		Out second reeft. In company with the Lord Eld on, SoTe- rti^n, and Indus. Lat.(byindiff.ob..)26''45'S,long.6r4J'.
					(Signed) H. J. OLIVER.
Sunday, March 19, 1809.
l" 2	e 7	6 ' W by N	SSW	P.M. A fresh breeip. with squalls and rain in the first part; Utter, moderate.
	e 6 e e 6		....	SbyE	Signal to stiver W.
10 11 12	a ;o B 0 e 0 ■
	6 ,0|WbyN e 4- 6 0 4 h 4 ,4'	SbyE A.M. The Sovctcijfii informrd ui thai, having linked and laboured 60 much duiing tliP gnlc, ilie »bb under the nctei- sitj- of throwing ovciboard anllpctre.
		At diiyliftht, the Lird Eldon and Indus just in sight, astern ; shortened sail.
10	i'i'
12	0 0			Niian. Woreandstoodtowardstbelndus. Lot. cbactred, 2G^ 2' S. (Signed) H. KEMP.

Log of the Northum- berlaud.

212

THE CULLODEN8 STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Loe of H. C. S. Nortbviibkri:.ani> — eonliiuKi.

VI. ^

Log of the Northum- berland.

Hour.

K.

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. I

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10 11 12

A.M.

F.

3

1

2

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

2

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 I 1 1

1	1
2	2
3	3
4	3
6	2
6	2
7	2
8	2
9	2
10	2
11	3
12	2

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

6

Courses.

£ W

Winds.

SSE

Bemaiks*

W

Monday, Mareh 20, 1809.

P.M. First and middle parts modcnte ; latter, little wind and fine weather.

At 3, the Indus made the signal to speak, and informed us she laboiured so much during the night and was unable to carry sail, and imofer the necessity to throw overboard saltpetre.

S

NNW

A.M. Outallreeis.

Bore up to join the Indus.

Lat. obsenred, 25'* 61' S.

(Signed) H. J. OUVER.

Tuesday, March 21, 1809.

SW

6' SSW

6

0

6

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

213

Extract irom the Loir of H. C. S. Northumberland — continued. CHAP,

* VI.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	'V^nds.	Remarks.
pji.			Wednesday, March 22, 1809.
I		4	S8W.
2		0
8		0
4		4
6		0
6		4
7		0
8		0
9	2	0	WbyS
10	2	0
11	2	0
12	2	0
A.X.
1	2	0	WbyS
2	2	0
8	2	0
4	2	0
6	2	0
6	2	0
7	2	0
8	2	0
9	1	4
10	1	4
11	1	0
12	1	0
Thxirsday, March 23, 1809.
P.M.
1	1	0	WbyS
2	1	0
8	1	0
4	3	0	WSW
6	3	0
6	3	4
7	3	6
8	3	6		1
9	3	4
10	4	0
11	4	0
12	3	4
▲.M.
1	2	4	WSW
2	2	0
8	2	0
4	2	0
6	2	4
6	2	4
7		4
8		4
9		4
10		0
11		0
12		0		1

Log of the Northam*- berland.

214

THE CULLODEN 8 STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. C. S. Northumbkrland — eatUimied. VI. _^___

Log of the Northum- berland.

Meet! the Nercide ;

and the

Huddart,

Pitt,

Harriet,

fiuphrate*.

Hour.

F.M.

1

2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12

A.M. 1 2

3 4 6 6

n

8

9 10 11 12

I

J

P.M. I

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3 4

6

7

K.

2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 2

I 1 1 2 2 2

1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 I

F,

I ,4

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 4

0 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 1 0

Courses. Winds.

wsw

SSE

WbyS^S

SbyE

not entered

1

E N E Variable WbyN

Ebyxi

Remarka.

Friday, March 24, 1809. P.M. Throughout light hreeiea, with fine pleasant weather.

At 6, discorered six fail, bearing B 8 E, standing to the westward { made the tig- nal for ditto.

At daylight, two of them in aicfat from the deck, bearing EKE; made tne aifBal to make all possible sail, and hote>to to let the Sovereign come up.

Noon. Discovered the septal, Ko. 9, fly- ing from the headmost ship, and nuiclBg out several of the ships to be part of our fleet that separated on the l6th; and, perceiving one of them under JnrymaiB and mizen masts, stood towards them.

A.M. Lat. observed, 26^ 50" S.

(Signed) H. J. OLIVSR.

Saturday, March 26, 1809. P.M. Light winds and variahlt thiwigV

out.

At sunset, about five miles ftjQJt ^m

ships, made them out to be the 'WiOini

Pitt, Huddart, Harriet, Bunhr«t0i» end

I the American ; the crippled anq> aftiftte.

WbyS

Variable

At daylight, sent a boat on board ; she proved to be H.M. frigate La Nereide, kft

SOUTHERN HEHISPHEUE.

215

Extract from the Log of H. C. S. Northumberland — concluded, F.

Hour.

K.

▲.X.

8

9 10 11

12

1 1

1 0

Courses.

Winds.

Rcinarks.

W by S S S E

Saturday. March 25, 1809. the Cape on the 21(»t February, to cruise o£f the isle of France ; she lost her main and mizenmasts in a hard gale on the 16th, a little to the south and westward of our fleet. After the gale blowing most furiously from the S £ it left little windjbr half an houVt and then set m as violently from the N IV, which caused the heavy westerly swell we experienced on the 17th ; she is bound to False Bay to refit ; re- ceived the order of sailing from her. Lat. observed, 27° 6' S.

(Signed) H. KEMP.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Indus, Captain G. Wilden, towards St. Helena. — In Nautical Time.

Hour.	K.	F.
P.M.
1	6	0
2	6	2
8	7	0
4	7	0
6	6	6
6	6	6
7	7	0
8	7	0
9	6	4
10	7	0
11	7	0
12	7	0
▲.M.
1	6	4
2	6	4
3	6	4
4	6	4
6	6	6
6	6	6
7	6	6
8	6	4
9	6	4
10	6	4
11	6	4
12	6	4

I

Courses.! Winds.

Remarks.

WbyS

WbyS

SSE fair.

Monday, March 13, 1809.

P.M. Pumped ship; a squally trade throughout ; moderating towards noon.

People making robands for the new mainsail.

A.M. 1 to 4, squally and rain*

Course, S 76' W, distance 160 miles. Lat. observed, 22' 15' S, long. 6o' 23'.

(Signed) HENRY BEEHER.

CHAP. VL

Log of the Northum- berland.

Nereide crossed storm's centre.

Log of the Indus.

216

THE CULLODEN8 8TORM.

CHAP. VI.

Extract from the Log of the H. C« S. Indus — cantmued.

'

Log of Indas.

the

Lightened ship.

Hurri- cane

on the border of storm.

Hour.

P.M.

1

2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9

10

11 12

A.M. I

2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3 4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

K.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7

6

6 6

6 7 7 7 6 6 5

4

3 3 3

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2

F.

Courses.

WbvS

WNW

W

WbyS

Winds.

ESbyS

squally and rain.

W S W

SW

SbyW

ditto

SbyE

E

Remarks.

Tuesday, March 14, 1809.

P.M. At 3, squally; first and middle parts, a fresh trade, with frequent squalls and rain ; latter, increasing to a gale, with a Tery heaTV sea.

Pumped ship.

Handed the misen-topsaiL

At 10, the ship labouring Terj rnudi, hove overboard two 6- pounder guns, two kedge and one stream anchor, aM all the lumber of the forecastle, to ease the ahfp.

Pumped ship; Commodore not in ngnt.

A.M. At 6, set the main-topMiI, tent downtop-gallant-yards,ftstnick fhemti, close-reefed the fore and main topaaik.

Furled the fore- topsail and iwii>— n, and reefed the foresail ; in setting it, it apHti furled it ; got in the jib and driTer boo«M.

Three ships in sight.

The sea running very high, and "^^^Hf a fair breach over us.

Course, S 71*", W, distance, 14« mOet.

Lat. observed, 22*" 65', long. ^ ^.

(Signed) T. W. ALDHAM.

Wednesday, March 16, 1809.

P.M. Hie ship labouring so as seriously to endanger the ••••♦, having much water below decks.

At 4, hove overboard 300 bags of salt- petre, it then blowing a hurricane ; two ships in sight.

Heavy gale.

General Remarks.

First and middle parts, a fresh gals and rain at times; latter more modcfata; towards noon a pleasant breese. lliiae twenty-four hours the ship labooziaa much, shipped a great deal of water, and kept the bilge-pump eoing all night Pumped ship every two nours.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

217

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Indus — continued.

Hoar.	K	F.	Coursefl.	Winda.	Remarks.
A.M.			Wednesday, March 15, 1809.
1	2	4	SbyW	£	At daylight saw the Sorereign bearing ENE; at 10 a.m. joined her.
2	2	4			A.M. At 2, the yawl was washed away from the starboard quarter.
3	3	0
4	3	0			Set the fore and mizen topsails close-
6	3	0			reefed, and foresail.
6	3	4	WbyN
7		4
8		4
9		0
10		0	W
11		4
12		0			Noon. Out third and fourth reefs of fore and main -topsails. Course, S W 74', distance 74 miles. Lat. observed, 23° 37', long. 62° 12'.
P.M.					(Signed) H. BEEHER.
Thursday, March 16, 1809*
1	4	6	WNW	NEbyE	P.M. Cloudy; a pleasant breeze and
2	5	0			fine weather throughout.
3	6	4
4	6	6
6	6	4
6	6	4	W§S
7	5	0	^		Pumped ship.
8	5	0	w
9	6	2			Found the rigging very much damaged,
10	6	4			and the sails in the sail-room wet.
11	5	4
12	5	4
A. Iff					A.M. ChU all reefi of topsails, and fidded
1	5	4			top- gallant-masts ; loosed cUl sails to dry.
2	6	4
3 4	6 5	4 4			Swayed up the top-gallant-yards, and out all reefs clear.
		4
6	5	7 4			The Sovereign in company.
7	5	4
8	6	4
9	6	0
10	6	4
11	6	4
12	6	4			Course, W 74° S, distance 133 miles. Lat. observed, 24° 4' S, long. 69® 60'. (Signed) T. W. ALDHAM.
Friday, March 17, 1809.
P.M.
1		0	Wis	ENE	P.M. Moderate and fair.
2		0
3		0
4		0

CHAP. VI.

Loff of the Inclus.

Loosed sails.

218

TUB CULLODEN S STOllM.

CHAP. VI.

Loe of the

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Indus — coniimued.

JLiOg ot Indui.

Meeting the storm recurring.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.H.				Fnday, March 17, 1809.
5	6 Oi W48 1	ENE
6	5	0; 1	j Ijghtning in the N W.
7	5	0
8	5	0			In first reefs of topsails.
9	5	0			Pumped ship.
10	5	2
11	5	4		First part, moderate and fair; middle.
12	5	4		cloudy, with light passing clouds and Tari- able ; latter, a fresh breeze, wiih a N W •well. The ship labouring much, rolling
A.M.				of water uiroughout.
1	5	4	WbyS	Variable A.M. Cloudy, and small rain.
2	5	6
3	6	0
4	5	6	WSW	ditto
5	5	4
6	5	4	SWbW
7	5	4			Pumped ship.
8	5	4
9	6	4
10	5	4
11	5	4		WNW
12	5	2			Course, S W, distance 128 nules. Lat. obsenred, 26° 29" S, long. bV W. (Signed) H.BEEHER.
P.M.
Saturday, March 18, 1809.
1	3	4	SW	Variable
2	3	4			P.M. Cloudy.
3	3	0	SSW
4	3	0			Pumped ship.
5 6 7	3 n	0	SbyW
3 2	0 0			In $eeond and third r0e/t of fore-top«il.
8	2	0			and two ditto main.
9	2	0
10	2	0			Saw two strange saiL
11	• 2	0			First and middle parts, a moderate biem
10	2	0			and variable ; latter, pleasant fareeM^ witk
▲.M.					passing showers.
1	2	0	XWbN		A.M. At 1, ioined company the H.C. ships Northumberland and Lord Sldoo.
2	2	4	NNW
3		0	WNW
4		4			First part, a heavy swell, th« ship
5		0			labouring very much.
6		0
7		0
8		0
9	4	0			Course, S 66'' W, distance 76 miles.
10		0			Lit. observed, 26** 43' S.
11	1	0
12	4	0	\V by N		(Signed) T. W. ALDHAM.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

219

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Indus — concluded, F

Hour. K.

P.M.

I 2 3 4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1 2

3 4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

6 6 6 6 3 3

f

Courses.. Winds.

Remarks.

4 4

3 3 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4 4

4

i

4 4

4 6

WNW SW

WbyN

W WbyN

Sunday, March 19, 1809. P.M. First and middle part, fresh breeze and squalls, with rain ; latter, a pleasant breeze and fine weather, very heavy swell.

W

Course, S 81° W, distance 105 miles. Lat. observed, 26** S, long. 67° 63'.

(Signed) H. BEEHER.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Sovereign, Captain Alexander Campbell, towards St. Helena. — In Nautical Time,

Hour.	K.
P.M.
1	6
2	7
3	6
4	6
6	6
6	6
7	6
8	6
9	7
10	7
11	7
12	7

! F. Courses.

WbyS

Winds.

SSE

Remarks.

Monday, March 13, 1809. P.M. Fresh trade, with frequent squalls and rain throughout.

Close- reefed main- topsail.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Indus.

Storm moving towards SE.

Log of tho Sovereign,

220

THE CULLODEN S 8TORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Sovereign.

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Sovereign — coniumei.

Hour.

A.M. I

2

a

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

K.

7 7 7 7 6 6 7 7 6 4 6 7

F.

7 7 7 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 3

3 0

Courses.

Winds.

W by S

SSE

W by S S by E

SE

Remarks.

Mondsy, March 13, 1809.

A.M. At 1, shifted the fore-topmast stay- sail, with a new one ; sailmakcr repairing the fore-topmast staysail that was split.

Pumped ship every four houit.

Lat observed, 22"" 18' 8.

(Signed) JOHN FREEMAN.

part, rain;

Tuesday, March 14, 1809.

P.M. First and middle parts, breezes, with squalls and rain { latter a fresh gale, with hard squalls aad ship rolling very much, and ahioped a great deal of water over all and tnnMi^ Uie ports, her top side workinff very miiu. Out fourth reef main-topaaiC Struck mizen top-ga]lant-maat« mainsail.

Squally and rain; cloae-rMfed topsail.

A.M. Admiral burnt a Uue lig^t; handed mainsaiL

Squally, with rain ; reefed the rnffnall

Handed the fore-topsail.

At 10, a heavy sea struck the larboud quarter- gallery and stove it in ; got it se- cured before much water sot in; down top-gallant-yards, and struck the masts.

Pumped ship every hour during the last twenty-four hours ; latterly, constantly at the pumps.

Noon. Only three ships in sight.

No observation.

(Signed) N. BENT.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Soveksign — continued.

Honr. K. F. Cooraea. Winds.

Wednesduj, Uuch Ifi, 1809.

P.M. Hard gslei, with rain in Uie fitet

~ [oiddle parls; lallir, more moderatt

washed nway the waist bulwarks; making B great deal of water ; handB constaolly ar the pumps ; a great deal of water on thi

L W8W

I WbjS

Noon. In cocapan; with the Indus. Lat. observed, 23° £4' S.

(Signed) JOHN FHEEMAN,

1 NWbW

2

1 WNW

Thursday, March 16, 1S09. P.M. Pleasant breezes and fair weather throughout; got the Jib-boora out ani (he jib.

A.M. Swayed the top-gftUanl-maala n end, and crosied the yards ; out reef of foresail, and third and fourth reef main and fourth ditto fore topsails; tet the mairuail, and looted tmail laile to dry. Fumped ahip STer)' half hour.

222

THE CULLODENS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Sovereign.

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Sovereign — comtiimea.

Meeting the storm recurring.

A.M.

6

7

8

9

10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3 4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M.

1

2

K. F.' Courses.

6 5

4 5 6 6 6

6 6 .5 5 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6

8	5
4	6
6	6
6	5
7	4
8	5
9	6
10	6
11	6
12	6
P.M.
1	4
2	3
3	3
4	3
6	3
6	3
7	2

w

W| s

S W b w

sw

sw ssw

NE

WbyN

Cloudy.

RemarkB.

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

Lat. observed, 24** 7' 8.

(Signed) N. BENT.

Friday, March 17, 1809.

P.M. Moderate breese and doudj

ther, with a heavy head sea; on Mp^^^^^**^ pitching bowsprit and spritaail-ywd in« 'r^'r*4' i got the jib-boom and apritaail-yard in ; ^14^'^^ hands constantly at the pumpa; iinmdnp^s^**^ the water gaining on the pumps ; cam* to j the determination (br the aoTiee of my officers and petty officers) of throwing overboard some dead weight from foKwaid ; employed clearing away to the aaltpttie ; threw overboard sixty bags ; infoimed tlie Indus per telegraph that we oonld BoC carry sail on that account.

In third reef main-topaail, and reeisd Hit foresail.

A.M. At 2, close-reefed fore-topeaiL

Out fourth reef fore and third ditio

main topsail.

Lat. observed, 25° SO' 8.

(Signed) JOHN FREEMAN* ! A. CAMPBELL.

Saturday, March 18, 1809. P.M. Moderate breezes, cloudy weather, ! viith a very heavy head sea.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

223

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Sovereign — concluded.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds. , Remarks.
P.M.				1 Saturday, March 18, 1809.
8	2	4	S	W byN
9	2	0
10	2 0
11	2 ,0
12	2 0		Spoke the Northumberland, and m com- pany with the Lord Eldon.
▲.M.
1	3	0		1
2	3		wsw
8	3
4	3
6	3		w
^ 6	3
* 7	3	.	WNW
8	4	0
9	6	0	W by N
10	6	0
11	6	0		t
12	6	0		1 i	No obsenration. Lat. on the 19th at noon, 25° 59' S. (Signed) N. BENT.

The two next logs are those of the East India Com- pany's ships Sir William Bensley and Earl St. Vincent, the two ships which scudded until they came near the centre of the storm on the 17th, when the one lay-to for twenty-one hours, and the other for thirteen.

Extract from the Log of the H. C. S. Sir William Bensley^ Captain G. Hooper. — In Nautical Time,

Hour	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.
P.M.
1	6	0	WbyS	SSE
2	6	0
3	5	4
4	5	0
6	5	0
6	5	0
7	5	2
8	5	4
9	6	0

Remarks.

Monday, March 13, 1809.

P.M. Hazy and rain; fresh trade and squally ; swell from S E.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the SoTereign.

Jjog of the SirWil- liam Bensley.

SOUTHERN UEHISPUEBB. Extract from tbe Log of the H. C. S. Si r Wu. BmntLKY-^cmUiMBed.

Hour, K F. CouTMS. Winds,

Mondi?. Utrch IS, 1S09.

Lat. 2r 19' S, long. GS* *V B. TuMdi;, March 14, 1S09.

er, hard galea and hetrj •qnaDi;

Noon. Not » ihip In tight, the mi

L»l. 22" <6''9, long. 03° «• E. 'No obserratiaii.

W«dne«dB]r, Uaich Ifi, 1800. P.M. Ilcny ■qualia; Ihick rain.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

225

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Sir Wm. Bensley — contimied. CHAP.

VI.

Hour.

}

P M.

6 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 8

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

▲.M. 1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

K.

5 5

4 4 4 4

4

4 4

4 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 6

5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

F.

Courses.

Winds.

wsw

wsw

SB

• • •

SE

Bemarks.

Wednesday, March Id, 1809. Heavy gales.

• ^ • •

Violent squalls.

I A.M. Ditto,

Log of the Sir William Benaley,

WSW

EbyN

More moderate.

Set the fore-topsail, and bent ihe fore- sail. Set the mizen-topsail. Lat. 24** 26' S, long. 60° 30' E.

Thursday, March 16, 1809.

P.M. Fresh gales and cloudy weather in the first part ; middle and latter, a con- fused and heavy swell.

Storm recurring.

WSW

EbyN

Noon. No ship in sight. Lat. 25'' 59' S, long. 58° 10' E.

Log of the Sir WlUUm Bendejr.

THE CULLODEN S STORM. ' Extract from thehog of the H.C.S. Sia Wh. Bknblby — ctrnthmed.

Hour. K. F. Counea. Winds.

WbjS

SrbyS

< wsw

off 8W

Uidnigbt. Hard tqnalli tnd n

NNW A.M. L;mg-to, under ban polca. N W H«>TT hard tqnalla.

I SbyW

off

SbyE

awUs

oSS

Middle and latter, hcBTj galea, with a high kb; obliged lo throw twdva gon* OTerboord.

No obaerration.

1^1. 30° 12' S, long. £6° SC B.

Set Ite reefed mainiail. Fint part, etrong galei ; latter part, moderat«. No abip in eight.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

227

Extra	Ctfr<	)mtheLc	»gofthe	H.C.S. Sir Wm. Bensley — concluded	. CHAP.
	VI.
Hour.	K. ]	P. Counes.	Winds.	Remarks.
Log of
				•	the Sir
					William
P.M.				Sunday, M&rch 19, 1809.	Bensley.
1	\	4 WbyS	SW
2	1 4	i
3	1 {	3
4	1 (	5
5	1 1	S
6	1 (	5
7	1 (	5
8	1 (	3
9	1 <	5 W4S
10	X 4	1
11	\ i	1
12	\ i	i
A.M.					•
1	2 (	) WiS	SW
2	2 (	)
3	2 (	)
4	2 (	)
6	1 (	)		•
6	1 (	J
7	1 (	J
8	1 (	>		(This ship seems to hare been separated
9	1 (	i WbyS		from the fleet, and saw no vessel till she
10	1 e	J		rounded the Cape of Good Hope.)
11	1 e	1 WbyN
12	1 c	;		Latitude observed, 27** 24' S.
Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Earl St. Vincent, Captain	Log of the
John Brook Sampson, towards England. — In Nautical THme,	Earl St. Vincent.
^our.	K.I	'. Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.				Monday, March 13, 1809.
1	7 C	> WbyS	S£	P.M. Cloudy; throughout a strong
2	7 C	I '		trade, with frequent squalls and rain ; a
3	6 6			swell from the south-east.
4	6 6	1
6	6 t	►
6	6 0	1
7	6 0
8	6 0				,
9	6 6
10	7 0
11	7 6
12	7 0
A.M.
1	7 4			A.M. Hard squalls and rains.
2	7 6
3	7 0
4	7 0

q2

THE CVLLODEN B STORM.

CHAP. Extract firom the Log of the H.C.S. E^mi. St. Vimc«i*t— ewrttorf.

Log of til*

TiUMnt.

W8W WSW

HondBj, Much 13, IBM.

L»t. ob»etTed, 21° 18' S.

(Signed) ROBERT BROOKS.

Tuesday, Hmh 14, )809. P.M. SquHUiBnd nln; fintindmlMI* puu, ■ fiesh trade : Utterly, hud |*lc. vsriabie at S nnd RE, wiih cqualls, nin, uid B high wo, lerr thick tlu latter put of the twenty-four houn.

Down top-gallant- yards.

Unnded lbre-to;«ail.

Split mam-iopiai] : iMttl^toTlluSMl

No obterfstion.

(Signtd) 3. aViOL

Wedneiilay, March 16, ISOO. P.M. Throughout atrong gala, tritfc jGTere squalla and rain, a Tcry high ant* leo, ship making aix inches watv pH hour, owin^ to her shipping many mm; pumped ihip twice eTcry watch.

Carried away the tiUer-rope;

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

229

Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Earl St. Vincent — contmued, CHAP.

^ VI.

A.1C.

1

2 8

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2 3

4 6

4 4 4 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 5

6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7

6	7
7	7
8	7
9	7
10	7
11	7
12	7
r.M.
1	7
2	7
3	7
4	7
6	7
6	6
7	5
8	3
9	3
10	3

6 6 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0

SW W

W

ESE

EbyN

W

ESE

Remarks.

Wednesday, March 15, 1809.

A.M. At daylight no ships in sight; altered the course to west, suspecting the fleet to be to the north, as we had kept to the south durins the night to ease the snip ; under a fore and reefed main- staysail these twenty- four hours.

More moderate.

Rain and squalls.

No ships in sight.

Moderate.

Lat. observed, 24** 19' S.

(Signed) ROBERT BROOKS.

Log of the Earl St. Vincent.

Thursday, March 16, 1809. P.M. Fresh wind throughout, and cloudy, with showers in the first and middle parts ; latterly fair.

No ships in sight.

NEbvE

A.M. At 7, out two reefs in the mpin- topsail.

Lat. 26° 27', long. 68'^ 13'.

Friday, March 17, 1809. P.M. First part, strong breezes from the eastward ; middle and latter, strong gales from N E to N W, with severe squalls and heavy rain ; high cross sea ; put the ship under fore and main-stay tails.

THE CULLODEN 8 STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of the H.C.S. Eakl St. Vincent— nnchM.

oirwaw

SWbS SWb N opWNW

offSW

Dp SWb W

oiraaw

NWbN NWbN

WbjN WbyS

WbyS SWbM

Friday, MbtcI) 17, 1S09.

I,at. obterred, W B' 8, loDg. 67° 3*.

A.M. At daylight, uw a ttniiga Mil beuingWNW; made tba privM* rigii^ (tnnger pioTcd lo be ths Terpaichomw

IM. obaerred, 2S' 61'.

(Sl^ed) JAMBS OUMM.

Memorandum.— The St. Tineont bm the CuUuden again in Ut. 28" 37', u 1 r. >. OD the 38Ui Match. 1809.

The documeots explaining the Culloden's storm eod here. The next log is that of the ship Boyne ; and is placed here because the gale she experienced ia also marknl on Chart VIII.

THE BOYNES GALE.

231

Extract from the Log of the Ship Boyne, Captain William H. CHAP. Stockley^ from Bombay towards London^ and in the Mozam- bique Channel; in lat. 15*^ 24' S., long. 41° SO' E.— In Log of the Nautical Time. Boyne.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Bar.	rher.	Remarks.
P.M.				Sunday, Jan. 11, 1835.
1	4	0	SWJW	N	30.00	83	P.M. First part, decreasing
2	2	4					breeze from the N E ; middle
3	1	4					part, calm, with sgualls and
4	2	0	. .	NE			hard rain; light breeze and
6	0	0		Calm			squally from S W.
6	0	0	/
9	2	0	SbyE				Squally.
Midn.
▲.M.
3	1	0	S
4	1 4		WSW
5	1 0	SbyE SSE
8	2 1 0	sw
u	3 0	SbyE				Squally.
P.M.						Lat. 17° 8' S, long. 40^63' E.
	Monday, Jan. 12, 1835.
1	1 4	SSW	w	29.90	82	First part, thick, unsettled
6	2 '4	SSE				weather, with constant heavy
6	2 '4	^^ ^^ ^h^	sw			pqualls from the SW; middle
9	0 0	up SSE				and latter part, fresh gales
	1				from the southward and west-
Midn.	1	4	off SE				ward, with squalls and heavy
A.M.							rain, and a long swell from
2	1	4	NW				the southward. Taken aback in a hard squall ; at daylight, down royal yards.
6	1	4	NWbN				Bent the storm mizen, and
10	1	4	SbyW				set it.
12 P.M.	2	0	SWbyS				Lat. 17° 11' S, long. 41° 7' E.
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1835.
1	2	0	SSW	WbyN	29. 80		First part, blowing hard
2	2	0	SWbyS				from the SW, with heavy
						squalls and rain ; middle part,
							continual heavy rain, with
							vivid lightning and thunder.
							and Uie wind shifting all
				all round			round; latter part, variable wind, with thick, unsettled weather.
9	2	4	SWbW	Variable			Wind variable.
Midn.	2	0
A.M.
6	2	0	wsw	SSE
9	2	0	WbyS	Variable		Variable wind.
Noon			w	Variable	Wind variable.
					Lat. 17^=)4'S, long. iO'^lG'F.

Chart

vm.

232

THE BOYNE8 GALE.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Boyne.

Extract from the Log of the Ship Boynb ^eoMthmed.

P.M. 1

6 10

▲.M.

2 8

P.M. 1

Ididn.

A.M.

P.M.

K.

F.

6 2

2

2

P.M.

2 6 8

3didn.

A.M.

2

7

P.M.

I to

1

1

2

7

6

8

4

Courses.

SWbW

W8W

SWbW

W8W

8W

88W Head 8 W

to W8W

Head fr.

WSW

to

8W

Winds.

8SE

8by£

8E SSE

Head

WSW to

8W

8 SSE

8 SbyE

8£

Bar.

29.06

29.06

29.38

Ther.

29.07

N

ENE

4 0 SbEjEi E

29. 90

Ramaikt.

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 19Z5.

Unsettled weather* wilk squalls and hard rain.

Blowing hard, and tea get- ting up.

Blowing hard.

First part, Tariable, unsettled weather, and hard rain ; mid- die and lattea Ptft, Uoving heavy from the 8 8 B.

Lat. 18^ 20^ 8, long. 89° E.

Thursday, Jan. 16, 18S5.

Blowing a hard gale, with •qually weather and rain ; hard gales throughout from 8 8 E.

Ditto weather.

Lat 18^ 34', long. 88*.

Friday, Jan. 16, 1886.

Heayy gale from the 8 8 B, with heayy fl[usts at 8 a.m.; barometer still fidling, and from 9 to noon the sale ooBti- naed with increased Ibree; at 10 A.M. the main-topaail went. and left the ship under atoim mizen.

Lat. 19° 6' 8, long, sr ll'B.

Saturday, Jan. 17t 1836. Wind decreasing.

Li^ht breeie.

Wind increasing, and draw- ing to the N B.

Heavy gusts and hard rain.

First part, decreaainc gale; middle part, hard gab from the N E, with severe puatsand heavy rain, and a high erom sea ; ship labouring much.

Latter part, moderate breeas, and hazy.

Lat. 21° 10' S. long. 37* 4'E.

Sunday, Jan. 18, 1836.

Throughout, a fresh from the eastward ; and next day a steady trade at E 8 B.

Lat. 23^ 1 4' S, long. 3r 20' R

233

The Albion* s Hurricane, in November , 1808.

It is a prevailing opinion amongst seamen who na- chap. vigate the Indian seas, and it is stated in the minutes

of inquiry into the storms of 1808 and 1809, that hur- ^umw. ricanes are frequently avoided by ships steering on a course so as to keep well to the eastward of Mauritius. But the storm next to be described occurred in longi- tude ninety degrees east, about thirty degrees to the eastward of that island ; and by the log of the CuUoden the ships under her convoy in 1808 were in long. 80° E. when they felt the first indication of that hurricane which has been just detailed.

The fleet under convoy of H M.S. the Albion, 74 guns, consisted of nine ships belonging to the H. E. I. Company.

They sailed from Madras on October 5, 1808, had crossed the equator, and were in lat. 6° south, and long. 90^, when, on the 18th and 19th of November, they began to experience a heavy swell of the sea, and occasional squalls of wind. On the morning of the 20th the weather was much the same ; but in the afternoon it began to blow hard, and on the 21st it amounted to a very severe hurricane.

The ships under the Albion's convoy were as stated below : —

The Anne and Preston, most to the northward. The Ceylon and Tigris, nearest the Albion. The Phcenix and Diana, got most to the southward. The Glory, Lord Nelson, and the Experiment, foundered.

234 THE ALBION S HURRICANE OF 1808.

CHAP. This fleet was not very much dispersed, aod the

' ships were carried but a little way from where they first

hil^iStne. encountered the severe part of the storm. But, as I have not been able to determine their relative posi- tions, it has not been practicable to construct a chart ; and therefore the logs of the E. I. C/s ships have not been given in detail, but only extracts taken from them as here inserted.

The log of the Albion will be given here ; and there is this remarkable difierence between the storm now detailed, and those which have been hitherto traced, that the wind not only made the complete circle, but something more.

The ships Anne and Preston appear to have felt the storm less than the others of the fleet. The Anne had sprung her bowsprit, and had fallen astern ; and the Preston was near her. In the course of the afternoon of the 21st all the other ships experienced a lull in the midst of the storm, although at somewhat different periods of time ; but with all of them the wind on this afternoon veered very rapidly round the compass.

By the log of the Albion the gale began to moderate at 5 P.M. of the 21st. With the Ceylon it moderated at 2 P.M., but at 4 is reported ** to have recommenced as hard as ever."

The Phoenix reports it was almost calm at 5 P.M., when she set close-reefed mizen-topsail and loosed her foresail. Her log at this time records, " light winds and variable all round." Two hours afterwards she had split her mizen-topsail and handed her foresail.

With the Tigris the gale had moderated at 1 p.m. ; half an hour afterwards the wind died away suddenly altogether; but at 2, as expressed in the log, "came

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 235

on to blow if possible with greater violence than ever," chap.

and the ship had to lie-to under bare poles. The wind

had veered as with the other ships. * hunriSine.

In the Diana's log it is stated, " the gale broke at 1 P.M., continued to moderate till 5, and then came on as hard as ever," the wind veering round as stated by the other logs.

With the Diana and Phoenix (the ships most to the southward) the storm appears to have continued until the morning of the 23rd. With the Albion, and ships near her, the storm ended on the morning of the 22nd ; and the Preston and Anne did not feel it after the 21st.

The three missing ships were all seen on the after- Missing noon of the 2 1 st. The Lord Nelson was going fast wh^ last ahead of the Phoenix, with three or four reefs in her main-topsail, and her foresail in the brails. The fore and mizen top-gallant yards were down.

The Glory was seen at the same time a little astern ; and the commander of the Phoenix states in his evi- dence, that her topsails were double reefed, and her courses set, for she sailed very badly, and therefore had in general to carry much canvass.

The Experiment, at 2 p.m. of the same day, was seen to the eastward of the Phoenix, with her foresail and close-reefed main-topsail set, and her fore and mizen top-gallant masts down on the deck.

The violence of the wind in this hurricane appears to have been extreme. During its greatest fury the Diana and Phoenix are said to have been within a few inches of running foul of each other. With these two ships the gale appears to have been particularly severe on the 22nd, after it had left the other eight vessels.

236 THE Albion's hurricane of 1808.

CHAP. The log of the Diana states, "The noise of the

'- — wind resembled thunder, and on the afternoon of the

hurdame 22nd it was Still blowing a hurricane, with every gust apparently more violent than the last The water in the hold gradually increasing, the gun-deck forward from the main hatchway four feet deep in water." At 5 P.M. her commander, finding the gun-deck filling very fast, had to remove the ladies and children ; and for some hours they were every minute in expectation of the ship's sinking.

About this time a part of the upper fore-hatchway stove in with the weight of water above it« In this state of the ship, the commander ordered to cut away the foremast, which was with difficulty effected, from the exhausted state of the crew. At midnight the wind with this ship moderated considerably, at which time she must have been about a degree of latitude south of the Albion.

This storm does not appear to have been moving onward, at first, with the regular progression of those which have been traced on the charts; but seems more to have resembled the commencement of a whiri- wind, floating with irregular motion, as waterspoute do in calm weather ; yet, after it left the fleet, we see by the logs of the Diana and Phoenix that they felt the hurricane a considerable time after the other ships. By their observations they were to the southward; and if this storm, like that of the CuUoden, last described, had set the currents to the westward, these ships were probably south-west of the Albion; and, being yet within the influence of the storm, must have commenced a progress not dissimilar to others traced in south latitude.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Gxtract fiom the Li^ of H. M. S. Albion, Captain John Ferrier. CHAP. In Civil Time. ^•

Houi. K. F. ConraeK, Winds.

Lttt. S° 47' S, long. 89° 40' E

SbfE Sby W

P.M. Fiesh brecM and cloady. Set the mainaul and jib.

Moderate breezei and cloudy. Freih bieeie* and squally, with ti Squally ; down jib.

Yriday, November 18, 1808. A.M. Elcvim sail in aighl. Squally, with inin ; up mainiail. Cloudy 1 iqually, with nun.

Fresh breeze and cloudy.

Lat. r 33' 8, long. 89° 5V E

. 8byW

SbrE

S

SIE

W by S

wsw

Moderate breexet and cloudy.

238 THE Albion's hurricane of 1808.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Albion— con/mii^.

Uour.	K. _	F.	Couraci.	Wuid».
	2 2 2	0 2 6 4	8SE	".-r	A.M. SqukUy. At dajligbl, convoy io doie order.
	a 2 I 2	0
	2 2	4 0 0			Coune, S 20° E, dUtance 63 nulm. Lat.8^23'S.lonB.90°18'E.
	3 3 3	4 4 0	SiW sbVw	WbSJS W by S
	3 3 3	4 6 0	ME	VuiaWB
12	■i 4 3 3 4	6 6 0	SbrW SbyW	WbSiS WbyS WbrS	Moderate biceiei and clondyj dooble- reefed toiuoilB.
4	4	SbWJW
	4 4 4 4 3 a	0 0 0 0	8 SbyW	w	A.M. Fmh hrettei and aquilly i in third reef in the topwila.
	2		S
	2 2	0			Ut. 9= 41' S, long. 9fy sr K.
	2 a 2	0 4 4		w
h	a a 3 0	4 4 0 8	head fr.S toSSE	WbyS	Ficih gilet and rqu^W, with nin and a heavy swell ; iplit the lore-ittyaaU.
	0	0	up S fl- uff SSE		Coune. .S 23' K, dUlance B.> milea.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Extract from the Log of II. M. S. Albion — continued.

;i

12 J

NbyE

nn"e

thlp'thd fTom NE toENE

NEW NEbN

Monday, November 21, 1808.

A.M. Hard ^oles and iquiiU}', with

rain ; one hbiI in sight ; ■ very bird

squtill; hnukd down cbe itorm-atayiail ;

the ihip making much water.

At i, strong gales, with baid squalls and tain; all the pumps going.

TerylieBTj squalls, with rain; the fore- topniut Wew over the side by Ihe capi the moat in falling carried away the lar- board side of the lop.

Very heavy gales, with rain and hard gusts of reind.

■?.3o,ih6mBin-lopmiilblewoTcr the side.

9,30, the niiienmatt went by the board,

Theshippayed-off; aet the fore-iUys^

Began to throw ovGrbjardtbemiiin-deck

ftiiDs 1 tho flbip labouring Tery much, the mainaail blew from the yard, and a great part of the foresail ; the Tore-stayiail blew to pieces from ilie nclting in the bowsprit.

Course, 8 SS" E, dialonte 40 miles.

Lat. 10° e-S, long. yi°a3' E.

P.M. Thick weather, with heavy gales, aecompanied with hard gusts of wind and lain, and a grest sea, the latter blowing OTertLcthip: emplojcd « the pumps and throwing overboard the main-detk guns.

S b J W At 3, left off the latter duly, after having thrown o»orboatd 19, At3,30, an citieme Lard gust of wind. At 4, a heavy sea running; ship labouting very much. At fi, the gale began to moderate. At 8,

W N W fresh galea and ihtck weather.

Midnight. Moderate brecEes and thick

varisble from W to N and'

At daylight, saw the Ceylon.

Freah breeies and cloudy weather, with a great swell ; found the third main-chain plate on the slBihoard side, and the eighth fore one on the larhoard side, drawn i the baigo stove, by the fall of the main-top- gallants; the ahip working much on the upper, lower, and orlop decks; tlie hoop-

g butts, over tho ports, opened — '" *"

Ihe !■

: the 1

rway.,

. the

Log of tht Albion.

J~.U-.-i.l

THE Albion's hubricake of 1808.

Extract from the Log. of H .M. S. Albion — coMcUJed.

I

Hour.	K.	F.	Connei	Winda.
ii			hetdfr.	V.rittbU
	0	0	NNE	fr.WwN
	toNE	indNE
12
'l			>blp-ibd.	ditto
3 4	0	0	&omN toNE Atp'ihcl.
!	0		&.Nb.W
6)			toNb.E
7		0	haida
8		4	a	wsw
e		s
10 11		1 4	SJW	WbyS
12		4
l" 1	0	SiW	WbyS
2 1	0
		0
	i	J	s
	I
	2 i
10	2 2
12	'i'
r.M.	1
	1 2	S«E	WbyS
	1 0 1 0	SbyE 9b.ElE
	1 0
	1 4	SSE
	1 4	SbyE
	1 0
	1 0
	1 0
10	1 :0
11 l|0
12	1	0

-.■■■erul boll* brukc; tl oTeiboKd tweWe of Uivlowrr-deckpuu

L«t. 10° 31' ti, long. Sl° 13' E.

P.U. Hodenite bTMte* ; Caylon in com- puiy ; employed in cleuiog tbo wnd > towudf midnight light breora.

Wednesday. MoTcnber £3, ISM.

241

Mauritius Gales of 1811.

The next figure shows the relative positions of the chap. Astrsea and four other vessels of war, on the 5th and ^

6th of March, 1811, when the Astraea was in the har- Mauritiua

' ^ ' gales.

hour of Port Louis, Mauritius. All five vessels had fine weather on the morning of the 5th. a 60

EdipaeG Eclipse h

-0

20

We find by the logs which are here printed, that the Racehorse and Phoebe, which ships were most to the eastward, were the first to prepare for bad weather, and they began to do so between eight and ten in the forenoon. The Nisus, though she felt squalls, did not prepare until the afternoon, and the Astreea in the harbour had still " light airs" at noon.

It was night before the Eclipse felt it; and this ship, the furthest to the westward, did not strike her top- gallant-roasts until the morning of the 6th.

Thus these vessels are found feeling the storm in succession, as if it came from the eastward, moving

R

242

THE MAURITIUS GALES OF 1811.

CHAP, slowly to the west. The Racehorse and Eclipse were

'. — about 180 miles from each other; and, as twelve hours

^^^"* elapsed from the time when the former prepared for the gale and when the Eclipse split a topsail, we may infer the storm moved at the rate of about 15 miles an hour.

A ship called the Melville is mentioned in the Astraea's log ; and could the Melville's log be found it would tend to explain further the nature of this gale ; but the Melville was not one of the regular East India ships; for there is no record of such a vessel at the India House.

The Racehorse, the ship furthest to the north, seems to have been in the track of the centre of the gale, and between 4 and 5 o'clock p.m., on the 5th, to have been almost in the centre itself. The wind is reported to be then veering very fast ; and it would appear as if the Racehorse crossed the gale's central path. The courses and the wind, as stated in the log, are no doubt the magnetic bearings. The variation of the needle at Mauritius, as given in " Norie's Navigation,'* was 16^ 2(/ W., in the year 1789.

Log of the Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Racehorse, Captain

Raeehorae.

Fisher 5 kept by Lieut. J. B: TatoalL

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.
A.M.
1	2 6
2	3 0	EbyN
3	2 [2
4	I 6
5	2 0
6	4 0
7	4 2	SWbyS
8	3 6

Winds.

Remarks.

SEbyS

March 5, 1811. A.M. Moderate and fine.

At 7, fresh breeses and squally

8. 30, in main top- gall ant- sail and third

E..

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

243

Extract from the Loe of H. M. S. Racehorse — concluded. CHAP. VI.

Hour.

9 10 11 12

P.M.

1

2

3 4 6 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

{

A.M.

1}

2 8 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 11

12

P.M. 1

2

8

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

K.

8 3 3 3

4

2 1 3 8 11 1

0 0 0 0 0 0

F.

0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2

3 3 8 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 3

Counes.

Winds.

SWbySSEbyS SbyE EbyS

} EiS

EbNJN E

upSE

offESE

ENE

offSE

upSBbS offS

SbyE

SSW

NWbN

NWbN

SEbyS

SSE

SSE

EbyN

SEiE

Remarks.

March 5, 1811. reef of the topsails ; got the royal masts on deck and flying jib-boom in ; squally, with rain ; in third reef of boom-mainsail.

Noon. Ditto, weather.

Course, N 75^ E, distance 44 miles.

Lat. 19** 39' S, long. 68" 28' E.

Round Island, S 73'' W, 44 miles.

P.M. Fresh gales and squally weather, with heaTy rain.

At 1, down main top-eallant-yard and got main-topmast on deck ; got the sprit- sail-yard and jib-boom in ; sent the stud- ding-sail-booms on deck. At 2, increasing gales; in fore- topsail; set the fore-staysail and furled the square-mainsail ; reefed the trysail. At 4, stiong gales ; up foresail and furled it. At 5, the wind thified tuddenly round to ^A« N £, whicli caused the ship to labour ycry much. 5.10, in main- topsail ; got the main boom and gaff on deck. At 6, ditto weather, strong gales ; lyine-to under the reef-trysail and fore-staysail.

Midnight. Strong gales, with sudden squalls.

March 6, 1811. A.M. Strong gales, with heavy rain at times.

At 4, ditto, ditto.

More moderate ; set the main-trysail.

At 7, set the foresail; heavy squalls, with rain ; observed that three parts of the gammoning of the bowsprit were gone. 7.50, squally; up foresail. At 8, ditto weather; fresh gales, with heavy rain. 9.30, set the foresail.

Noon. More moderate, with drizzling rain.

Course, S 7"* 42' E, distance 18 miles.

Lat. 19° 52' S, long. 58° 42' E.

Round Island, N 83° W, 53 mUes.

P.M. Fresh breezes, with squalls and heavy rain.

1.30. Set the square majnsail ; got the main-boom and gaff shifted. At 4, mode- rate and clear weather. At 6, fresh breezes and clear weather. At 7, up mainsail and furled it ; squally, with heavy showers of rain. At 8, ditto weather.

Midnight. Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.

~ r2

Log of the Racehorse.

Lying-to.

244

THE MAURITIUS OALES OF 1811.

CHAP.	Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ph<bbb, Captain James
VI,	HiUyar ;	kept by Lieut. Kenelm Somerville.
Log of the
Phoebe.	Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks. i
	A.M.				March 6, 1811.
	1	3	0	SW	SE	A.M. Moderate and cloudy weather.
	2	2	4			8.30. In top-gallant-saila ; down jib.
	3	2	0			10 50. Squally ; up counea ; cloae reefed
	4	3	4			topsails.
	5	3	4
	6	3	0
	7	6	0	ENE
	8	6	6
	9	8	0
	10	7	0	NNE
	11	6	4
	12	5	4			Noon. Fresh winds and squally weather. Course, N 12^ E, distance 29 milae. Lat. 20** T 8, long. 68° 26^ E, Isle of Flamondo, N 68^ W, 88 ndlei.
	P.M.
	1	3	2	E	Tariable	P.M. Fresh breeaea aad equally, with
	2	3	0	NE	■	heavy rain.
	3	2	2	ENE	SE	1.40. Handed the topaaila; rcafod the
	4	2	4	NE by N		courses ; down top-gallant- yarda.
	6	3	4			5.30. Struck top-gallant-maata. Aft 6,
	6	3	4			squally, with rain ; got the top-gaUaat-
	7	3	0			masts on deck and in jib-boom ; ^lit the
	8	3	6			main staysail ; shifted it.
	9	3	4	NE	EbyN	w
	10 3	4
	11 3	4	NW	NEbyE
	12 1 3	0			Midnight. Strong galea and equally w«a>
	A.M.					ther.
	March 6, 1811.
	1	3	0	NW	ENE	A.M. Fresh breeaes and equally, with
	2	2	4		1	heary rain.
	3	2	4
	4	2	4	NJW		At 4, ditto weather.
6 3	0
6	3	0			G.30. Fresh breeaea and cloudy.
	7	3	0
	8	3	0	N
	9	3	4	SbE^E	E
	10	3 14
	11 1 3 14
	12 I 3 . 2		1	Noon. More moderate.
				1	lAit ir 43' S. lonff. 57° 51' E.
		i 1		i Round Island, S W by W | W. 10 milM. 1
	r.M. 1 1 1 3 >4 2 3 4	SSE	! 1 E 1 N P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy -wvatlMr.
	3 3 4		1 1	1
	4 1 4 ,0	N	1
	6 4	0	N W	1

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. Extract from tiie hog of H. M. S. Phcbbb — concluded.

345 CHAP.

Hour.	K.	F.	ConiwB.	Wind..	Reraulu.
V.H.		2 2	NW	EiN	Mwche, mil. At e, modctMO Mid Mjually weather.
8 9 to 11 13	1	NbyE	Variable	Ai S, ditto westher.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S, Nisus, Captain P. Beaver.
In CiuiV Time.
Hour.	K.	F.	Couraw.	Wind..	BewMk*.
r	3 2 2	6	SWbyS	SEbyS	March 5. 1811. A M. Moderate and cloudy.
3		sswiw
5 e 7 s •1	2 2 2 2 0		SWbjS SWiS SWbyS JNNE		At fi.30. .qusUy. At S, iiju.lly, with rain.
10	7 3		NEbrN awbyw
"1			|»E		Noon. Fre»hbrMie.&.qu.lly,»it]i run.
'■{	S		NE ENE	ESE	CourM, S 79 E^ diftance 12' W. Lat. 19° M' S. long, fiS" &'. Eound Uland, N 79° 12' W, 19 milm. P.M. FrEshbreeiesandBqnally. 12.M. clo.e-reefedihe topattil.; furled ditto,
2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10	1 1 I 1 1 1 2	0 * 0	EbyN EbyN ENE upENB offNE byN	8EbyS SEbyK	At 2. reefed the courses, hard aquall*. took in and set the storra-.taywiil., occB- iionaUy furled mainsaU. At a.*5, Blruck top. gall ant- niMW. At 4, hard .quails and rain. 5.i6, down main-Htiiy.Bil. At e, haiy weather and hard .qualU. 7.10, earned away (he atarboaid botokin. At 8, ditto weather.
12	2	0	NNE offNbW		Midnight. Freth gales and aquaUy i eon- atant rain.

246

THE MAURITIUS GALES OF 1811.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Nifus.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Nisvs — comAuM.

Hour.

K.

A.M.

1

2 3 4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M.

1

2 3 4 5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

F.

1

1 1 1 0

1 2 2 2 2 3 3

3 0

3 |0 2 0

2 1

3 2

Counes.

Winds.

N^E

NbyW

N

NbyE

upNNE

offNbW

NNE

ENE

E

NIE ENE NJW

N J W

1 16

2 10

ENE

2 2 1

upNoflf NbyW

N Variable NbWiW

NiW,

NbyE EbyN

Remark!.

March 6, 1811. A.M. Fresh galea and squally, withrain.

At 4, ditto breeses and squally, ditto.

At 8, ditto ditto ditto.

Noon. Ditto weather.

Lat 36° 8.

Round Island, S j W, 7 or 8

P.M. Fresh breezes and doady.

At 4.10, squally.

At 6, firesh breeses and sqnally.

Biidnight. Fresh breens and eloody.

Log of the Astnea.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. AsTRiSA, Captain C. M.

Schomberg. — In CivU TYmf .

Hour.	1 k.|f.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
A.M. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8	! • • ,.. .. 1.. 1 • • •	In Port Louis • • • • • • • •	Calm SE Variable	March 6, 1811. A.M. Clear, fine weather. Liffht airs and cloudy weather. Sailad, the Melrille, E.I.C. ship, for BengaL Light airs, with rain.
9 10 11 12	( • . • . 1 . • . . '.. '.. 1 1 • • • •

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

247

J	\SJLt	ra	ct from	the Log	of H. M. S. AsTRiBA — concluded.	C HAP. VI.
Hour.	0 K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
Log of the
						Astrssa.
P.M. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8	• •	• • • • • • • • • • • •	In Port Louis	SSE	March 5, 1811. P.M. Squally, with showers of rain.
9 10 11 12		• • • • • • • •	. . • •	Variable	Heavy squalls, with constant, heavy rain. Ditto weather.
A.M. 1 2 3 4 6 6 7	• • • • • « • •	• • • • • • • • • • • • • •	ditto	ditto	March 6. 1811. A.M. Heavy squalls, with constant, heavy rain ; got top-gallant mast on deck, and struck lower yards and topmasts; squally, with showers of rain ; got the sheet anchor over the side ready for letting go.
8 9 10 11 12 P.M. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	• • • •	• • • • • • • ♦ • • • • f • • • • • • • • • •			P.M. Squally, with showers of rain; got the stream cable out on the larboard bow ; one of the larboard cables broke ; got a new one from the dock- yard.
• • • •	• • • • • • • • • •			Ditto weather.
Extract from the Log of H.M. Brig Eclipse^ Captain W. Steed.— In Civil Time.	Log of the Eclipse.
Hour.	K.	P. 0 4 6 6	Courses. Winds.	Remarks.
1 2 3 4	4 3 3 3	SSW SbyW SJW ^ SbyW 1	SE Variable	March 5, 1811. A.M. Light breezes and cloudy.

THE HAtlRinUS OALE8 OP 1811.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Eclipse — amdnhd.

LoRof Uu Ecfipw.

Hour.	K.	F	Connei	Windi.	Rtrmariu.
A.M.	_				HsicliS. 1811.
M	3 1	0	BSE	V«mbU
6	2 3 3	2 0 0	SBbjE 3EbyE
		0	SEjE
	a	s	SE	VuiBble
	4	0	SEbfE		Coune. 3 Iff* fiS* E, dUUnoe 87 tnOtt. L»t. 20° 20' S, long. 5*" 4*' E. Port Loui.. N it-\* m reilM.
	5 s	a a	EbjSJS	SbyW	P.M. FfMh brwiei and cloudy.
	6 6	s 2			At 4, ditM weUfaer.
	6	0 0			At 6, tteth breeiei and iqatlly.
	2 3	"r	Variiible	At 8. dilto. dilto. 8. SO, tpUt Uu bn-
		4	B}8		topioU ; Mttea ditto, and Id Ibtit mbU oT
	3	2			the topRoiU.
	2	0 4	E EJS
Muchfl, IBU.
					tha fote-topssil, and itruck U^Ballattt matt; employed securing the booBi,
	1	2 0	EbyS
	2	s			furled Ihe boom mainuil.
		0	B		At 4, Btrong galea with T«ry hMTj
	2
^j	2	0 «	apBbN offNE
	1		byE upENE off		At B, ditto weather; re«fed the fercNa.
.1]	0	0 0		and handed the mam-lopaail; gotlbetop-
11	0			uie ipritsail yard on deck.
12)	c	0	NNE		Couree. S 62° B. diitance ST. Lat. 19" 48', long. 56° 48'. Port Loui*. 8 81* E. 58 mile..t
	0	0			P,M. FfMh gale, and anuaUy. with ndD at timei. 1. 30, aet the tore-atayMil ud rryaaU.
	1	0	upNEbN
	I	*	offjf		At 4, dilto weather.
	1	i	opNNK
	2	D	offN		At 6, ditto, with rain.
	2	0	BpNEbE
st	I	6 0	offNbW		At 8, ditto, ditto. Froth gale* ud cloudy.
			upNbE oftNbW
11 1 1	0			Noon. More ino<ierate.

* There appear* to be lome niatake here ; aupposod to maa NSff-lT'E. 164mLlc8. t Supposed to mean Port Louia, S 75' 8' K, 86 milea.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

249

The Astrsea sailed from Port Louis harbour on the chap.

VI.

15th of March, previous to which day, the Racehorse, — * —

Phoebe, and Eclipse had come in, and anchored in ^^^^ that port. The figure following will show the course of the Astraea, from her leaving the harbour until she met another gale more severe than the first one.

Rodriguez

•n

The figure is also intended to point out the course this second gale appeared to take.

The Astraea began to prepare for this second gale on the afternoon of the 18th ; and we find by the log, that she was lying-to from 7 o*clock on the evening of the 19th, until 8 o'clock on the evening of the 20th, or twenty-five hours ; the Nisus was near her at the time, and her log is here given; but slight discrepancies

260

THE MAURITIUS GALES OP 1811.

CHAP, in these logs prevent my being able to lay down the

! exact relative positions of these two vessels, for which

MaoriUiu reason the place of the Astreea is only marked. The Nisus laid-to at an earlier hour, and continued in that position nearly the whole time, until ten at night of the 20th.

The logs of the Phoebe, Racehorse, and Eclipse, which were lying in Port Louis harbour, follow that of the Nisus ; and no notice is taken of bad weather in these logs until the 20th, when the gale began, and continued till the 21st: all five logs report the wind beginning at the southward of east, and ending at the northward of west.

The Astrsea and Nisus had again fine weather on the 21st of March ; and the three ships in harbour on the 22nd.

Log of the Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Astkma, Captain C. M.

Astnea.

Schomberg, kept by Lieut. John Baldwin. — In CwU

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
▲.M.					Monday, March 18, 1811. Lat, 19** 36', loM. 6r 6^. Round Island, S W, 6 leafl[iifla.
P.M.
1	4	6 EbyN	S£	P.M. Fresh breeses and ekmdTwtatlMr; unbent the fore and main-topsau, and hmd
2	4	2
3	4	0	£N£		better ones ; close- reefed than ; dowatap> ffallant-Tards, and struck the mattt; gotm flying jib-boom.
4 6	4 5	2 0	EbyN
6	6	4
7	6	4
8	6	0	£	SSE
9	6	0
10	6 6			At 10, ditto weather ; reefed the ocnnm
11	7 |6			and set them ; set trysails.
12 A.M.	3 3	4 0	£N£		Squally weather.
Tuesday, March 19, 1811.
1 ^ ^	4	E	SSE	Squally, with rain.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. Extnct from the Log of H. M. S. Astrxa— oiHituMi«(f.

351

CHAP.

Hour. K. F. Counea. Wiudi.

SW SWbW

Thuwday, Mwch 19, !8ll.

Strong breezes and it heavy sea from ewtwHrd.

:. IfP, long. Sa° 33', Round Iilond, 8 10°, distance 68 mil

P.M. Ditto weather. 1.30, up muns top'SBllant-muts on deck ; sti gale, wiui ihowen of lain. Furled tliemain and main-topeailB.

i EbyN

SbyE

Up foreasil.

Freiih gale and aqnally, with n the tryaail and ael it.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

Wednesday, March 20, 1811. A.M. Strong gale, with run and a heaTy

Jl offSSB

. upSb.I

At 4, ditto weather.

At 6, the gale increaeing, with constant rain; fore-stayaail halliards broke, hauled the sail down ; obaeired the drift of the ship to be 1} mile per hour.

At 9.30. took second reef in the tryuil, the only sail now set.

SbW . upSW DffSSW \

P.M. Strong gale and equally, with rain. 1.30, bore up : set fore- staysail. At 3, hauled to the wind.

At 5,i0, more moderate.

252

THE MAUBITIU8 GALES OF 1811.

CHAP.	Extract from the Log <	Df H. M. S. AsTRiBA — coucCmM.
VI.	^7
	Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.
Log of the Astnea.	Remaribi.
	P.M.				Wednesday, March 20. 1811.
	1}		. • *	upNE offlibN	NW	At 8, ditto weather ; set main-stajtail.
	9
	10
	11					.
	12 ..		• • • •	NW	Ditto weather.
Log of the Nisus.	Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Nisus^ Captain P. Beaver.
In Civil Time.
	Hour. 1	K.	F.	Courses.	1 Winds.	Remarks.
	A.M.					Tuesday, March 19, 1811.
	1	8 0	SW4S	SSE	A.M. Fresh breeses and cloudy wMdMr.
	2	3 2	SWbyS		At 2. 10, s()ually ; in fore andmino*top* sails, and muEen-storm-stayMiL
	3	2 2	• • • .	SbyB	At 3.40, in nudn-topeail ; fbrUd tiie mainsaiL
	4	1 6	upEbyS offENE		At 4, ditto weather. 4. 16, won Md; down top-K^i^t-mast ; in flying Jio-
		1
	6	1 6			boom. 8, fresh breeies and squaUy.
	6	2 <0
	7	2,0	. • • .	Variable
	8 I 1 ! 6	upE§S o#EbN
		1
	9	2i0			At 9. 15, close-reefed matn-topMiL
	10	2 2	E	SSE
	11	3 '0	E§N
	12	2 6	£		Noon. Fresh gales and haiy wemther.
						Course, N 60° E, distance 41'.
						Lat. 19** 19^, long. 68° 18^.
	P.M.					Round Island, 8 60° W, 41 miles.
	1 1 4	np Boff BNE	BSE	P.M. Commences Tery strong gales and
	1		dark cloudy weather.
	2 ! 0	0
	3 ; 0	0	• . • .	SS W
	4 0	0	upSEbE offE upSEbE offEbyS		At 4, hard gales and constant rain.
	6 0	0
	I
	6 DIG 1			At 6, yery hard squalls.
	7 0 0	SEtoSE
	1 1 8 0 0	bvE SEbSto		At 8, hard gales and rain ; got the Ion
			SEbyE		runners up, and secured the foremast.
	9	0 0	SB off		• '
	1		SEbyE
	10 0	0		: 10. 20, the wind ihifUd to tMs nortK-wmL |
	11	0 0	StoSSE	N W
	12 0 0 1	SSWtoS	' Moderate ; ditto weather.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

263

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Nisus — concluded.

CHAP. VI.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
Log of the
		—				Niaus.
A.M.				Wednesday, Marcb 20, 1811.
1	1	2	up E off ENE	Variable	A.M. Hard gales and dark cloudy
				weather.
2	0	0			Hard galea and constant rain.
3	0	0
4	1	0	upSE offESE
6	0	0
6	0	0
7	0	0	SEtoS byE
8	1	0	SEto SEbyE		At 8, ditto, ditto.
9	0	0
10	0	0			Noon. Hard sales and hearer squalls, with rain ; ship under fore and mizen-staysails.
11	0	0	• • • •	SSE
12	0	0	S	W.	Course, N 39'' E, dbtance 42'. Lat. 18° 47', long. 68° 46'.
P.M.					Round Island, S 42° W. 84 milefl.
1	. •	• •	upNWoff WNW	P.M. Fresh gales and squally.
2		• •	SWbW
3			upNW byW offESbS
4		,		At 4, more moderate.
5
6 7		• • • •	WNW
	• •	offSW
8		• •	. • • *	NW
9			SWbW	■
10		• •	Woff WNW		At 10. 20, squally, with heary rain.
11		• •
12	*' 1 1	• • • •	NNW	Midnight. Strong breezes and squally.
Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Phcebb^ Captaiu James Hillyar,	Log of the
in Port Louis, Mauritius. — In Civil Time,	Phcebe.
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			Wednesday, March 20, 1811.
A.M.		Soulh^y	A.M. Strong breezes and squally wea- ther ; sent too-gallant-mast on deck. P.M. Squally, with rain ; struck lower yards and topmasts; employed hearing taut the moorings.
P.M.			SbyE SbyW	^ L
	up
10			Heary squalls; blew away the mizen-
			Btorm-staysail.

Hk

254

THE MAURITIUS GALES OF 1811.

CHAP. VI.

liOgof the Pnoebe.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Fhcbbb — amchied.

Log of the Kaoehone.

Log of the Eclipse.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.
A.M. P.M. Midn.		SW Westerly	Thursday, March 21, 1811. A.M. Strong tnteies and aqnally, with rain. P.M. Ditto weather ; employed hearing taut the moorings. Midnight. More moderate.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Racehorse, Captain W. Fisher, in Port Louis Harbour, Mauritius, kept by Lieutenant J. B. Tatnall. — In CtvtV Time,
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
A.M. 4 Noon P.M. 6 11 Midn. A.M. 1 9 Noon P.M. 1 11 Midn.	• • ■ • • • •	S£ Variable W WbyN W Variable	Wednesday, March 20, 1811. A.M. Fresh breezes and clear weather. Ditto weather. Strong breezes, with heayy squalls. P.M. Strong breezes, with heayy eqnaUs of wind and rain. Ditto weather. Hard gales and continued heayy nda. Midnight. Heayy weather ; brought hone the stem anchor, and slightly touched.
Thursday, March 21, 1811. A.M. Hard gale, with heary rain. Got the lower yards down ; still lightly touching. Noon. More moderate and olondy. P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy. Moderate ; a cable and anchor reeeivad from the dockyard, and laid it out to the westward, for the purpose of hearing the ship off. HoTe her off and secured her. Midnight. Light airs and cloudy weathtt.
Extract from the Log of H.M. Brig Eclipse, Captain W. Steed» lying in Port Louis, Mauritius. — In ChU Time,
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			Wednesday, March 20, 1811. A.M. Strong breezes and clear weather ; afternoon came on to blowing yery hard.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

255

Extract from the Log	of H. M. Brig Eci^ivbb— concluded.	CHAP. VI.
	Winds.	Remarks.
Hour.	Ck)ur8e8.	Log of the Eciipte.
A.M. P.M.		Variable	Thursday, March 21, 1811. A.M. Begins blowing yery strong, with constant ram ; pilot brought an anchor to lay out a-stem. P.M. More moderate, with heavy rain.

The Blenheim's Storm, February^ 1807. The storm in which H. M. ships Blenheim and Bien-

. . /. helm's

Java foundered, bears the same indications of a storm. rotatory character with those already described in southern latitudes. The manner in which these ships met the hurricane, looks as if they had been sailing to the southward of it, and, plunging into its south-east side, received the wind from north-east.

The following figure is intended to represent how this may have occurred,

£.^

256 THE Blenheim's storm.

c H AP. The ships were sailing at the rate of nine or ten

— knots an hour. Some storms, as for example that of

Bien- 1821, traced by Mr, Redfield, certainly move along Btonn. no faster than the rate of seven miles an hour ; ships may therefore overtake such storms.

The Harrier, brig of war, the same which foundered in the CuUoden's storm, was the only vessel out of three which survived on this occasion. She was in company with the Blenheim and Java up to the evening of the 1st of February, 1807, at which time all three were in the greatest distress. The Blenheim waa the flag-ship of the late Rear- Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge.

The log of the Harrier, from the 1st to the 4th oi February, is printed in detail ; and in it will be (bond the last recorded signals from the Blenheim.

On the morning of the 30th of January, these three ships had moderate weather, but it was cloudy ; there was a heavy swell, and the wind was at north-east: at noon that day their latitude was 16^ 34' S., long. 71^ 56' E. In the afternoon of the same day, the log states the breeze to be freshening, the weather squally, and records various stays carried away. On the morn- ing of the 31st, the Harrier was still carrying stud- ding-sails ; but there was ^^ a very cross sea always rolling away some back-stay, top-gallant-sheet,** &c ; and at noon of the 31st, their latitude was 18^ 4rS.9 and long. 69° 36' E. During the afternoon (judgii^ by the log) the weather became gradually worse. On the morning of February 1st, it is styled threatening; and from this period the log is given in detail. The brig scudded throughout ; and if we follow her course, hour by hour, on the 2nd of February and forenoon of the 3rd, we find she sailed in a circle, completing three-

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

257

quarters of the revolution, in accordance with the sup- chap, posed law of storms in the southern hemisphere. But ! —

the report from a single ship does not afford conclusive ^^?"; evidence, and I am not at present aware of any other storm, vessel being in this storm. It is most probable that at Rodriguez the wind became south-west.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Harrier^ Captain

Justin Finley.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 8

4 5 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4 6

K.

9 9 9

9 9 9 9

10 9 9 9

9

F.

9 9

9

9 0

I 9 4

Courses.

SW

Winds.

NE

WSW

SW SWbyS

NE

Remarks.

NEbyN

Sunday, February 1, 1807.

A.M. Threatening wcamer; in third reef of fore-topsail ; heavy rain and the wind in- creasing ; sent the top-gallant- yards down ; in third reef of main- topsail ; hauled the mainsail up, and bent the storm-staysails and trysail.

Strong gales, with heavy squalls and rain.

Ditto weather ; struck the fore- top- gal- lant-mast ; the wind still increasing, found it dangerous to attempt striking the main- top-giulant-mast ; the vrind blowing so strong, sent all the small sails from aloft.

Strong gales, with heavy rain ; Admiral and Java in company.

Strong gales, with rain ; handed the mainsail; close-reefed tbe fore-topsail; people employed in clearing the ship and lashing the booms.

Noon. Heavy gales ; Admiral and Java in company.

Course, S 60"* W, distance 225 miles.

Lat. 21^ 4' S, long. 66° 11' E.

Rodriguez, N 80^ W, 180 miles.

P.M. Strong gales ; in fourth reef main- topsail ; the gue increasing, with a very heavy sea.

2.30. Hauled up the foresail and reefed it; carried away the fore- topmast backstay, repeated the knotted, and spliced ditto.

Blenheim and Java in company.

The main-topsail-yard was carried away in the slings, owing to tbe lift and brace giving way ; endeavoured to furl the sail, in doing which William Mailtrott was blown from the yard and drowned ; cut the sail f^om the yard. At 5.20, lost sight of tbe

Admiral, in a very heavy squaU, bearing N W by W, distant half a mile ; and the Java, bearing N £ by E, distant a quarter of a mile : at this time we were shipping agreat

Log of the Harrier.

S

358

THE BLENHEIMS STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the HAirier.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Harribr — ctrnHnmei.

Last sig* naU of the Blen- heim.

Wind East.

Hour.	K.
P.M.
6	9
7	9
8	10
9	9
10	9
11	10
12	10

F.

Courses.

4 SWbyW

0 0 0

4 2 0

NNW

Winds.

NEbyE

Remarks.

ESE

Sunday, February 1, 1807. quantity of water. 6.30. The fore-topnil blew away firom the fourth-reefed band ; the gale still continued to increase, with nsoat violent squalls of wind and rain, the Teasel labourina vc»ry much, and the sea striking her in sll directions yery heavily ; store several half-ports in, and mudi water going below ; kept the pumps continually going. 7.50. The main-royal-mast blew away; the ^e increased to a hurricane, and, shifting round in tremendous squalls to the eaatward, obliged us to keep berare the sea.

SIGNALS.

Hour.

3

4

No.

331

80 80

Wind South.

A.M. 1	10
2	10
3	10
4	9
5	9
6	9
7	9
8	9

By whom.

Blenheim

do. do.

W

WbyN

§N

0

0

0

0

WNW

NW NNW WbyN

N

To whom.

Java

General do.

The ship is overpreased with sail, and cannot keep her atation on thai account.

To steer SW.

To steer S W by S.

The Blenheim made another aigaal, which we could not make oat.

E

EbyS 48

ESE

SE

SSE

SbyE

S

Monday, February 2, 1807.

A.M. At this time we sldpped a great quantity of water, which wadied a graat quantityof the shot-boxes to pieces.

2.10. The ¥dnd flew round nom east to south in a most tremendous squall ; kepi right before it ; a great quanti^ of water in the waist, so aa to aflbct the veMsl'a steerage very much ; most of the aUiboard ports either stove in or washed out, aaalao msny of the larboard ones; the aqiiall still coming on with greater violetio, and a most enormous sea.

At 3, the fore-staysail blew away. S.49. Shipped two eeas, which filled the waistand waterlogged the brig for some minutes, which caused her tobroach-to ; endeavoued to get the fore-sheet aft, but the foresail blew away from the yard, leaving the reef ; she went off, but did not rise to the sea ; the waist being full of water, a great quantity

going forward she settled down by Ukt ead ; sounded the well, found it increased from 12 to 30 inches in two minutes ; ho?«

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

259

Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Harrier — continued.

Hour.

A.M.

9 10 11

12

P.M.

1

2 3

6 7 8 9 10 11

la

1

2 8

4 6 6 7

8

9

10

11

12

K.

9 8 9

9

9 9 9

9

8

9 9 7 7 7 7 7

6 5 6 6 2 3 4

4

7 8 6 8

F.

Courses.

0 0 0 0 4 0 0

0 6 0 0 0

Winds.

N

ENE E

E

WSW W

SE S

sw

SWbyW

W

NW Variable

N

NE

Remarks.

Monday, February 2, 1807. the four foremost guns oyerboard, whichre- lieyed her much ; hove overboard all the round and canister shot on deck ; a great quantity of water having lodged in ^e wings between decks, got up all the old rope and some shot, and tl^ew it over- board ; the water in the waist flew with such violence from side to side as to wash the studding-sails and hammock-cloths, which were lashed under the booms, about the deck, and in consequence went over- board; washed overboard the starboard- binnacle and compass. At daylight, blow- ing most violently, employed in clearing the deck and splicing the risgin^ that was chafed through and cut in the night.

Noon. Strong sale.

Course, S 67° W ; distance 114 miles

Lat. observed, 19° 29' S, long. 64** 26' E.

Rodriguez, S 84° W, 64 miles.

P.M. Strong gales and cloudy ; carpen- ters employed stopping up the ports ; got the old mam-topsail-yard on deck and Uie remains of the old foresail, and bent the new one.

Ditto weather.

4.40. Reefed the foresail.

Strong gales, with squalls ; sent the top- gallant-mast down on deck.

More moderate; the vessel labouring very much and shipping great quantities of water ; strong gales and cloudy weather.

Ditto weather.

Ditto weather.

Strong gales and cloudy ; the sea much agitated.

Tuesday, February 3, 1807. A.M. Strong gales and cloudy, and very heavy sea running.

Ditto weather.

Fresh gales and cloudy ; set the main- staysail, trysail, and mainsail ; bent a new fore-topsail ; employed rigging spare main- topsail-yard.

Ditto weather ; split the mainsail.

Moderate and cloudy.

Moderate, with small rain. Course, N 22^ E, distance 110 miles. Lat. 19° 42' S, long, eff" K Mauritius, S 83° W, 740 miles.

~s~2

CHAP. VI,

Log of the Hamer*

Wind West.

Wind

North.

260

THE BRIDOEWATER STORM.

CHAP, VI.

Log of the Harrier.

Extract from the Log of H. M. Brig Harrisr — comchidei.

Bridge- water's harricaue.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 3

4 6

6

7

8

9 10 U 12

A.M. 1

2 3

4 5 6 7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

K.

7 8 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 8 7

F.

Courses.

• a

. * . a

* .

sw

SWbW

SbyW SSW

SWbW SWbS

Winds.

SWbyS

••SWbyS

NE

NE

NE

B

Remarks.

Tuesday, February 3, 1807. P.M. Moderate and cloudy.

Ditto weather.

Pointed the main-top-gallast-maat ; In third reef main-topsail. Ditto weather.

Moderate, with small rain.

9.20. Hauled down the main-topmait-

staysail.

Ditto weather.

Wednesday, February 4, 1807. A.M. Moderate, with small rain.

Fresh gales and cloudy, the TSiiel nil* ing Tery much.

Furled the mainsail; in third imC of main-topsail. Windy looking weather, and tiie tea

running Tery fast.

Noon. Ditto weather, & aTerrhflSTyaMU

Lat. 21° 18' S., long. 62*» 31' E.

Cape of GK>od Hope, S 71'' W, 2440 milM.

P.M. Strong gales and squally; got the top-gallant-masts down on dedi, eloae reefed the topsails, and furled the tea- topsail.

Strong gales and heayr rain ; gottiiej9>- boom in, and the spritaail yard fore and aft.

Squally weather ; thunder and Wghftring in the south-east quarter.

Ditto weather ; a cross sea nmniag.

The Skip Bridgewater.

The H.E.I.C.S. Bridgewater, commanded by Cap- tain Maunderson, encountered a severe hurricane in March, 1830, about lat. 20° 55' S., and long. 90^ E., another instance in proof that these storms are not always to be avoided on the homeward voyage from

.^ J

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 261

India, by keeping a course " well to the eastward of chap.

Mauritius," as has been supposed by many to be the '- —

case. The Bridgewater, sailing to the westward, met ^|^f»^ the storm with the wind blowing at north-east, and ^«*>^c*a«- when it abated the wind was at north-west^ but the intermediate points not being stated, a copy of the log has not been inserted here. By it we find that a heavy swell from the northward preceded the storm. On the 2nd of March, the barometer was at 29.75. On the 4th, the wind being easterly, the ship hove-to on the larboard tack under the trysail, until that blew to pieces; after which she hove-to under bare poles, heaving her guns overboard. The barometer fell until it was at 28.80, with the wind increasing in vio- lence, so that the ship was in much danger of founder- ing. After this, gale, the Bridgewater was left with only her foremast, and the stump of her mizenmast.

The Ship Neptune*

The ship Neptune is another instance of a vessel, on The ship her returning voyage from India, falling into a hurri- ^^ cane where she receives the wind at north-east : an extract from her log is annexed.

A painting of the Neptune was made by Mr. Hug- gins, under the superintendence of her commander, Mr. Broadhurst, who assures me the picture does not give an exaggerated representation of the state of his ship. The sketch here added was reduced by the painter himself. The ship appears to have sailed onwards until she was dismasted, and then perhaps dropped out of the hurricane, by being disabled, and left behind as the tempest proceeded on its course.

* See '* The Progress of the Development of the Law of Storms," page 35.

262

THE NEPTUNE 8 STORM.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of the Ship Nbptunb, from Calcatta

^* towards the Cape of Good Hope, Captain Alfred Broadhurst. —

Log of the ^^ Nautical Time. Neptone.

Hour.	K.	F.	Courses.	Winds.	Bar. •	Ther.	Remtrks.
P.M.						Saturday, January 31, 1836. P.M. Breezes, with rain ;
1	6	*	W by S N EasUyl	29.86	81
2	6	4					yery heayy swell from the N W ; ship Tery uneasy.
3	6	0
4	6	0
6	6	4
6	6	4
7	6	4
8	6	4
9	6	4
10	6	0
11	6	0
12	6	0	a . ••	NNE
A.]f.
1	6	0	WbyS
2	5	0	• . • •	NNW			A.M. Taken a-back, with a
3	3	0					smart squall at N W ; carried away the boom-iron on the starboard fore*yard-ann.
4	4	0
6	4	0
6	6	0	. • • •	N			Much rain.
7	4	0
8	4	0
9	4	0
10	4	0					Course S 63'' W, diet. 121 m.
11	3	0					Dept. 109 miles.
12 P.M.	3	0	• • • •	. • • •	29.82		Lat. 22^ 30' 8, long. 68" 20^ E.
Sunday, February 1, 18)5.
1	3	0	w§s	Nortb»y.			P.M. Cloudy, with heayy
2	3	4					north-westeriy swdl ; wind
3	2	0					increasing, latterly with a Tery
4	2						heaTT swell at north-weat; the snip rolling and labouiBg
6	2
6 7	2 2						yery heayily.
8	2						%
9	3	0
10	3	0
11	4	0
12	5	0	• • • •	E			Midnight. Fresh breen, and sea gettmg up.
A.M.
1	5	0	w§s
2	6	0
3	5	0
4	6	0
6	6	0
6	6	0
7	7	0
8	7	0
9	7	0

* The barometer on the preyious day had been 29. 98 inches.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

263

Extract from the Log of the Neptune — continued.

Hour.

A.M.

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2

8

4

K.

7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9

9 9

9

8

F.

Counes.

Winds.

SbWiS

E

Bar.

Ther.

WbyS ENE

WbyS

29.77 80

29. 74

29.72

29. 70.

I

29. 68;

29. 62: 29.65

ENE

ONtoNW

ENE

29.60 29.46

I

29. 42 29.40

29.36

Remarks.

Sunday, February 1, 1836. Altered course to ease the rolling. Course, S 6r W, dist. 111m. Dept. 102 miles. Lat. 23° 36' S, long. 66° 23'E.

Monday, February 2, 1836.

P.M. Fresh easterly breeze and hazy.

Wind increasing, with a heavy sea from N E ; down royal yards, hauled top-gal- lant-sails, double-reefed the mizen-topsails, and ^ot every- thing as snug as possible aloft ; battened domrn tne hatches.

Midnight. Fresh gales, with frequent hard squalls and heavy rain ; sea running very high and cross ; ship labouring heavily ; handed the foresail.

At 2, gale increasing; the ship labouring violently, and shipping a great quantity of water.

At 4, gale still increasing; turned the hands out to take in the topsails ; a furious squall from NNE split the fore and main-topsails, and carried away every vestige of running rigging. By daylight it blew a most furious hurricane, every sail blown from the yards, although the courses were se- cured by extra gaskets and studding-sidl- tacks. The hur- ricane sUll increasing with tre- mendous fury, the sea running terrifically hi^h, causing the ship to labour m a most violent manner : at times the lee-side and hammock-nettings com- pletely buried In the water for some minutes ; found the water increasing in the well to 30 in.

6.30. Shipped a very heavy seaon thelart>oard side,and the immense weight of water rush- ing over the fore hatches tore off the tarpaulin, and a very large quantity of water got below into the lower deck, before the hatches could be

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Neptune.

/.

THE NEPTUNE S STORM.

Extract from the Log of the Niptunk — coMltMiud.

Hour.	K.	F.	Coluw;».	Winds.	Bar.	rhcT.	Remuki.
A.H.							Mond»j. pBbnupj 3, 18M.
6	0	0	NtoNW	ENE	J9.35		aecured again ; an old aail, Ihrn timea doubled, and an extra larp.ulin, wara qnu^y battened orer them.
6	0	0			2|.30		At 6, a heavy blut blew away the foro-topmaat, the jLb-bmim, and the apritaaiU ysrdi the water in the wdl
T	0				29. ii		At 7, the main-topmaat waa blown o.er the Mde, and. eap- aizing the mainlop alon^ with it,c»rriedaw«yallth«ftittoEk.
B	0	0			20.20
							fhioudi on the atarbouti aide,
							and Ktarted it up &om the tratael tree,. With the heavy rolling of theahip, ailed both
9	0	0
							tlie quuter-boata, which were
							tornolear away from thed«»il».
10 It	0 0	0 0			■29. 18 2B.I6		At 10, blowing a nuMt fa- and N, and the an ^ time* ovorua; and we were appie- heniiTe, b^m the oootiimcd quantity of water in the will.
	.	_					that the ahip would no down.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

265

Extract from the Log of the Neptune — concluded.

Hoar.

A.M.

12

K.

P.M. 1

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

F.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NtoNW

0 0 0 0 0 0

Courses.

upNW oflfW

Winds.

Bar.

Ther.

ENE 29.15

ENE

0 :o

0 jo

0 0

0 0

I 0 |0

0 0

0

0

0

0 ,0

0 0

0 iO

headfr.S ENE 29.10 toSE

29.10

29.10 29.10 29.10 ,29. 12 29. 15; 29.18

head fr.S toSE

from S W b W

to Sby W

29.20

ENE 29.20

i

.... 29. 30

I

.... 29. 30

I

.... 29. 40

I

.... ,'29. 45

• • t

29.60

■ • • •

29. 75

29. 90

29. 90

Remarks.

Monday, February 2, 1835. Noon. A slight lull; sent hands aloft to cut and dear away the wreck.

Tuesday, February 3, 1835.

P.M. Qale still blowing, with great violence.

At 2, the hurricane suddenly abated, and it soon fell calm, causing the ship to labour dreadfully.

At 4, with dark, dismal ap- pearance and constant rain.

At 5, calm; a heavy sea struck us, and stove in the quarter- gallery.

At 8, a fresh breeze sprung up from the W, and blew harcU

A.M. At 2, more moderate.

Moderate, and the sea going down; held a consultation with the chief officer, and, considering it impracticable to run for the Cape, consi- dered it best to run for the Isle of France, to repair.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Neptune.

Wednesday. February 4, 1835. Lat. observed, 24° 29' S. A.M. Chron. 64" 35' E. Bar. 30. 10. ITier. 78°.

Thursday. Ftbruary 5, 1835. Bar. 30.15.

266

The Ship Ganges.

CHAP. The Ganges crossed the equator on the Slst of

'- — December, 1836, and had scarcely entered upon south

latitude before she experienced bad weather, which continued until the 7th of January, on which day she had a gale. By the log of the Ganges it will be seen that the Thalia, of Liverpool, was dismasted not &r from this ship ; and the log is printed because it may, perhaps, be the means of tracing a hurricane nearer to . the equator than has been yet done.

Log of the Extract from the Log of the Ship Ganges, Capt. A. BroadhiirBt, Ganges. ^^^ ^Yhq Mauritius towards St. Helena.— In Nautical ITime.

Hour.	1 K, F.	Courses.	Winds.	1 Bar.	Ther.	Remarks.
					December 31. 1836.
P.M.	• • • •	• . • •	. • . .	29.83	83 P.M. Light, yariable breent. |
							Lat. 0** 10' N, long. 83^ r E.
January 1, 1837.
			S£ by S	WNW^ 29.80	82	P.M. Variable throoghoiit.
							with some squalls and rain. Lat. 0*" 20" S, long. WVK
P.M.
	January 2, 1837.
1	• •	• •	SbyE	North»r 29. 76	82	P.M. Squally ; wuid Ttria-
9	• •	• •	• • > •	N\V		bly northerly and north-iPM-
10	• •	• •	SSE				terly; hard squalls and heavy
11	• •	• •	• . • •	NW7			rain; latterly, a Urge, con- fused sea ; sMp labouiing and straining violently, and ih^
A.M.							ping much water.
1	• •	• •					A.M. Atl.30,heaTTsq[iiaI]a; split the fore- topsail ; ftizled
							it ; ship lurching hearily and
							shipping much water.
							At daylight, more moderate;
							hoisted the main-topsail, and
							set the jib.
8 1 • . 1	• .	. • « «	NW			At 8, violent squalls ; wind N W, with heavy squalls ; split the jib in hauling it down.
	1		! Lat.a^'e'S, long.83^42'B.

. .^

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

267

Extract from the Log of the Ganges — continued.

Hoar.

K.

P.M.

10

^

A.1C.

1

4

6

Noon.

P.X.

1

3

liidn.

A.M.

P.M.

1

4 7

11

A.M.

1

4

6

11

P.M.

1

A.M.

2

F.

Counes.

S

S

SSE

s

Winds.

NW

NW

NW

Bar.

29.79

29.79

NNW

SW light

NW

Ther.

29.77

NW7

NW

29.70

80

80

80

82

Remaiks.

January 3, 1837.

P.M. Fresh breeze.

Hard squalls.

At 10, frequent hard squalls and heavy rain ; throughout a high, confused sea; ship la- bouring yiolently.

A.M. At 1» light breeze and fine ; less sea.

At 4y squally and rain.

At 6, moderate ; less sea.

Noon. Squally.

Lat. 4° 14^ S, long. SS** 67f E.

January 4, 1837.

P.M. Squally.

At 3, hard squalls.

Midnight. Moderate and cloudy ; a high sea on.

A.M. At 2.30, hard squalls from the N W ; in all sail but topsails.

At 3, moderate ; hobted topsails again; the weather throughout this log has had a yery gloomy, suspicious ap- pearance, but the barometer continues steady.

Lat. 6*» 3' S, long. 83« 63' E.

January 6, 1837.

P.M. Hard NW squall and heayyrain; a high, confused sea ; ship lurching heayily.

At 7» lightning in the south- ward.

Hard NW squall, heayyrain.

A.M. At 1, squally, with constant, heayy rain.

At 6, moderate ; made sail.

Cloudy, threatening appear- ance.

Lat. r 6(y S, long. 84^ E.

January 6, 1837.

P.M. Moderate breeze, in- creasing with strong N. Wes- terly squalls.

A.M. At 2, in top- gallant sails and jib ; handed the mainsail.

At 5, squally ; heayy sea.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Ganges.

268

THE GANGES STORM.

CHAP. VI.

Log of the Ganges.

Extract from the Log of the Gangks — cMiimted.

A.M.

9 Noon

P.M.

6 Midn.

Noon

K. F.

P.M.

•ti

6

Midn. Day'*

A.M.

6

Courses.

S

S

Head fr. Why 8

• • • •

• • . •

Winds.

NW

WNW

Bar.

29.70

29.60

NNW

NNW

SWbW

to SW b S

S

SbyW

NW

29.70

Ther.

82

82

81

Remarkf.

January 6, 1837.

At 9, squaUy ; heavy

Noon. The weather haThig a

TexT threatening appearance,

and the barometer fidhng,

down top-gaUant masta aiul

yards on deck, and housed the

mizen-topmast, as I am now

apprehensive of a hurricane.

Lat. 9'' 38' S, long. Si"" 9' E.

January 7, 1837.

P.M. Increasing, with very suspicious, threatening ap- pearance, a high sea, and the ship labouring Tiolently ; bik rometer at 3 p.m. 29. 60, and falling ; pumped ship ei^taen inches; handed fore-topaail, and rounded two under the main one.

At 4, heaTT squalla ; handed main-topsail imd secured all sails with extra gasketa.

At 6, blowing hard, with furious squaUa u»d heavy xain and a high sea.

Biidnight. Blowing a heavy gale, with ahigh, croaa, eoofii- sedtea; ship laboaring heavi^.

Daylight, heavy gala aiid violent squalla.

Noon. Ditto weather; the barometer fell to 29. 66, whieh was the lowest, and it nae towards noon *o 29. 60.

Lat. lO"* 16' S, long. 84^21' B.

January 8, 1837. P.M. Hard NW gate.

At 6, more moderate.

At 6.30, bore up aoQtht and set the foresail to eaaa the violent motion of the ah^

Midnight. More and less sea.

Daylight, moderate, wi^ dark, squally, threatening ^- pearance.

A.M. At 6.

Durinff the forenoon the wea- ther still looks suspicions snd the barometer has hastily risen.

Lat. 1 1° 10' S, long. 8i''30'S.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

269

Extract from the Log of the Ganges — concluded.

Hour.

T.U,

K.

P.X.

1

F.

P.X.

6.4^

Courses.

SbyW

SWbyS

SWbS

Winds,

NNW

North^y

Variable

Bar.

29.73

29.76

29.78

Ther.

80

84

84

6

SSE

29.78

29.80

84

83

Remarks.

January 9, 1837. P.M. More moderate ; high, cross, confused sea.

a

Moderate and fine ; swell im- abated; set the main-topsail double reefed.

Lat 13« 4' S, long. 84^ 22' E.

January 10, 1837. P.M. Light breeze, decreas- ing latterly, but squally ap- pearance; a heavy, confused sweU throughout.

Lat. 14° 7' S, long. 84® E.

January 11, 1837. Light airs and fine, with con&sed swell.

Lat 14° 17' S, long. 83*» 40'E.

January 12, 1837. Light airs and calm.

Lat. 14** 26' 8, long' 83** 43^ E.

CHAP. VL

Log of the Ganges.

January 13, 1837.

P.M. At 5.45, saw a ship S by E ; standing north as we neared her, observed she had lost her mizenmast and top- masts; backed the mainyard to speak to her, and to oficr her assistance.

At 6, spoke the stranger, the Thalia, of Liverpool, bound to Calcutta; informed us she had lost her masts in a violent hurricane on the 7th inst. (the day we had the gale), in lat. 12^ S, long. 85° £ ; she had been hove-to under bare poles for nine hours before her masts were blown away; she was going tight and all well ; of- fered to render assistance, but it was not required.

Lat. W S, long. 82*^ 10*.

Met the Thalia.

k

270 THE GANGES* STORM.

CHAP. In this Chapter several examples have been given,

in succession, in which ships seem to plunge into the

storms on their east side ; and the orders of the Dutch East India Company, which are quoted by Horsburgh in his sailing directions, would appear to have reference to ships encountering rotatory gales in this manner. Horsburgh's statement is as follows: "When the wind, at south-east, or east-south-east, shifted to north- eastward, the Dutch commanders were directed by the Company to take in the mainsail. If lightning appeared in the north-west quarter, they were to wear and shorten sail ; for in the first case they expected a hard gale at north-west; and, if lightning was seen in that direction, they thought tlie gale would com- mence by a sudden shift or whirlwind, which might be fatal if taken aback/' — £ast India Sailing Diree- tionsy vol. i. p. 83.

271

sea.

CHAPTER VII.

ON TYPHOONS IN THE CHINESE SEA, AND ON THE

HURRICANES OF INDIA.

This Chapter will contain such accounts of Typhoons chap. in the China seas as I have been able to procure. '

They are neither in suflBicient number nor suflBiciently Typhoons connected to be satisfactory : so far as they go, how- f]^"^®«® lever, they exhibit the same character as the storms of north latitude already traced ; and they may serve to create an interest for more extensive inquiry into the subject.

The H. C. S. Bridgewater,* Captain Maunderson, was lying at Canton on the 9th of August, 1829, when she was driven on shore by the violence of the wind, and obliged to cut away her masts. At the com- mencement of the hurricane the wind was northerly, veering to the east, then becoming east-south-east, and ending at south-east; by which it may be inferred that the ship was in the northern or right hand semi- circle of this storm.

At the same period the H. C. S. Charles Grant was approaching Canton from the southward ; and on the night of the same 9th of August, we find by her log, she had the wind in the opposite direction, with squalls and rain, and that she struck her royal masts and yards, and split her main-topsail. It may be supposed she was in the southern or left-hand portion of the same storm.

* The same ship as that mentioned at page 260.

272

TYPHOONS IN NORTH LATITUDE.

CHAP.

vn.

The barometer, on board the Bridgewater, fell to

29.17; on board the Charles Grant it fell to 29.40.

Typhoons The longitude of this last ship is not given; but we

nete sea. may presume she was on or near the same meridian

as Canton.

Log of the Extract from the JiOg of H. C. S. Bridokwatbr, ^^" Maunderson, lying at Canton in China. Lat «2° 41' N.j

long. 113° 46' E.

Hour.

A.M.

2 3

7

8

9

10

Noon

P.M.

2 Midn.

A.M.

1

Courses.

Winds.

Northi*y

Easterly

ESE

Bar.

faU-

ing

aalck-

ly

29.30

SE

29.17

Bemarks.

August 9, 1829.

LintenPeak,N|Wabout4milet; Peak of Lantoa, S E.

West point of Tungpoa, N B by E i B.

Wind, first part Tariable, firom tha north- ward, and squally.

A.M. Gayethe ship half the cable

Weather still squally ; wind and barometer falling quickly.

Struck top-gallant-Tards ; lowered the masts, and gave her tne whole cable.

Barometer, 29. 30, and on the dedine; got the flying-jib-boom in.

Blowing hard, and reering to tlit eait* ward. JPound the ship driTing . Let go the small bower, and brought up with two anchors a-head.

Wind ESE with Tiolent gusta, in oat of which parted the smidl bower; dropped the sheet, and veered away upon both cahlat; brought the ship up with four

Noon. Barometer 29. 17, with ▼«▼ thick weather. Typhoon still increasing. Hove&a the small bower-cable which hadpatad»Mid bent it to the spare anchor; pwpafed to strike the lower yards ft topmasts; tlktah^ again driving, and beins in only fon] " " water, near the edge of Linten Sand no chance of bringing the ahip up, Maunderson consulted with the flitt second officers, when it was deei lutely necessary to cut away the maeli to save the ship, which was done inslntfly. Let go the spare anchor. The ship : brought up in 3| fathom on mait mwL

P.M. Wind decreasing.

Midnight. Moderate.

August 10, 1829. Wind S £, with passing squalla aad

. .;JU

TYPHOONS IN THE CHINESE SEA.

273

Extract from the Log of H. C. S. Charles Grant^ from

England towards China.

Hour.

I

6 8

10

P.M.

8 9

A.M. I 8

6 11 IS

P.M. 1

8

4

6

8

10

Counes.

.... • . • •

>• • (

Winds,

RemarkB.

EbyS

WbyN NWbW

Saturday, August 8, 1829.

A.M. Hazy.

Light airs.

Light airs, S by W in the first part; middle easterly airs and calms; in the latter an in- creasing breeze at N W.

Light airs and calms.

P.M. Cloudy.

A.M. Scrubbed hammocks, and washed the gun deck ; Lady Melville in company. Lat. obserred, IT^S^'N. ; Bar. 29.66 ; Ther. 86°. (Signed) JOSEPH COATBS.

NW

NWbN

W

WbyS

Sunday, August 9, 1829.

A.M. Fresh breezes.

Cloudy.

In first and second ree& topsails.

Rain.

Midnight. Handed fore and mizen topsails.

Throughout a strong breeze and cloudy wea- ther, with squalls and rain.

Struck royal masts and yards. Tip foresail.

Split the main-topsail ; shifted with the second bMt. Lat. obseryed, none; Bar. 29.40; Ther. S3^.

CHAP.

vn.

Log of the

Charles

Grant.

The Raleigh's Hurricane.

A storm passed over the same place on the 5th and 6th August, 1835 ; and in the ^^ Asiatic Journal " there 18 the following short account of it.

** A tjrphoon was experienced in the China Seas on the 5th and Ml Angost, 1835, during which the following vesi^ suffered : —

The Danish brig Maria, totally wrecked on Pootoy.

H. M. S. Raleigh, Captain Quin, dismasted, and in great danger of foundering.

British brig Watkins, Whiteside, dismasted under Lantao.

Brig Governor Finlay, Kenedy, dismasted among the iflbuids.

Ml

*€

€t

tt

274

THE RALEIGH S STORM.

CHAP.

vn.

'' Brig Ccenr de Lion, Glover, on shore on the Typa. " American brig Kent, dragged her anchors in the Comsing- -. P^ moon, and was carried by the swell one mile over a ledge of Idgh's rocks.

hurricant. "Many Chinese junks have been dismasted; many houses in Macao have been greatly damaged ; and many lives lost in the inner harbour, where many vessels were also driven on shore.'*

tMl

45

1—.

SchcMir

Bay

ttj

/%0

TYPHOONS IN THE CHINESE SEA.

275

The Raleigh sailed from Macao on the Ist of chap.

VII

August, 1835. On the 4th, the barometer was falling; !

and in the afternoon, the wind veered round to the ?^® ?*"

' Jeigh s

N.N.E., when the storm set in. The barometer con- i^^Jfricane. tinned to fall until it was at 28.20, and soon after this the ship upset. The master's log speaks of the vessel as being "keel out;" and the greater part of the officers and ship's company were upon the weather larboard broadside for twenty minutes.

A three masted schooner, commanded by Mr. Bennett, met with this hurricane, on the 5th of August, in lat. 18° 2' S., and long. 115° 50' E. : but this schooner's log has not yet arrived from India.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Raleigh, Captain Quin, at anchor in Macao Roads, from whence she sailed on the 1st of August, 1835.— In Civil Time.

of the eigh.

Hour.	Counet.	Winds.	Bar.	Ther.	Kemarks.
▲.M.				August 4, 1835.
1	•• ••	Variable
8	• • • •	NbyE	29.60		Barometer 29. 60, and falling ; in fore and main-top-gallant-aail.
10					Close-reefed topsails and courses.
Noon	• • • •	• • • •	29.45		Down top-gallant-mast and yards.
12.30					Barometer fell from noon . 15 ; took in sail as usual.
6	• • a •	North'y			Split the fore-staysail.
T.U.
7.80	. • . •	SE			The wind veered round to N N E, when a heavy typhoon commenced.
8	• • • .	NNE	29.36		Ship, falling off, made a lurch, and took in so much water that had not the hatches been battened down, the consequences must have been fatal ; it was with the greatest difficulty she righted: typhoon increasing, unbent main-trysail.*
10	• • • •	NE			At 10. P.M., close-reefed the fore- trysail and set it ; typ^o^^n veering gradually round to E N E, with a
					heavy sea.

Hurri-
cane com-
mences.«
	* • 9	, 1
		Ca

• Portions have been omitted, which only relate to taking in sail.

/ .V A ^ ■

/

/

t^ r \f f ftx

L

c

276

THE RALEIGH 8 STORM.

CHAP.

vn.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Raleigh — eondbuM.

Log oft] BaltiglL.

the

Centra of •tonn.

Hour.

A.1C

11

Midn.

A.K.

2

8

6

6.80

9.80

9.50 10

Noon

P.M.

1 7

Coonet.

. • • .

• « * *

• • . •

• • ••

• • • •

• • . •

Winds.

EhrN ESS SE f

...» ^

SEiS

SSE Soatbei>7

Bar.

Ther.

29.04

29.06 28.30 28.20

Remarks.

Aii^t 4, 1885. Ship making sneh lurches, in fcMre-trysail : tjpluxm increasing.

August 5, 1885. At 8, typhoon Teered round to E 8 E, stuf increaalng in iiol«iee ; and at 8, the barometer 29.5 and fill- ing ; at 6.80, barometer lUUng from 28.30 to 28.20, oommeneed throwing earronades, slides, and shot awm* board ; at 8 am. typhoon Infrsasing, reliered shipof remainingoaiiODMles, except the 7th carronMe larboard. (The eutter on larboard qnntsr Iksld so much ef typhoon, and teriaf the boat might be finroed up ihm Blaan rigging, or £U1 in-board and increase ship's danser, cut her away.) At 9.30, the snip made a very deep lee lurch, and at the same time was struck by a heavy weather sen; the tyjDhoon blowing, if possible, ^Ak stall greater tarj; the ahh^ wmtt oyer, and carried away bo£ iHmsI ropes and lelieying tadde; In tide awful situation, the ahip lay far aboot twenty minutes, with the m^or pvt of officers and ship's eompaay on her weather larboara broadside^ who, with the most praiseworUry finnlnws and actiyity, succeeded m entdag the lanyards of ba^Lstays and low rigf^ing ; 9.50, the masta and bow-

Snt went by the board, and H. ajeaty's sloop rioted, with tar feet water in her hold. Lat. 20*' 44', long. 119^ R.

People employed ^Hnrfaig tibe wreck.

Obseryed the typhooQ to a little. At 6, typhoon rate, strong guMa of wfaid, yHth a heayy sea mm the southward.

The pinnace and aeoond gig wws cut a-drift, and floated oat of the ship while she was on her beam ands, or more properly speakinc, kml-md: all anchors saVed, two long goaa 9-pounders, one 82, and one IS* pounder earronades, and a ioUy^boat on the poop larbcMurd sioia aafed; but in all other respects, a sweep on her upper deck.

TYPHOONS IN THE CHINESE SEA.

277

Since the first edition of this work was printed, chap.

YU,

Mr. Redfield has published some further accounts, rela- — r — '—. tive to the Raleigh's Hurricane, which will be found at page 8 of the " Nautical Magazine " for January, 1839. I abstract from this account the following tables of the barometer, at Macao and at Canton. Canton is distant about sixty miles north of Macao. The difference in the fall of the barometer at these places is very remarkable, and strikingly indicates the greater depression near the centre of a hurricane.

August 5th. li. nu Barom.

1. Oa.k 29.47

S.80P.K 29.28

5. 0 7.20 9. 0 10.20 10.46 11. 6 11.80 11.58

0.15 0.80 0.45 1.20 1.25 1.45

*f

ft

f»

»t

f»

tt

>»

»f

29. 20 .29.12 .29.08 .28.96 28.90 28.85 28.75 28.65

August 6th.

t»

»»

»f

»» »»

28.60

28.40

28.30

(lowest) 2S. 06

28.08

28.20

August 6th. h. in. Bftzoiu.

1. 66 A.K 28. 80

2. 0 2.26 2.45 8.10 3.40 4.10 4.45 5.15 6. 0 6.45 7.46 8.16 8.46 9.30 10.25

11. 0 2. 0P.M 29.42

f>

ff

>»

t»

»f

»9

• >

f>

ft

»t

ff

ff

ff

ff

..28.37 ..28.56 .28.68 .28.75 . . 28. 83 .28.90 .28.97 .29.02 .29.08 . 29. 12 .29.20 . 29. 21 .29.23 . 29. 27 .29.80 .29.34

After which the barometer continued rising to 29.65^ at which point it nsoally stands during fine weather.— C5wi/o« Register, August 15.

The following is an account of the state of the barometer and winds at Canton :

Hour. Oa.k. 4 p.m.

9 A.K.

4p.k.

. •

Barom. 29.79 29.70

29.62 29.64 29.37

Wmd. N.W N.byW.

N.&N.W. Unsettled. N.

August 4th. Fine weather. Moderate breeze.

August 6th. Fair weather. Kain and fteik breese. Blowing hard and in heaTj gusti.

278 THE Raleigh's storm.

CHAP. Hour. vn. 5 A.M. n . . ft	Barom. . . 29. 34 . . 29. 51 . . 29. 68 .. 29.70 . . 29. 85 . . 29. 94	Wind. . . N.E. . . S.E. . . S.E. < . . tS.Ei. . . S.E. • • S.E. •	August 6th. Blowing hfrd with heaTj rain.
11 » 5 P.M. 11 » 8 a.m.	• • tt tt tt , . Blowing hard,— mod«nting. > • ft tt tt » . t9 tt tf August 7th. . Cloudj.

By the Raleigh's log it is seen that her barometer began to fall at noon on the 4th of August; soon after which period the storm set in, at the place where she was. It was nearly twenty-four hours afterwards before the storm reached Macao. An American ship, called the Lady Hayes, under weigh not fieir from Macao, met the wind at north. This vessel then stood on a south-easterly course, with as much sail as she could carry; and she had the wind veering from north to west, and then to south.

Another American ship, called the Levant, which arrived at Macao on the 7th of August, coming from the southward, felt nothing whatever of this storm.

If the tracks of these typhoons are similar to those of the West India hurricanes, they will generally come to Canton from the direction of the Philippine Islands. An extract from the log of H.M.S. Crocodile is added; that vessel having experienced a hurricane in Manilla Bay, on the night of the 23rd of October, 1831.

An account, in the " Asiatic Journal," of this horri- cane at Manilla, states that the young leaves of the " paddy fields" were turned yellow by the falling rain ; and that some other fields of rice, either by the rise of the tide, or from the salt water, which the wind caught up and conveyed to them in showers, were completely whitened.

COLONEL CAPPER S WHIRLWINDS.

279

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Crocodi le, Captain R. Bancroft, CHAP.

at ManiUa.— In Civil Time. '""ntT'

liOg of the Crocodile.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			October 22, 1831.
▲.M.	• • . .	ENE	A.M. Light wind and cloudy.
F.M.			P.M. Light wind and fine ; latter part, mode- rate breezes. •
October 23, 1881.
▲.M.	• . a •	NE	A.M. Light wind and cloudy.
P.M.			P.M. Moderate and cloudy feather. Sunset, increasing breeze ana cloudy, veering
			more northward.
7			At 7, veered to seventy-five fathoms, and ranged the best bower.
8	. . • •	N	At 8.30, the ship drove, let go the best bower ; pointed yards to the wind, and struck top- gallant-masts; earned away the main-top- gallant-mast, by its being swayed through the
			cross-trees.
11			At 11, the t3rphoon very heavy and the sea high; at 11.20, the ship again drove, veered out the whole of the best bower, which brought her up ; at this time the first gig was washed away from the quarter.
man.	•		At midnight, the humcane very severe, with heavy rain and high sea ; bent the sheet cable
			over all, not being able to get it out of the
			hawse-hole.
October 24, 1831.
A.K.	. • . •	Nby W| A.M. Typhoon very heavy, with incessant I rain and high sea.
1			At 1.40, Its extreme rage abated, and shifted
		NE	to the N E ; the sea became less violent, and the ship rode more easily; but very heavy squalls.

Colonel Capper^s Whirlwinds. The late Colonel James Capper's opinion, that hur- ricanes are vast whirlwinds, was formed during twenty years' observation and study of the subject, on the coast of Coromandel. In the preface to his work, pub- lished in 1801, he says, that when he first attempted an investigation into the winds in India, he had great doubts of success, from the number and variety of

280 COLONEL capper's whirlwinds.

CHAP, them : but as he proceeded, he found that there were

' many words to express the same thing, and that the

hurricane, the typhoon, and the tornado were but

English, Greek, or Persian, and Italian or Spanish

names, for a whirlwind.

In classing the winds, he observes, ^* the tempest is, both in cause and effect, the same as the hurricane or whirlwind ; and that the storm, or what the English- man calls a hard gale, is likewise nearly the same." He also stat^, that it is a long standing error that hurricanes in India occur only at the changes of the monsoons ; and that Dr. Halley must have been mis- informed on that subject.

There is this difference in the observations of Colonel Capper and Mr. Redfield, that the former seemed of opinion that all whirlwinds are local and temporary, whilst Mr. Redfield has clearly shown that they are progressive. It is not improbable, however, that some storms are local, and end nearly at the same place where they began.

The accounts of those storms, quoted by Colonel Capper, extracted from " Orme*s History," all oc- curred on the coast of Coromandel : but the reports given of some of the winds, though they may show that these hurricanes were whirlwinds, are not suffi- ciently detailed to enable us to determine their tracks, and from what directions (if they were not local) they came.

The following are extracts from Colonel Capper's work on the winds and monsoons.

Pondi- " During the siege of Pondicherry, at the time of the N.E.

cherry monsoon, and on the 30th of December, 1760, the weather

hurncftnCf

X760. fiae in the evening ^ but a heavy swell rolled on the shore ftoin

COLONEL CAPPERS WHIRLWINDS. 281

tlie south-east. The next morning the sky was of a dusky hue, jC H A F. accompanied by a closeness of the air 5 but without that wild ^1* irregularity which prognosticates a hurricane. Towards the evening, however, the wind freshened from the north-west, and at 8 at night increased considerably. About midnight the wind veered round to the north-east; fell calm with a thick hazej and, in a few minutes, flew round to the south-east, whence it blew with great violence. Almost all the ships might have been saved had they taken advantage of the wind blowing off the land ; but the roaring of the wind and sea prevented the cap- tains from hearing the signals for standing out to sea. The Newcastle and Protector were driven on shore, a few miles south of Pondicherry, and the crews were saved. The Norfolk, Admiral Stevens, returned next day ; and on the 7th, came in the Salis- bury, from Trinco, Trincomalee, south; and the Tiger, from Madras, north : so that in these opposite directions, of east, north, and south, the violence of the storm had not been felt.

^The next in succession was that of 1773 3 on the 20th of Madras October that year, many days after the north-east monsoon had ^21?*^*°®' apparently commenced, the wind began to slacken, and the clouds in the evening appeared uncommonly red, particularly on the day preceding the storm. On the morning of the 21st, a strong wind blew off the land; and, in the course of a few hours, flew all round the compass. At this time the Norfolk, man-of- war. Admiral Cornish, with the America and Weymouth, and the Princess Charlotte, country ship of 400 tons, remained in Madras Roads, with several other country vessels. The wind began to blow from the north-west, and continued from that quarter for three or four hours, of which time the men of war availed themselves to put to sea ; but it then suddenly shifted to the eastward, and prevented most of the country ships from following their example. After having blown with incessant violence for fourteen hours, and with almost equal strength from every point of the compass, it at length ceased, but literally left only wrecks behind.

** All the vessels at anchor were lost, and almost every person on board perished ; but the men-of-war and Princess Charlotte returned into the Roads on the 24th. The former had felt the gale very severely whilst near the coast, but without sustaining any material injury : the latter vessel likewise, from staying rather too long at anchor, had lost her fore and main masts, and was otherwise much damaged.*'

282 COLONEL capper's whirlwinds.

CHAP. From the Admiralty I obtained copies of the log-

books of the Norfolk, the Salisbury, Tiger, York, and

other ships of Admiral Stevens' squadron of 1760-1. At Pondicherry Roads this storm began about N.N.W., and ended about S.S.E.

The Tiger, as well as the Salisbury, York, and Weymouth, were all to the southward of Pondicherry, and were in different places within the influence of this storm ; apparently showing that, like the otheiB, it came from the direction of the equator, although it must have moved a little southerly at Pondicherry, by the wind veering from N.N.W. to S.S.E.

After accounts of other storms, Colonel Capper continues : —

** Ships which put to sea in due time very soon get bejrond the influence of the hurricane to the eastward ; and it in very well known that they never extend far inland. All theae cir- cumstances, properly considered, clearly manifest the nature of these winds, or rather positively prove them to be whirlwinds, whose diameter cannot he more than 1^0 miles ; and the vortex seems generally near Madras or Pulicat. Those which hiq^pen in the north-east monsoon, generally fall with most vvAeaet within a few leagues of this place, and never, I believe, reach south of Porto Novo.

''But at the commencement of the south-west monaooo, violent gales are sometimes felt on the east side of Ceylon, and the southern extremity of the coast."

After describing a hurricane, encountered in sooth latitude by the Britannia, Indiaman, on the 10th of March, 1770, and explaining that it did not extend above 30 leagues, since the Britannia fell in with two ships which were within this distance. Colonel Capper proceeds : — " Thus then it appears that these tempests or hurricanes are tornadoes or local whirlwinds, and are felt with at least equal violence on the sea coast

.^

COLONEL capper's WHIRLWINDS. 283

and at some little distance out at sea. But there is a chap.

material difference in the situation of the sun when ^—

they appear at different places : on the coast of Coro- mandel, for example, they seldom happen, particularly to the northward, except when the sun is in the oppo- site hemisphere. On the Malabar coast they rage with most violence during the monsoon, whilst the sun is almost vertical. Near the island of Mauritius they are felt in January, February, and March, which may be deemed their summer months; and in the West Indies, according to Mr. Edward's * History of Ja- maica,' the hurricane season begins in August and ends in October."

In Colonel Capper's work, we find Franklin's expla- nation of what first led him to observe that the north- east storms of America came from the south-west. It is in a letter to Mr. Alexander Small, dated the 12th of May, 1760, and is as follows: —

" About twenty years ago, we were to have an Prankiin. eclipse of the moon at Philadelphia, about 9 o'clock ; I intended to have observed it, but was prevented by a north-east storm, which came on about 7, with thick clouds as usual, that quite obscured the whole hemi- sphere; yet when the post brought us the Boston newspaper, giving us an account of the same storm in those parts, I found the beginning of the eclipse had been well observed there, though Boston is north-east of Philadelphia about 400 miles. This puzzled me, because the storm began so soon with us as to prevent any observation; and, being a north-east storm, I imagined it must have begun rather sooner in places further to the north-eastward, than it did at Philadel- phia ; but I found that it did not begin with them until

284 BAT OF BENGAL HURRICANES.

CHAP, near 1 1 o clock, so that they had a good observatioii

1— of the eclipse. And, upon comparing all the other

accounts I received from the other colonies, of the time of the beginning of the same storm, and since that of other storms of the same kind, I found the beginning to be always later the further north-eastward."

Whilst introducing the above paragraph, Colonel Capper says, it affords us a proof that a current of air in America moved many hundred miles during a north-east storm, probably from the Gulf of Mexico to Boston. Thus, having stated his belief that hurricanes were whirlwinds, he was upon the point of showing also that they were progressive.

Bay of Bengal Hurricanes.* Baj of When hurricanes occur at the mouths of the Riyw

Bengal

hurrieanes. Ganges, the inundations of the sea, owing to the lowness of the alluvial land there, appear to be veiy disastrous; and also to be very frequent. On the 31st of October, 1831, during a hurricane, it is said, 1 50 miles of country were flooded, and 300 villi^^ with 10,000 persons, destroyed.

Harricwip, The accouut of another hurricane, on October 7,

October 7|

1832. 1832, being more detailed, is here reprinted from the *' Asiatic Journal.'' It will be seen that the barometer of the ship London fell very nearly two inches on that day, off the mouths of tlie Ganges ; whilst at Chan* dernagore it only fell half an inch. It may hence be presumed, as well as from the report of the wind^ that the London was near the centre of the storm. The

* See ** The Progreas of the Derelopment of the Law of SCoroM.'*

jM

BAT OF BENGAL HURRICANES. 285

extract published in the "Asiatic Journal" is, how- chap.

ever, not sufficient to enable the ship's track to be laid ! —

down. The veering of the wind in this storm will be observed to be precisely similar to that in the West Indian hurricanes ; and the conclusion may be drawn, that this storm came from the Birman coast, and from the south-east.

Hurricane of the 7th October y 1 832 at the Mouth of

the Ganges.

The storm of Sunday, 7th October, 1832, is de- At Chan- scribed, in a letter from Chandernagore, as having ®"**^®' been at one time, though fortunately not of long dura- tion, almost terrific, from the appalling violence of the wind. The oscillations of the barometer are described as very remarkable.

Inches.

The mean height on Saturday was 29.78

Bat, though the weather was evidently threatening, it had

not fiedlen, on Sunday morning at 6 a.m., to more than 29*68 From this time, however, to 3.30 p.m., when it was at its

lowest, it fell to 29.16

Remaining stationary only for about an hour, during

which time the wind was at times tremendous. The barometer then rose again with such rapidity (the

gale increasing from this time) that at 9 p«m. it was at 29.46

And at 2 a.m. on Monday at 29.62

At 9.30 again at 29.78

The wind at daylight on Sunday was .... £. N. £.

At noon East.

At 3.30 P.M. the gale was at its greatest

height, and wind E. S. E.

In the evening it was S. £.

And at midnight Calm.

p

286

BAY OF BENGAL HURRICANES.

CHAP. Extract from the " Asiatic Joumal/* relative to a Gale on the Vn. 7th October, 1832.

Log of the Note made from the Log of the Ship London, Mr. Wimtley London. Commander, between lat. 18° 26' and 20'' 23' j long. 86° 30^

and 90° East.

Hour.' Winds.

Bar.

I

A.M.

8 12

....

I

8 NE 10 ENE Noon ' ....

P.M. I

4 EbyN 6

8

9 10 12

A.M.

6 Noon

SW

8W

29.70 29.60

29.40

28.90

28.80 28.60 27.80

28.10 28.20 29.00

, 29.30 ; 29.60

October 6, 1832. AM. Cloudj weather. Midnight. Squalls and rain.

October 7, 1832. A.M. Squalls, with rain. Strong gales. Noon. Gales increasing.

P.M. Fresh gales. A hurricane. Tremendous hurricane. Wind shifted to SW, and bltw with creased liolence. Increased yiolence. Midnight. More moderate.

October 8, 1883. A.M. Moderating. Noon. Strong gales, high

At Calcutta^ during the same storm, the wind, oom- mencing at north-east^ veered to east^ then shifted to south-west. The lowest point of the barometer at Calcutta was 29.20.

Hurricane The most severe storm of late occurrence at the 1833.^ ' mouth of the Granges, is that of May 21, 1833, when the H. E. I. C. ship Duke of York was carried a great way inland and wrecked. An account of her loss was published soon after ; but is now out of print, and no copy can be obtained.

In the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, Mr. Prineep (secretary to the society) has given a report of the barometer on board the Duke of York. The fisdl is

BAY OF BENGAL HURRICANES.

287

the greatest hitherto met with ; exceeding two inches chap.

and a half: being a diminution, if correct, of one- '- —

twelfth of the whole atmospheric pressure.

Hurricane at the Mouth of the Hoogley, ^\st May, 1833.

'* The tide rose at the mouth of the river more than twelve feet above the ordinary springs of the season, sweeping over the land more than the eye could reach, destroying all the bunds and villages, with the population and cattle. At the lower station of Hidgelee and Balasore, the tide rose several feet higher than in the gale of October, 1831, which destroyed nearly 50,000 persons. The ground was strewn with the wrecks of houses, trees, and dead bodies.

'' The accounts from Diamond Harbour state, that the whole country, as for as can be discerned, both up and down the river on both banks, was strewed with corpses of human beings and of the brute creation. The carcases of two or three tigers have been^drifted to Diamond Port, besides many deer and cattle, and quantities of large fish.

'' The gale, as in most of these cases, seems to have been con- fined within a small range, and to the vicinity of the land, as several ships, which arrived at Calcutta a few days after, had felt nothing of it." — Asiatic Journal for Nov. 1833. — See Inundation of Hidgelee and Balasore.

''At what is called the new tripod, the wind commenced at iOfUk'east" — Ihid.

An Account of the Gale of the 2l8t May, by James PaiifSEP,

Secretary to the Bengal Asiatic Society.

** In the Meteorological Register for May, I noticed the great fall of the barometer which took place previous to, and during the severe gale that did so much damage at the mouth of the river Hoogley. I have since been favoured with an extract from the register of the barometer kept on board the H. C. S. Duke of York, one of the numerous vessels wrecked or stranded along the Hidgelee coast. This ship lay apparently in the line of the greatest force of the gale -, and the depression experienced in the barometer, confirmed as it is by the indications of a sympie- someter on board, gave us a terrible proof of the intensity of the storm. The fall in Calcutta was three-quarters of an inch ; at

coast.

ft 99

99 99

99 99

99 99

y» 99

99 99

29.09	80
28.67	80i
28.00	80
	80
26.50	80
27.00	79i
27^0	79
28.00
28.60	80|
28.20	81
28.30	82
28.60	84

288 BAY OF BENGAL HURRICANES.

CHAP. Saugor^ it appears, by the following statement (for the anthen- ^^* ticity of which I can vonch), to have been upwards of two inekei. Tuesday, May 21, 1833. Inches. Ther.

8 A.M. The barometer stood at 29.09

y 99 99

10

1 1 No mercury in sight in the tube

11.30 Mercury reappeared 26.50

Noon. The barometer stood at

4 P.M.

8

Midnight. Wednesday 22. 4 a.m. 8 Noon.

" The times of the changes are copied from those set down almost immediately after the gale \ of course from recollectkm.

** The oil in the sympiesometer retired completely, whoi tlie mercury in the barometer disappeared, and rose again a litde before it.

^'The mercury in the barometer did not, after Toesday ni^it, or rather Wednesday morning, act as it should have done, which was found to be owing to some salt water having got down vpoB the leather bag, and loosened it from the wood, and so having permitted the escape of the mercury.

(Signed) " W. T. D."

''The severity of this hurricane fell on Hidgelee and Sangor. It was not felt at Balasore.** — Journal of Bengal Asiatic Soektg.

Malabar The hurricaiies on the Malabar coast appear to be of the same character as those in the Bay of Bengal : but it is impossible to arrive at just conclusions from the imperfect accounts usually given of them.* When the attention of the Officers of the East India Navy is drawn to the subject, they will no doubt explain tbe mode of action of the winds in these storms, and trace the tracks of hurricanes in the Indian seas.

* Great attention haa been paid to thli subject in India aince this wt« first publifthed.

Jll

•289

CHAPTER VIII.

I

1

THE HURRICANES OF 1780. i

I

4 I

TER having so far studied the nature of storms, I c n a p.

; desirous of ascertaining whether the greatest hur- !—

pne recorded in West Indian history partook of the

be character as those already described ; and the j

lard of Admiralty have afforded me every facility in ;

taining the documents necessary for the inquiry. i

Three great storms occurred nearly at the same

e ; and these have been confounded together, and

sidered but as one. The first destroyed the town

Savanna-la-Mar, on the 3rd of October, 1780.

J second, and by far the greater one, passed over

'bados on the 10th and 11th of the same month j

I year. The third dispersed and disabled the ;

^nish fleet, under Solano, in the Gulf of Mexico, ]

pr it had sailed from Havannah, to attack Pen- *

lola. :

An account, published in the " Annual Register," of

[earthquake having occurred at the same time, has |

m quoted as an example to prove that these two \

enomena are connected. An earthquake may cer- '

ply occur at the same time as a hurricane ; but, in -

\ West Indies, persons seem to have been pre- .

posed to believe in these phenomena accompanying

u

290 HURRICANES OF 1780.

CHAP, each other. We have a very strons: instance of thi

VIII . ,. JO

in Sir George Rodney's despatch ; for, after express- ing his conviction that an earthquake must have accompanied the great Barbados huiTicane, he states " that the violence of the wind could alone Jjave pre- vented the inhabitants from feeling the shock," which only proves the force of the wind. The mode <rf| investigation adopted here, of printing in detail the whole of the matter collected relative to hurricanes, will afford to every one the same opportunity for forming a judgment on the truth, or otherwise, of the connection between these phenomena. A note on this subject, introduced into the modem editions of Bryan Edwards's History of the West Indies, is not to be found in the last edition, which that author revised before his death. There seems no reason to doubt, from what we now know of the effects caused by hurricanes, that Savanna-la-Mar was overwhelmed by the sea, owing to the effect of diminished atmo- spheric pressure, together with the force of the wind.

Chart IX. has been formed from the various docu- ments procured relative to these storms. As England was then at war, there were large fleets in the West Indies and on the American coast ; and this circum- stance has afforded great facilities for tracing these gales.

On the same principle as that followed in the preceding chapters, documents explanatory of these three hurricanes will now be given in detail; the course of the first one being marked by a line dotted on the Chart.

The command of the British fleet in the West

HURRICANE OF 1780. 291

Indies was divided. Sir Peter Parker commanded chap.

VIII.

at Jamaica, and was at Port Royal ; but Sir George 1—

Rodney was off New York in the Sandwich, having gone to the coast of America with a portion of his fleet just before the storms occurred.

Of Sir Peter Parkers squadron, the Thunderer, Stirling Castle, Scarborough, Barbados, Phoenix, Deal Castle, Victor, and the Endeavour, were all lost; and nearly the whole of their crews perished. The Berwick, Hector, Trident, Ruby, Bristol, Ulysses, and Pomona, were dismasted.

Of Sir George Rodney's squadron, the Blanche, Andromeda, Laurel, Camelion, and Beaver's Prize, were lost ; and the Vengeance, Montagu, Ajax, Alc- mene, Egmont, Endymion, Albemarle, Venus, and Amazon, were dismasted or severely damaged.

Some of the logs printed to explain the Savanna- la-Mar hurricane, serve also to explain the great Barbados hurricane.

It is necessary, in comparing the dates, to bear iu mind that the log-books of 1780 were kept in nautical time.

u2

292

Savanna- la- Mar Hurricane.

CHAP. Account of the Jamaica hurricane of the Srd of

VIII

— October, 1780, from the "Annual Register.'

»

Savanna- ''About one p.m. the gale begau from the S.£.^ and con- Char"lX. tinned increasing with accumulated violence nntil four in the afternoon, when it veered to the south, and became a perfect tempest^ which lasted in force until near eight -, it then abated. The sea during the last period exhibited a most awful scene ; the waves swelled to an amazing height, rushed with an im- petuosity not to be described on the land, and in a few minutes determined the fate of all the houses in the Bay. Earth- "About ten the waters began to abate, and at that time a

?"t^y***^ smart shock of an earthquake was felt. All the small vessels been felt were driven ashore, and dashed to pieces. The ships. Princess at 10 P.M. Royal, Captain Ruthveuj Henry, Richardson ; and Austin Hall, Austin, were forced from their anchors, and carried so far into the morass that they will never be got off. The earthquake lifted the Princess Royal from her beam-ends, righted her, and fixed her on a firm bed. This circumstance has been of great use to the surviving inhabitants, for whose accommodation sh'e now serves as a house. Lucca .. , " At Lucea^ay only two houses remain; and H. M. sloop Jwnaica^ •'Dltdger, lying m that harbour, has lost all her masts, and run

* on shore.

Montego . */ At Montego Bay the tempest increased to such an amazing

Jamaica, ^^gree, as at dark to threaten general ruin and destruction.

The prodigious Hashes of lightning, which regularly succeeded

Midnight, each other, was an alleviation. From midnight (from the best

of our information and recollection) the storm began to abate.*'

The log of II. M. sloop Badger, then commanded by the lute Lord Colliiigwood, which is mentioned us having been in Lucea Bay, will be given ; and Lucea Bav will be found marked on the Chart.

*,

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780. 293

The centre of the hurricane passed over this vessel chap.

VIII

about six o'clock on the afternoon of the 3rd October. 1_

Four of the ships which were lost, the Phcenix, Scarborough, Barbados, and Victor, were lying in Mondego Bay a few days before the storm. The two last sailed on the 29th ; the Phoenix on the 30th of September; and the Scarborough on the 1st of October. This last ship was bound for the Spanish Main. Both the Badger and Phoenix were in com- pany with the Barbados just previous to the hurri- cane. The place of the Barbados when last seen by the Phcenix, and of the Phcenix when wrecked on the coast of Cuba, are both marked on the Chart. The Scarborough and Victor have never been heard of.

In a published letter by the First Lieutenant of the Phoenix, the hurricane, as felt by that ship, is thus described. When the Phcenix was in company with the Barbados off Port Antonio, the wind began to blow, with a stormy appearance to the eastward, about 11 at night, on the 2nd of October; and the Phcenix then close-reefed her topsails. At 8, on the morning of the 3rd, the wind was east-north-east^ with occa- sional heavy squalls; and Sir Hyde Parker, who commanded the Phoenix, remarked that the weather had the same appearance as he had observed in the commencement of a hurricane in the East Indies. He then ordered the topsails to be taken in, and wore the ship in order to keep mid channel between Jamaica and Cuba.

At 2 P.M. the Phoenix lav-to, with a storm mizen- staysail, and her head to the northward. When night set in, the storm increased with great violence. At midnight the wind was south-east^ and the ship

294

SAVANNA-LA-MAll IIURIUCANE, 1780.

CHAP, drawing upon Cuba, Sir Hyde Parker determined to

L_ wear her; but no canvass could withstand the wind

at this time, and she was wore by sending two hun- dred of the crew into the fore-rigging. When about to cut away the masts, the ship took the ground on the coast of Cuba ; and it was then 5 o'clock in the morning of the 4th of October. At Lucea Bay, Jamaica, the Badger's log shows that, six or seven hours before this period, it was moderate weather there ; and this proves the progress of the storm. An extract from Lieut. Archer's letter to his mother will be found to follow after the log of the Princess Royal. By the account here given, the hurricane would appear to have come to Savanna-la-Mar from the south-eastward.

Log of the Extract from the Log of H.M. S. Badger, commanded by ^^^' Cuthbert CoUingwood, Esq.^ at Lucea Bay, Jamaica. — la

Nautical Time.

Hour. . Courses.

P.M. A.M.

10 Noon.

P.M.

9

A.M.

10

Winds.

NE

Remarks.

Monday, Octoher 2, 1780.

P.M. Showery ; received on board two cords of wood from the shore.

A.M. Weighed, in company with the Man- choec, for Pensacola. At 10, dispatched the above vessel for Pensacola.

Noon, came-to, for Lucea harbour, in seven fathoms water, with the best bower.

Tuesday, October 3, 1780.

P.M. Moderate.

At 9, hard rain, and continued raining aU night, with squally weather.

At 10, tripped our anchor; let her drive within the point of the Fort, till it bore N by £, distant three-quarters of a mile ; and the easternmost X £ by N, distant one mile and a half ; heavy squalls, with hard rain ; down tup- gall ant-masts.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

295

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Badger — concluded.

llotir.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1 4 4.30 5 5.30 6 10 A.M. •	• • . • • • . .	NE Calm SW	Wednesday, October 4, 1780. P.M. At 1, let go the sheet anchor in five and a half fathoms ; muddy ; veered the cable, and brought both anchors a-head; continued very heavy gales, with hard rain. At 4, let go another anchor. At 4.30, both sheet and bower anchors came home ; veered away to the clinch round the mast, when the best bower cable parted ; then immediately the sheet cable parted like- wise. At 5, she was driving on shore verv fast, when a gust of wind laid her down, with the coamings of the hatchway in the water. By consent of captain and officers, cut away the weather lanyards of the main shrouds, when the mainmast went away about twenty feet above deck ; she immediately righted, and drove broadside on shore, abreast of the town, the sea making a free passage over us, when our boat went to pieces alongside. At 5.30 cut the bower cable to let her swing end on. 4 About 6, it fell calm for half an hour, when the wind shifted round to the S W, blowing a hurricane, with strong flashes of lightning. At 10, it became quite moderate. A.M. lumed everybody to, to clear the wreck of the mast; moderate, with frequent showers.
Tuesday, October 10, 1780. Had an account of H.M.S. PbcBuix being wrecked on the coast of Cuba. (Signed) JAMES MORINO.

Extract of a despatch from Rear* Admiral Sir Peter Parker, commanding a squadron on the Jamaica sta- tion, dated on board the Ruby, Port Royal harbour, Nov. 6, 1780.

"It is with much concern, that I give the following detdil of the disasters which have befallen some of the ships and vessels on this station in the late hurricanes.

"The 4th of last month, at half- past five in the morning, H.M.S. Phoenix was wrecked on the island of Cuba, about three leagues to the eastward of Cape Crux, in a most dreadful hurri-

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Badger.

'^1

^' I cap V U^

*

296 SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, cane ; aud^ according to Sir Hyde Parker's representation, if ^^^' she had not been driven on shore she must soon have foundered. All the ship's company were saved excepting twenty, most of whom were lost with the mainmast and washed overboard. Sir Hyde Parker despatched his first lieutenant, Mr. Archer, in one of the ship*s boats to Montego Bay for assistance ; and, by the 1 1th of October, all that remained of the ship's crew, to the num- ber of 240, were embarked on board of H. M. sloop Forctipine and three sloops, and arrived safe in Montego Bay on the 15th. I sent the James to bring the people round to this port ai^d this bay. Sir H. Parker was tried for the loss of the ship, and honourably acquitted.

" H. M. sloops the Barbados and Victor, and H. M. S. the Scarborough, were in the hurricane. The two former. It is ap- prehended, are foundered i but the latter, I am in hopes, is safe. She was under orders to proceed to the Spanish Main ; and as the hurricane ran in veins, she may have escaped, as well as the Pallas, Diamond, Pelican, and Lowestoffe, who were also at sea at the time, and are all arrived safe, without any damage what- ever. The Pomona arrived on the 24th, with the bowsprit and foremast sprung, and mizcn-mast gone -, and on the 26th, Rear- Admiral Rowley arrived in the Grafton, with the following ships, from convoying the trade part of the way to Europe, viz., the Hector, Bristol, Trident, and Ruby, all of them disabled, and mostly dismasted. The Ulysses arrived the same day, without main and mizen-mast, having thrown all her upper-deck guns overboard. Captain Stewart has informed me that he is going to England with the Berwick, dismasted ; and I hope the Thunderer and Stirling Castle are also on their passage home, for I have not as yet received any intelligence of these ships.

"Their Lordships will see, by the enclosed defects of the ships, what a miserable state several of them arc in 3 and what a number of masts, yards, and' stores, arc wanting to refit them.

" 1 have dircted the naval storekeeper to send an abstract of the defects, &c., and remainder of stores in our magazine, to the Commissioners of the Navy, and I have written to them on that head.

" Surveys are taking on the hulls of the ships that were in the hurricanes of the 5th and l/th ultimo. It is at present appre- hended that the Hector cannot be put into a condition here to enable her to proceed to England before next summer ; but she

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780. 297

may then safely undertake the voyage with jury-masts, and only CHAP, a few guns on board. She threw all her guns overboard in the VIII. storm, excepting two 18-pounders.

" I shall send home with the next couyoy as many of the disabled ships as can be fitted with jury-mksts. By the different accounts which have arrived, I find that the late storms have* •^ visited the Windward Islands as well as these seas. The Egmont arrived here on the 28th ultimo. On the 11th of last month the Egmont, Montagu, Ajax, and Amazon, being placed across the entrance of the careenage to St. Lucia, were obliged, by the violence of the wind, to put to sea -, and Captain Fanshawe does not know what has become of the other ships. On the 29th, the Endymiou arrived at this port from a cruize to windward of Martinico, with only the foremast standing. She brought in with her two French ships, named the Marquis de Brancas and L'Esle, which she took on her way hither. These two ships were, on the 11th of October, forced out with many others from St. Pierre's Road, Martinico, by the violence of the storm. They only arrived the day before with about fifty merchant ships, transports, and victuallers, and having 5000 troops on board; French and were escorted by two French frigates, named La Ceres and ^^^^^7' La Constant.

" I am. Sir, &c.

(Signed) "P. PARKER."

"To Philip Stephens, Esq."

Extract of a letter from Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Commander on the Jamaica station, dated on board the Ruby, 30th December, 1780.

"By my last letter of the 6th ultimo, their Lordships will see the distressed state of this squadron. The loss of the Scar- borough frigate, and the Barbados and Victor sloops, seems now past all doubt. The Thunderer has not been heard of. There is a. chance that she has either got to England or America.

"The 19th of October, the Stirling Castle, after having wea- thered the late gale and saved her foremast, her hull being very little damaged, ran at nine o'clock at night, going eight knots^

298

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

C H A P. on the Silver Keys, which are a cluster of rocks, several of them ^^^^' under water, about fifteen leagues north of Old Cape Francois. She immediately separated ; and, of the whole crew, we only hear of one midshipman and four seamen who have escaped. Two of the seamen are now at the Cape 3 the midshipman and the other seamen were taken from a part of the wreck by a small vessel, and carried into Port-au-Prince, where they were clothed and treated with great humanity, and sent down here in a flag of truce,*'

The next log is that of the Princess Royal, a 90- gun sliip, lying in Port Royal Harbour. No allusion is made to an earthquake eitljcr in this log or in any of the oflScial documents which I have met with from Jamaica.

Ix)g of the Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H.M.S. PaiNCBM Prmcess Royal, Captain Harwood.— In Nautical Time.

(Ship alongside the Wharf at Port Royal Harbour.)

Winds.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

Remarks.

• • • •

ESE

S£ ESE

Monday, October 2, 1780.

P.M. Squally weather, with heayj thowen of rain ; hauled the ship off from the wharf to make roum for the stages.

A.M. People employed in sundry duties; carpenters fitting the outrisger; eaiilkcrt caulking the first course on the larboard-side of the ship's bottom.

• Tuesday, October 3, 1780.

SEbyE P.M. Squally weather, with rain; people

ployed as before ; violent squalls, wiu Tery

heavy rain in the night ; wind from the eouth*

eastward.

ESE ! A.M. Til e gale increasing, with much rain;

people employed securing the ship; by the

violence of the wind in the night, the misen*

; topsail, fore- top- gallant-sail, and main-top-

, gallant-sail, that were covering tents in tne

yard, and had been condemned by survey on

S E the 80th September last, were entirely blown

to pieces.

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

299

Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H. M.S. Princess CHAP

Royal — concluded.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. A.M.	• • • • • • • •	SSE S ssw	Wednesday, October 4, 1780. P.M. Excessive hard squalls, with thun- der, lightning, and rain ; people employed as before. At midnight more moderate, and light rain. A.M. Moderate and fair; people employed getting the outrigger's pendants over the mast- head, and other duties ; caulkers caulking the larboard-side of the ship's bottom.

VIII.

Log of the

Princess

Royal.

Extract from a letter* of Lieutenant Archer's to chart ix. his mother. The Phoenix frigate had been sent to Pensacola. This extract commences from that part of the letter which speaks of the ship's return to Jamaica.

it

Nothing remarkable happened for ten days afterwards, Lieut.

when we chased a Yankee man-of-war for six hours, but could not get near enough to her before it was dark, to keep sight of her -J so that we lost her because unable to carry any sail on the mainmast. In about twelve days more made the island of Jamaica, having weathered all the squalls, and put into Mon-' tego Bay for water j so that we had a strong party for kicking up a dust on shore, having found three men-of-war lying there. Dancing, &c. &c. till two o'clock every morning, little thinking what was to happen in four days' time ; for out of the four men-of war that were there, not one was in being at the end of that time, and not a soul alive but those left of our crew. Many of the houses, where we had been so merry, were so completely destroyed, that scarcely a vestige remained to mark where they stood. Thy works are wonderful, O God ! praised be thy holy name !

" September the 30th, weighed j bound for Port Royal, round the eastward of the island ; the Barbados and Victor had sailed the day before, and the Scarborough was to sail the next. Mo-

* I am indebted to Mr. Redfield for this letter.

Archer's letter.

300 SAVANNA- LA-M AH HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, derate weather until October the 2nd. Spoke to the Barbados ^^^^' off Port Antonio in the evening. At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a monstrous heavy appearance from the cast- ward. Close reefed the topsails. Sir Hyde sent for me. 'What sort of weather have we. Archer ?* 'It blows a little, and has a very ugly look : if in any other quarter but this, I should say we were going to have a gale of wind.* — * Ay, it looks so very often here when there is no wind at all j however, dou*t hoist the topsails till it clears a little 3 there is no trusting any coun- try.* At twelve I was relieved j the weather had the same rough look : however, they made sail upon her, but had a very dirty night. At eight in the morning I came up again, found it blowing hard from the cast -north-east with close-reefed topsails upon the ship, and heavy squalls at times. Sir Hyde came upon deck. 'Well, Archer, what do you think of it?* 'Oh, Sir, it is only a touch of the times ; wc shall have an observa- tion at twelve o'clock ; the clouds are beginning to break ; it will clear up at noon, or else blow very hard afterwards.' — * I wish it would clear up ; but I doubt it much. I was once in a hurricane in the East Indies, and the beginning of it had mach the same appearance as this : so take in the topsails -, we have plenty of sea- room.'

" At twelve, the gale still increasing, wore ship, to keep as near mid- channel, between Jamaica and Cuba, as possible : at one the gale increasing still -, at two harder yet : it still blows harder. Reefed the courses, and furled them 3 brought-to under a foul mi zen- staysail : head to the northward. In the evening no sign of the weather taking off, but every appearance of the storm increasing, prepared for a i)roper gale of wind -, secured all the sails with spare gaskets -, good rolling tackles upon the yards ; squared the booms 5 saw the boats all made fast ; new lashed the guns ; double-breeched the lower deckers ; saw that the carpenters had the tarpaulins and battens all ready for hatch- ways 5 got the top-gallant-mast down upon the deck ; jib-boom and spritsail-yard fore and aft j in fact, every thing we could think of to make a snug ship.

*' The poor devils of birds now began to find the uproar in the elements, for numbers, both of sea and land kinds, came on board of us. I took notice of some which, happening to be to leew^ard, turned to windward, like a shi]), tack and tack ; for they could not fly aG;ainst it. Whon thoy came over the ship they dashed themselves down upon the dock, without attempt-

s.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780. 301

ing to stir till picked up, and when let go again they wonld not CHAP, leave the ship, but endeavoured to hide themselves from the VIII. wind.

" At eight o'clock a hurricane j the sea roaring, but the ^ind still steady to a point -, did not ship a spoonful of water. How- ever, got the hatchways all secured, expecting what would be the consequence, should tlie wind shift j placed the carpenters by the mainmast, with broad axes, knowing, from experience, that at the moment you may want to cut it away to save the ship an axe may not be found. Went to supper — bread, cheese, and porter. The purser frightened out of his wits about his bread-bags j the two marine-officers as white as sheets, not understanding the ship's working so much, and the noise of the lower deck guns, which, by this time, made a pretty screeching to people not used to it -, it seemed as if the whole ship's side was going at each roll. Wooden, our carpenter, was all this time smoking his pipe and laughing at the doctor 5 the second lieute- nant upon deck, and the third in his hammock.

" At ten o'clock I thought to get a little sleep ; came to look into my cot, it was full of water ; for every seam, by the strain- ing of the ship, had begun to leak. Stretched myself, therefore, upon deck between two chests, and left orders to be called, should the least thing happen. At twelve a midshipman came to me. * Mr. Archer, we are just going to wear ship. Sir.' ' Oh, very well j 1*11 be up directly. What sort of weather have you got?' — 'It blows a hurricane.* Went upon deck; found Sir Hyde there. ' It blows damned hard. Archer.' ' It does indeed. Sir.* — ' I don't know that I ever remember its blowing so hard before, but the ship makes a very good weather of it upon this tack as she bows the sea -, but we must wear her, as the wind has shifted to the south-east, and we are drawing right upon Cuba 3 so do you go forward, and have some hands stand by ; loose the lee yard-arm of the foresail, and, when she is right before the wind, whip the clew-garnet close up, and roll up the sail.' ' Sir, there is no canvass can stand against this a moment 5 if we attempt to loose him he will fly into ribbons in an instant, and we may lose three or four of our people -, she'll wear by manning the fore shrouds.' — * No, I don't think she will.* * I'll answer for it, Sir ; I have seen it tried several times on the coast of America with success.' — 'Well, try it; if she does not wear, we can only loose the foresail afterwards.' This was a great condescension from such a man as Sir Hyde. How-

302 SAVANNA-LA-MAR HUllRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, ever, by sending about two hundred people into the fore-rigging, ^^^^' after a hard struggle, she wore j found she did not make so good weather on this tack as on the other 3 for as the sea b^an to run across she had not time to rise from one sea before another lashed against her. Began to think we should lose our masts, as the ship ^ay very much along, by the pressure of the wind constantly upon the yards and masts alone ; for the poor mizen-staysail had gone in shreds long before, and the sails began to fly from the yards through the gaskets into coachwhips. My God ! to think that the wind could have such force!

" Sir Hyde now sent me to see what was the matter between decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As soon as I was below, one of the marine -officers calls out, 'Good God! Mr. Archer, we are sinking 3 the water is up to the bottom of my cot.' — ' Poohi pooh ! as long as it is not over your mouth you are well off^ what the devil do you make this noise for?* I found there was some water between decks, but nothing to be alarmed at: scuttled the deck, and let it ran into the well; found she made a good deal of water through the sides and decks 5 turned the watch below to the pumps, though only two feet of water in the well ; but expected to be kept constantly at work now, as the ship laboured much, with scarcely a part of her above water but the quarter-deck, and that but seldom. 'Come, pump away, my boys. Carpenters, get the weather chain-pump rigged.* * All ready. Sir.' — ' Then man it, and keep both pumps going.'

" At two o'clock the chain-pump was choked -, set the car- penters at work to clear it 3 the two head-pumps at work upon deck : the ship gained upon us while our chain-pumps idle : in a quarter of an hour they were at work again, and began to gain upon her. While 1 was standing at the * pnmpSy cheering the people, the carpenter's mate came running to me with a face as long as my arm. ' Oh, Sir, the ship has sprung a leak in the gunner's room.* — ' Go, then, and tell the carpenter to come to me 5 but don't speak a w^ord to any one else. . . . Mr. Goodiuoh, 1 am told there is a leak in the gunner's room ; go and see what is the matter, but don't alarm any body; and come and make your report privately to me.' In a short time he returned. * Sir, there's nothing there ; 'tis only the water washing up between the timbers that this booby has taken for a leak.* • Oh, very well ; go upon deck and see if you can keep

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780. 303

any of the water from washing down below.* — ' Sir, I have C II A P.

had four people constantly keeping the hatchways secure, but VIII.

there is such a weight of water upon the deck that nobody can "~

stand it when the ship rolls.' The gunner soon afterwards

came to me. * Mr. Archer, I should be glad if you would step

this way into the magazine for a moment.* I thought some

damned thing was the matter, and ran directly ' Well, what is

the matter here ?* — * The ground tier of powder is spoiled, and I

want to show you that it is not out of carelessness in me in

stowing it, for no powder in the world could be better stowed :

now. Sir, what am I to do ? if you don't speak to Sir Hyde, he

will be angry with me.* I could not forbear smiling to see how

easy he took the danger of the ship, and said to him, ' Let us

shake off this gale of wind first, and talk of the damaged powder

afterwards.'

" At four we had gained upon the ship a little, and I went upon deck, it being my watch. The second lieutenant relieved me at the pumps. Who can attempt to describe the appear- ance of things upon deck ? If I was to write for ever I could not give you an idea of it — a total darkness all above -, the sea on fire, running as it were in Alps, or Peaks of Teneriffe (moun- tains are too common an idea) -, the wind roaring louder than thunder (absolutely no flight of imagination) -, the whole made more terrible, if possible, by a very uncommon kind of blue lightnings the poor ship very much pressed, yet doing what she could, shaking her sides, and groaning at every stroke. Sir Hyde upon deck lashed to windward ! I soon lashed myself alongside of him, and told him the situation of things below, sa3ring the ship did not make more water than might be ex- pected in such weather, and that I was only afraid of a gun breaking loose. ' I am not in the least afraid of that -, 1 have commanded her six years, and have had many a gale of wind in her ; so that her iron work, which always gives way first, is pretty well tried. Hold fast! that was an ugly sea; we must lower the yards, I believe. Archer; the ship is much pressed.' — ' If we attempt it. Sir, we shall lose them, for a man aloft can do nothing ; besides, their being down would ease the ship very little ; the mainmast is a sprung mast ; I wish it was overboard without carrying anything else along with it; but that can soon be done ; the gale cannot last for ever ; 'twill soon be daylight now.' Found by the master's watch that it was five o'clock, though but a little after four by ours ; glad

304 SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, it was so near daylight, and looked for it with much anxiety.

Cuba, thou art much in our way ! Another ugly sea : sent

a midshipman to bring news from the pumps : the ship was gaining on them very much, for they had broken one of their chains, but it was almost mended again. News from the pump again. 'She still gains! a heavy lee!* Back-water from lee- ward, half-way up the quarter-deck, filled one of the cutters upon the booms, and tore her all to pieces; the ship lying almost on her beam-ends, and not attempting to right again. Word from below that the ship still gained on them, as they could not stand to the pumps, she lay so much along. I said to Sir Hyde, ' This is no time. Sir, to think of saving the masts ; shall we cut the mainmast away ? * — ' Ay ! as fast as you can.* I accordingly went into the chains with a pole-axe, to cut away the lanyards ; the boatswain went to leeward, and the carpenters stood by the mast. We were all ready, when a very violent sea broke right on board of us, carried every thing upon deck away, filled the ship with water, the main and mizen masts went, the ship righted, but was in the last struggle of sinking under us.

" As soon as we could shake our heads above water. Sir Hyde exclaimed, ' We are gone at last. Archer ! foundered at sea ! * — ' Yes, Sir j farewell ; and the Lord have mercy upon us ! ' I then turned about to look forward at the ship, and thought she was struggling to get rid of some of the water ; but all in vain : she was almost full below. ' Almighty Grod I I thank thee, that now I am leaving this world, which I have always considered as only a passage to a better, I die with a full hope of thy mercies, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy son^ our Saviour ! *

" I then felt sorry that I could swim, as by that means I might be a quarter of an hour longer dying than a man who could not ; and it is impossible to divest ourselves of a wish to preserve life. At the end of these reflections I thought I heard the ship thump and grinding under our feet : it was so. * Sir, the ship is ashore!' * What do you say?' — 'The ship is ashore, and we may save ourselves yet ! ' By this time the quarter-deck was full of men, who had come up from below, and ' The Lord have mercy u])on us ! ' flying about from all quarters. The ship now made every body sensible that she was ashore, for every stroke threatened a total dissolution of her whole frame : found she was stern ashore ; and the bow broke

Cc^^J ^^'^^

SAVANNA-LA-MA% HURRICANE- _, .^ _ . ^

the sea a good deal^ though it w&s ^vashins 'clean over at every CHAP, stroke. Sir Hyde cried out, 'Keep to the quarter-deck, my vm. lads; when she goes to pieces it is your best chance!' Pro- a

videntially got the foremast cut away, that she might not pay ^c^W^«•**' ^ ' round broadside. Lost five men cutting away the foremast, y^ \^^y ^^ ' by the breaking of a sea on board just as the mast went. That ^*^ * was nothing, every one expected it would be his own fate next : looked for daybreak with the greatest impatience 3 at last it came : but what a scene did it show us ! The ship upon a bed of rocks, mountains of them on one side, and Cordilleras of water on the other;* our poor ship grinding and crying out at every stroke between them -, going away by piecemeal. How- ever, to show the unaccountable workings of Providence, that which often appears to be the greatest evil proves to be the greatest good ! That unmerciful sea lifted and beat us up so high among the rocks that at last the ship scarcely moved. She was very strong, and did not go to pieces at the first \ ,• '^^^

thumping, though her decks tumbled in. We found afterwards t^ that she had beat over a ledge of rocks, almost a quarter of a \ mile in extent beyond us, where, if she had struck, every soul of us must have perished.

*' I now began to think of getting on shore, so stripped off my coat and shoes for a swim, and looked for a line to carry the end with me. Luckily could not find one, which gave me time for recollection. ' This won't do for me, to be the first man out of the ship, and first lieutenant ; we may get to England again ; and people may think I paid a great deal of attention to myself, aiid did not care for any body else. No, that won't do ; instead of being the first, I will see every man, sick and well, out of her before me.*

" I now thought there was no probability of the ship's soon going to pieces, therefore had not a thought of instant death : took a look round with a kind of philosophic eye, to see how the same situation affected my companions, and was surprised to find the most swaggering, swearing bullies, in fine weather, now the most pitiful wretches on earth, when death appeared before them. However, two got safe; by which means, with a line, we got a hawser on shore, and made fast to the rocks, upon which many ventured and arrived safe. There were some sick and wounded on board, who could not avail themselves of this method -, we^ therefore, got a spare top-sail-yard from the chains,

X

306 SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, and placed oue end ashore and the other on the cabin window, ^^^^* so that most of the sick got ashore this way.

" As I had determined, so I was the last man out of the ship; this was about ten o'clock. The gale now began to break. Sir Hyde came to me^ and taking me by the hand, was so aflected, that he was scarcely able to speak. ' Archer, I am happy beyond expression to see you on shore, but look at our poor Phoenix !* I turned about, but could not say a single word, being too fidl : my mind had been too intensely occupied before; but every thing now rushed upon me at once, so that I could not contain myself, and I indulged for a full quarter of an hour in tears.

'* By twelve it was pretty moderate 5 got some nails cm shore and made tents 3 found great quantities of fish driven up by tlie sea into holes of the rocks $ knocked up a fire, and had a nuMt comfortable dinner. In the afternoon made a stage from the cabin windows to the rocks, and got out some provinons and water, lest the ship should go to pieces, in which case we must all have perished of hunger and thirst -, for we were upon a deao- late*part of the coast, and under a rocky mountain, that cofold not supply us with a single drop of water.

" Slept comfortably this night and the next day, the idea of death vanishing by degrees ; the prospect of being prisoners, during the war, at Havanna, and walking three hundred mUet to it through the woods, was rather unpleasant. However, to save life for the present, we employed this day in getting more provisions and water on shore, which was not an easy matter, on account of decks, guns, and rubbish, and ten feet wator tluit lay over them. In the evening, I proposed to Sir Hyde to repair the remains of the only boat left, and to venture in her to Jamaica myself; and in case I arrived safe, to bring vessels to take them all off ; a proposal worthy of consideration. It next day, agreed to ; therefore got the cutter on shore, and the carpenters to work on her ; in two days she was ready* and at four o'clock in the afternoon I embarked with four volunteem and a fortnight's provision ; hoisted English colours as we pot off from the shore, and received three cheers from the lads left behind, which we returned, and set sail with a light heart, having not the least doubt, that, with God's assistance, we should come and bring them all off. Had a very squally night, and a very leaky boat, so as to keep two buckets constantly baleing. Steered her myself the whole night by the stars, and in

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780. 307

the morning saw the coast of Jamaica, distant twelve leagues. CHAP. At eight in the evening arrived at Montego Bay. YUl.

" I must now begin to leave off, particularly as I have but half an hour to conclude ; else my pretty little short letter will lose its passage, which I should not like, after being ten days, at dif- ferent times, writing it, beating up with the convoy to the north- ward, which is a reason that this epistle will never read well ; for I never sat down with a proper disposition to go on with itj but as I knew something of the kind would please you, I was ^ resolved to finish it : yet it will not bear an overhaul 5 so don t expose your son's nonsense.

'* But to proceed. I instantly sent off an express to the admiral, another to the Porcupine man-of-war, and went myself to Martha Bay to get vessels -, for all their vessels here, as well as many of their houses, were gone to moco. Got three small vessels, and set out back again to Cuba, where I arrived the fourth day after leaving my companions. I thought the ship's crew would have devoured me on my landing ; they presently whisked me up on their shoulders, and carried me to the tent where Sir Hyde was.

" I must omit many little occurrences that happened on shore, for want of time 3 but I shall have a number of stories to tell when I get alongside of you; and the next time I visit you I shall not be in such a hurry to quit you as I was the last, for then I hoped my nest would have been pretty well feathered. But my tale is forgotten.

I found the Porcupine had arrived that day, and the lads had built a boat almost ready for launching, that would hold fifty of them, which was intended for another trial, in case I had foundered. Next day embarked all our people that were left, amounting to two hundred and fifty ; for some had died of their wounds they received in getting on shore ; others of drinking mm ; and others had straggled into the country. All our vessels were so full of people, that we could not take away the few clothes that were saved from the wreck j but that was a trifle since we had preserved our lives and liberty. To make short of my story, we all arrived safe at Montego Bay, and shortly after at Port Royal, in the Janus, which was sent on purpose for us, and were all honourably acquitted for the loss of the ship. I was made admiral's aide-de-camp -, and a little time afterwards sent down to St. Juan's as captain of the Re- source, to bring what were left of the poor devils to Blue Fields

x2

308

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

on the Musquito shore, and then to Jamaica, where they arrived after three months* absence, and without a prize, though I looked out hard off Porto Bello and Carthagena. Found in my absence that I had been appointed captain of the Tobago, where I re- main his Majesty's most true and faithful servant, and my dear mother's most dutiful son.

" Archer."

The logs of the four ships, which Sir Peter Parker in his despatch reports as having returned safe, follow next.

It will be seen, that the Pelican and Diamond, which were to the south of Jamaica, felt nothing of the first storm ; and that the Pallas and Lowestofie were out of the influence of it, cruizing near the islands of Caycos; yet they had the wind from south-south-west^ and must have been just on the border of the gale.

The Scarborough, on her way from Montego Bay to the Spanish Main, would be within its influence off the west end of Jamaica, and near that point she pro- bably foundered.

This hurricane may have originated within the limits of the Caribbean Sea; since we have no ac- count of its passing over the chain of the Antilles islands, or of having visited the Spanish Main.

Log of the Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Pelican, Captain Thomas

Ha3mes. — In Nautical T^me.

Hour.	Courses.	1 Winds. 1
r.M. I 4 6 6	WNW N W bv N Nby'E Ni W	Westerly
A.M. 7	NW

Remarks.

October 3, 1780. P.M. Jjight breeies and cloudy. Lat. 12*^ 38', long. 82' 7'. Great Com Island, S 68"" W, diataoct 85 miles.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

309

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Pelican — continued.

Hour.	ConneB.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1 2 7 9 10	NWby W SSE W WbyN NW	Westerly	October 4, 1780. Moderate breeze and clear weather. Lat. 12** 26' N. Great Com Island, S W by W, distance 8 leagues.
9 P.M. 1 6 7 9 10	S WNW NWbv W Sby'E SSE S	Ditto
October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes. Great Com Island, W S W, 2^ leagues.
4 10 12 P.M. 2 6 7 8 9	NW4 W s NW WNW NW§ W SbyW SSW SbyW S^E NW NWbyN NW NNW	Ditto S West'y
October 6, 1780. Fresh breeze and cloudy ; at anchor at Great Com Island.
October 7, 1780. Moderate breeze and clear weather ; got under weigh.
11 Noon A.M. 3 6 7 8 10	We8ter»r Variable Variable Westerly	Noon. Lat. 12** 5' N.
October 8, 1780. Light breezes and clear. Lat. 12° 2'. 1
October 9, 1780.
October 10, 1780. First and latter part, light breezes and clear ; middle part, squally.
October 11, 1780. Light breezes.

CHAP.

vra.

Log of the PeUcan.

310

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of the Pelican.

Within the in- fluence of the ^eat hurricane.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Pelican — coniiaued.

Hour.

Noon.

P.M.

3

9 12

A.M.

11

P.M. 1

Noon.

P.M.

1 6

A.M. 3

4

6 10

Noon.

P.M.

1

7

A.M.

10 Noon.

A.M.

7 8

P.M. 1

3 4

7

12

Courses.

EbyN ENE

ENE

NEbyN NbyE

NJE N

N

Winds.

Remarks.

W8W

SEbyS

ssw sw

wsw

sw

w

wsw

w

sw wsw

sw

W S AV

October 12. 1780. Got under weigh and made sail. Noon. Moderate.

Great Com Island, N E { E, distance 7 leagues. Lat. 12<» 9'.

October 13, 1780.

Fresh breezes and clear; set etadding- sails.

Lat. 11°47'. long. 80*^40'.

The Island of St. Andria, bearing N 9*" W, distance 44 miles.

October 14, 1780. P.M. Light breezes and clear weather. Noon. Moderate breeze and doody. Lat. ir 8', long. 79° 31'. Bugles' Shoals, bearing N 21"* E, die- tance 76 leagues.

October 15, 1780.

P.M. Moderate breeze and clear weather.

Hauled down the studding-sails.

A.M. Hard squall and rain ; handed the top- gallant-sails and staysails.

Fresh gales and rainj weather.

More moderate and nir.

Fresh gale and hazy ; cloee-reefed top* sails, and handed the fore and minn ditto ; down top-gallant-yards.

Lat. 12° 52' N, long. 76*^58' W.

Bugles' Shoals, N 24° W, distance 187 miles.

October 16, 1780.

P.M. Fresh gale and cloudy.

In third reef main-topsail, and headed the mizen- topsail.

Hard squalls ; lowered tt^Maili sionally.

Noon. Ditto weather.

No observation.

Lat. 15° 35', long. 75° 55'.

■m I

October 17, 1780.

P.M. Fresh gales, with squalL

Hauled up the courses and pe^t the main- sail, it being split, and bent another.

Set the mainsail and lay- to ; hard sqoalle, with rain.

More moderate and rainy weather;

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

311

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Pelican — concluded.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
A.M. 1 4 7 9 10 P.M. 1	NbyW NiW NNW	Variable WSW	October 17, 1780. hauled up the mainsail, and set the fore- topmast-staysail. Squally. Ditto. A great swell from the westward. Out three reefs. Lat. 17°, long. 76°.
October 18, 178^. P.M. Fresh breezes and squally. Lat. 17° 47'. Point Morant, bearing N N E, distance 8 or 9 miles.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Diamond, Captain John Linzee. — In Nautical Time,
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1 5 7 A.M. 1 6 8 10 P.M. 1 5 8 A.M. 1 6		Westerly WNW WbyS W SWbyW WSW WbyS	October 3, 1780. P.M. Light winds and clear all night. A.M. Moderate breezes and cleAr wea- ther ; at 6, weighed and made sail with three sail under our convoy for Blue Fields ; at 9, hove-to for the convoy ; at half-past 10, made sail ; at noon, St. Juan Point, S £ § S, distance 7 or 8 leagues. Point Gordon, W by N. distance 3 leagues.
October 4, 1780. P.M. Light winds and clear weather. Up mainsalL Monkey Point, N J W, distance 2 or 3 leagues. A.M. Moderate and hazy. Little Com Island, E § N, distance 5 or 6 leagues. Blue Fields, S W, distance 6 or 7 leagues. Set mainsail, out second-reef topsails, set top- gallant sails.
October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and clear weather. Blue Fields' Bluff, S W | W, distance 3 or 4 leagues. Made the convoy's signal to tack. Bluff, S by W J W, distance 3 or 4 miles.

CHAP.

vm.

of the

Log oft] PeHean.

Log of the Diamond.

312

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of the Diamond.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Diamond — amihmed.

Hour.

P.M.

F.M.

P.M.

P.M. 1

P M.

1

P.M.

1 A.M.

2

P.M. 1

Midn.

A.M.

11

P.M. 1

6

8

A.M.

4 Noon

Counei.

S62*'E

8 81°E

£

EbyN

E

Winds.

Calm

Remarks.

October 6, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breeses. lAt. 10^ 40^, long. 8l*» 6'. Com Island, bearing N 62f* W, distaoM 98 miles.

SE

Westerly

October 7, 1780.

P.M. Light winds and haxy. Lat. 10« 32^, long. 80^ 8'. Porto BellOy S £, 14 leagues.

October 8, 1780.

P.M. Light airs and cloodr. Lat. 10° 32', long. 79' 12^ W.

Easterly

Variable

SE

NNE|£

October 9, 1780. P.M. Light breeies. Lat. 10** 62', long. 78** 6'.

October 10, 1780,

P.M. Light air and clear Lat. 10^ 64', long. 76*» 88' W.

NE

8W SSW

WNW

October 11, 1780. P.M. Squally, with rain.

A.M. Light winds and squallay with rain.

No obsenration.

High land of Santa Marta* bearing SB, distance 11 leagues.

SWbyW

NW

NWbW NW

October 12, 1780.

P.M. Moderate and cloudy. Moderate and squally.

Moderate breezes and rain. Lat. 120, long. 73**.

October 13, 1780. P.M. Fresh breeses and squally.

Light airs and fair weather.

Moderate and squslly. Noon. Moderate and fair. Lat. 13° 67', long. 72° 26'

8AVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

313

Extract from the Loe of H. M. S. Diamond — contuiued. CHAP.

* vm.

Hour.

P.M.

1

4 A.M.

4

Noon

P.M.

1 4 Mldn.

A.M.

7

9

10

Noon

P.M.

1 4

12

A.M.

6

7

8 10

12

P.M. 1

4

8

12

A.M.

1

6 11

Courses.

• *

NNE

• i

Winds.

WNW

nw

Ditto

WbyN

WbyN NWbW NW

NW

NWbW

W

SWbyW

SW

8W

SW

SWbyS SW

Remarks.

October, 14, 1780. P.M. Moderate and squally. Squally, with, rain ; up mainsail.

A.M. Fresh breezes and squally ; in two reefs in the topsail. Fresh ^es and cloudy. Noon. Moderate and clear. Lat. 160 69', long. 71** 88*.

October 15, 1780.

P.M. Close-reefed the topsails.

Moderate breezes and squalls.

Midnight. Heayy squails ; in fore and mizen-topsail.

A.M. Carried away one of the fore sheets ; clewed up the foresail and reefed it again, set the sail.

In main-topsail.

Hove- to.

Noon. Stronff gales and squaUy.

High land M>out Cape Beata, St. Do- mingo, bearing N N W, distance 13 leagues.

October 16, 1780.

P.M. Strong ^ales.

Reefed the mamsail and handed ditto ; set balanced mizen ; the land bore from S by W to W by N, distance 12 or 14 leagues.

Ditto weather.

A.M. Cloudy, with showers of rain.

Let the reef out the mainsail, and made sail.

Carried away the main-topmast-stay and spring, fore-topmast ditto.

Moderate and dear ; spliced the stays and set up ditto.

Ditto weather.

Lat. 17*» 22'.

October 17, 1780. P.M. Fresh breeze and squally weather. Spanned the main and nuzen shrouds. Ware ship. Handed the fore-topsaiL

A.M. In main-topsail ; hoTe-to. Strong gales and squally weather. More moderate ; wore snip ; up foreftail ; set up the main rigging. Lat. 17^ 36' N.

Log of the Diamond.

The great hurricane approach- ing.

/• I' 'k^

314

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of the Diamond.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Diamond — eonUumed,

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			October 18, 1780.
1			P.M. Saw the land, bearing £ by K, dis- tance 9 or 10 leagues.
3			Unbent the foresail and bent a new on*.
5			Wore ship; unbent fore*topmast-ttaj- sail, and bent another.
6			The Island of Beata, bore E N E» dis- tance 9 or 10 leagues.
8		NW	Li£[ht airs.
12			Rainy weather.
A.M.
6		Ditto	A.M. The Island of Beata, N N E, dis- tance 6 or 6 leagues.
8		N	Moderate and clear ; out second rMfc topsail.
10		Calm
12		NbyE	Island of Beata, NE by N, distance 9 leagues.
P.M.			Lat. ir 20' N.
October 19, 1780.
1		NbyE	P.M. Light airs and hasy weather*
2		SbyW W8W
6		In second reefs topsails. Island of Beata, K E, distance 6 leegnes ;
7		W
8		wsw	wore ship.
9		WbyN WNW
11
12			Ditto weather.
A.M. 5)
6 7) 8		Calm
	SE	A.M. Light breezes and squally with
			ram.
10			Out first reef main-topsaiL
11			Saw two sail from the mast-head bcsr- ingNWbyN. Light breeses and hazy weather.
12		SEbyE
P.M.	SW		Lat. 17° 11' N.
October 20, 1780.
1		EbyS	P.M. Light breezes and drizzling rain.
6		WSW	Squally, with rain.
Noon			Noon. Ditto, ditto.
P.M.	S76^W		Lat. 16^ 44'. long. 73' 20'.
October 21. 1780.
1		NNE	P.M. Squally, with rain.
4		Easterly Moderate and clear.
	NW { W	and j Lat. 17'' 34'. long. 74'^ 41'. variablo

SAVANNA-LA-HAR HURRICANE, 1780.

315

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Diamond — concluded.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1		Easterly and variable	October 22, 1780. P.M. Light breezes and cloudy. Saw Jamaica, and anchored at Fort Royal Harbour on the 23rd October.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Diamond.

The Pallas and the LowestofFe must have been just on the east side of this first hurricane ; and it is remarkable, that these ships were becalmed at no great distance from both storms. They narrowly escaped the second one by leaving their cruising ground ; and it is interesting to follow their tracks on the Chart, and trace their escape.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Pallas^ Captain T. Spry. — Log of the

In Nautical TVmtf.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1 2 5 10) 12) A.M. 10 11 P.M. 1 2 6 7 8 11	WNW SSW w WbyN VV ^r WNW s sw	SW Calm SSW Calm.	October 3, 1780. P.M. Moderate weather; Lowestoffe and prize in company. Lat. 22° 8'. long. 69° 36' W. Turk's Island) 8 3r W, distance 18 leagues.
October 4, 1780. P.M. Varying from light to fresh breezes Lat. 21° 64', long. 71° O' W. Great Caicos, W, distance 10 leagues.

Pa

got lias.

Calm.<

* At this hour, when the Pallas was becalmed, the Phoenix was in the midst of the first hurricane.

316

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Pallas — ctmtkmed.

Log of PaBat.

the

Hour.	Connes.	Winds.	Remarks. 1
A.M. 6 10 P.M. 1 6 11 A.M. 6 7 8 9 P.M. 1 2 3 6 Midn. A.M. 1 8 Noon. P.M. 1 2 8 4 7 9 11 A.M. 7 8 9 10 P.M. 1 4 7 11 A.M. 5 8 10 11 12	W WSW WSW W^N NWbyW W SWbyW WbyS WSW W|S WbyS WSW SEbyS WbyS WSW SSE WbyS WSW WbyS WNW S SEbyE SW WSW SWbyW SW SWbyS SSW SSW SW SWbyS SW SbyE SIE SJW SbyW SSW SWbyS	Variable Ditto SWbyS SWbyW SW SW SWbyW SSE SEbyE SE	October 4, 1780. t 1
Oetober 6, 1780. P.M. Moderate weather. >
October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh breeses and doady. • leagues. Lat. 22« O'.
October 7, 1780. P.M. light winds and £ur ; LowwtoA in company. A.M. Little Inegua, bearing S 8 B, dw- tance 3 leagues. Lat.21°40'.
October 8, 1780. P.M. Fresh breeses and cloudy ; Low«- stoffiB in company. leagues. Lat. 20« 2' N. 1

\

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

317

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. TAhi^AS— concluded.

Hour.

A.M.

6

P.M. 1

A.M.

2

11

12

P.M. 1

4

9 10 11

}

A.M.

2 5 7

P.M. 1

A.M. 1

Noon.

A.M.

6 12

P.M.

P.M.

Courses.

8SW

SW

S£ SEbyE

WJS WbW

ssw

SWbyS

SW W8W

W8W

Why 8

^

Winds.

NE

Calm.

Calm. 8E

Remarks.

October 9, 1780. A.M. 8aw the east end of Jamaica; moderate weather.

October 10, 1780. P.M. Calm; ship's head all round the compass.

A.M. Yellow Hill, W 8 W, distance 10 leagues. Lat. 18^ r N.

October 11, 1780. P.M. Moderate and fair; spoke the Ramilies, in company with the South- ampton and Jamaica.

S8E

NW N

Calm.

NW

N

88W

A.M. East end of Jamaica, N W by W, distance 6 leagues.

October 12, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes.

Noon. Ditto.

A.M. Upper White Horses, bearing NW by N, distance 2 leagues.

October 13, 1780. P.M. Lowestoffe in company.

October 14, 1780. P.M. Anchored at Port Royal; light winds.

October 15, 1780. Light winds.

SquaUy,

October 16, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of Pafias.

the

318

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANB, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the

Lowe-

stoffe.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Lowestoffe, Captain

C. Parker. — lu Nautical Time.

Hour.

P.M.

P.M. A.M.

Courses.

S76^ W

S7rw

N75*»W

S80«W

Winds.

Remarks.

Tucsdajr, October 8, 1780. Variable' Moderate breezes and fair; made and shortened sail occasionally; Pallas and prize in company. Lat. 20° 7', long. 9** 87'.« Mayaguana, S 30° W, dist. 87 league*.

ssw

SE

SSW

sw

£

NE

to SE

Calm.

Wednesday, October 4, 1780.

Light breezes and fair ; made the iigaal for seeing a sail in the N W ; PaUat and prize in company.

Lat. 21° 62^ long. 8° 40^.

Mayaguana, S 20° W, dist. 60 leagues.

Thursday, October 6, 1780.

Fresh breezes and fair. Half-past I, saw Turk's Islands, bearing SSW, diatanee 8 or 7 leagues. At 3, saw East Caicoa from the masthead, bearing W by 8, distance S or 4 leagues ; Pallas and prize in eompa&T.

Lat. 22° 17',l<mg. 8°12'B.

Mayaguana, S 20° W, dist. 60 laagofli.

Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Ditto weather. At 6, the SB part of Mayaffuana, W by S, diatanee S or 4 leagues. Lost sight <» the PaUaa and

company.

Lat. 21°65Mong. r^SO*.

Saturday, October 7, 1780.

Moderate breezes snd cloudy ; made and shortened sail occasionally. At aviniae^ Tariation, per azimuth, 7^ 10^

Lat. 20° 30'.

Little Inegua, N by E { E, distance 6 or 7 leagues.

Sunday, October 8, 1780.

Squally, with rain at times. At simriae^ Cape Maize, S S W | W. distanee 11 or 12 leagues ; Pallas in company.

Lat. 20° 7'.

Cape Maize, NNW, dist. 3 or 4 leagues.

Monday, October 9, 1780. |

P.M. First part fresh breezes. At 6, Cape Maize, N E, distance 12 or 13 leaguea.

A.M. At 6, the high land ^ Grand Ance, £, and the north part of Jamaica, S W ^ S, distance 6 or 7 leagaea. Latter part calm ; head all round.

Lat. 18° 48'.

East end of Jamaica, S W | S, distance 8 or 9 leagues.

* This log is printed as it was entered in the log-book. It is supposed to be reckoned from the place of lust depatturc.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780,

319

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Lowestoffe — concluded.

Hour.

P.M

Courses.

Winds.

Calm

Noon.

P.M.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M.

ESE

Variable

Variable

Variable

Sea and

land

breezes.

Ditto

Ditto

Remarks.

Tuesday, October 10, 1780 Calm ; head all round ; Pallas in company. Lat. 18° 6'.

Yallah's Hill, W S W i W, distance 13 or 14 leagues.

Wednesday, October 11, 1780.

P.M. Light breeze and fair. 1. Made the signal for seeing two sails in the S W. At 2, saw another sail in the S W. At 3, one of the sails made the private signal, which was answered. 4.30. Found the sails to be H. M. ships Ramilies, South- ampton, and Jamaica.

Noon. Pallas in company.

Lat. 17''45'

Yallah's Hill, W | N, dist. 8 leagues.

Thursday, October 12, 1780.

P.M. Ditto weather. At 6, Yallah's Hill, W J N, distance, oflf shore, 2 or 3 leagues ; Pallas in company.

Lat. 17° 61'.

White Horses, N W by W i W, distance 3 or 4 leagues.

Friday. October 13, 1780.

P.M. Ditto weather. At 6, Salt-pan Hill, W by N ; Cow Bay Point, W N W, offshore, distance 2 or 3 leagues.

A.M. At 6, Rock Fort. NNW, off shore, distance 4 or 6 miles.

Lat. 17° 49'.

Rock Fort, N by W i W, distance 2 or 3 miles.

Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Light breezes ; running down for Port Roysd. 4.30. Came to an anchor in Port Royal. Port Royal Point, S; and the Twelve Apostles, W by S.

Sunday, October 16, 1780. Light breezes ; sent seventeen prisoners to Kingston ; moored a cable each way.

Monday, October 16, 1780. Ditto weather.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. Ditto weather, with rain. Received Vice- Admiral Parker's flag from H. M. ship Tobago, and hoisted on the fore-top- gallant-mast-head.

CHAP.

vni.

Log of the

Lowe-

stoffis.

i^

320

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. We next find the storm overtaking, on the morning

vnL • • of the 5th, the ships under Admiral Rowley, which

Chart IX. y^QYB Sent by Sir Peter Parker, to convoy a fleet part of the way to Europe : and the Stirling Castle was one of them. These ships suffered greatly; and in their crippled state had likewise the misfor- tune to meet the great hurricane at a later date.

Log of the Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton, bearing the flag of

Rear-Admiral Rowley. — In Nautical Time.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 1 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 A.M. 1 2 3 4 5 G 7 8 9 10 11 12 P M. 1 2 3 4 5 6	NbyE NbyW N NbyE N by £ i E NbyE NNW ESE SEbyE SE ESE SE SEbyE ESE SEbyE ESE	EbyN Variable ENE EbyN EbyN NW Variable ENE NE ENE NEbyE Variable	Thursday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Light airs and cUmdy; made signal to annul the line, and to tea tlie order of sailing. Ditto weather. Ditto weather. A.M. Made signal to tack ; tadLedahip; squadron in company. Ditto weather. Squally, with rain ; handled top-gallttil- sails. Ditto weather. Set top-ffallant-sails. Noon. No obsenration. Lat. 29** 19' N, long. 74« 32'. WaUing's Island, 8 8^ E, dietnee IM leagues.
Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and hasy; iqiiaUy weather ; close -reefed the tppsaUs. At 4, ditto weather, with rain at in- tervals ; got down top-gallant-yards.

8AVANNA-LA-HAR HURRICANB, 1780. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton— cm1iimim(.

Friday, OiWbor Q, 1780, At 7. diliQ weBtherj splii ihe m

lowered down the yard, nnil Bet a Irysail ;

strong gftles ond aqufllly, with rail

handed the to[>sul« and couracf. At 8, ditto: made aignal foi Ifing-ti

brought' to under tijaail.

Midnight. The gale inoieoiin^, and hca*} aea from the E N E ; carriod awaj Ihc mBia-topmast, topsail -yard, Sec. 12.45. Found the mainmaat sprung two feet ikbove the upper deck.

A.M. At a, tie miiermaHt went orer the side, and (he mainmHit immediately followed ; the ship labouring much and ■hipping great (quantities of water ; people employed clearing the wreck and pumpirg the ship ; two of the upper-detk guns ■^roke looae, one of which went through

ie main-deck grating, and resting on the lower deck, frnm whence came a deluge of ' ;r ; Ihe evhet being upset was secured le aame time j one of the eabin and fore- castle guna broke loose, but were secured ; nito the shifting iron ballast waa thrown overboard at the same time; the tiller breaking she fell uffinro the trough of the sea, and continued lo labour exceedingly ; the WBttr in the hold having increased to ten foet, and the [lumps and chains being ■0 bad 03 to prevent working, the people quitted ihem, and hega,n baleing.

At 3, finding the wreek alrike very hard under the oounler, put up the helm to wear, in order to clear the wreck, but it proved ineffectual.

At 4, got another til'er shipped, and the main-hatches iccurcd.

At fi, the shank painter of the beat bower gave way ; cut away the anchor from Ihe

At G, seven feet water in the hold.

At 7, cleared the wreck, Bnil threw four of the quarter-deck guns overboard ; the people constantly baleing : the ehip still labouring much.

At 8, Uie gale teemed to abate.

Noon. People employed as before, and preparing to get sail on the ship ; all the

out of sight.

322

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Orftfton.

Log of the Berwick.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton — camektded.

Hour.

A.M.

P.M. 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M. 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11

12

Courset. Winds.

Remarkt.

Lying-to Variable

SB

INNW NW

SEbyS

Friday, October 6, 1780. No obaerration. Lat. 28** 20', long. 74*. Caucus, S 7^ E, diatance 114 leagiica.

Saturday, October 7» 1780.

P.M. Fresh gales and ckradj, with a sreat swell ; set a top-gallant-asiil oq tlie foremast and bore up ; saw a ship to the NW with her masts gone; emplojad pumping the ship and getting leady to rig Jury-masts; one of the upper-deck guns broke loose and went throii|^ the grating, and lodged upon the lower dcdt.

Ditto weather.

Ditto weather.

A.M. Moderate gales and cloudy.

Saw the Trident in the S W, with allhcr maats gone. Ditto weather.

Ditto weather ; a swell from the N W ; employed at the pumps and at the figging. Lst. observed, 29® 6' N.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Berwick, Captain the Hon. K. Stewart.— In Nautical Time.

Hour.

p M.

1 2 3 I

0 7

S

Courses.

Winds.

N by E E by N

NNW

S W by S

ssw

SSE

Variable

Remarks.

lliurfcda^, October 6, 1780. P.M. Light airs and cloudy. Shortened sail.

Unbent the new misen* topsail and bent the old. 6.30. Wore ship. Light airs and cloudy. The Admiral S W, two or three leagues. Wore ship.

SAYANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

323

Extract from the Log of H. M.S. Berwick — contwrned.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			Thursday, October 6, 1780.
9	NbyE	Variable	Handed top-gallant-sails. Ditto weather.
10
11 12	Nby W
m mm A.M. 1
2 3	NNW	NE	A.M. At 3, tacked, by signal ; set top-
	J(EbySJS >^ E8E		gallant-sails.
4 5 ;		Moderate breezes and cloudy.
r 6 m	SE	NNE	Squally, with heaTy showers of rain.
7 8	SEbyE	NEbyE	Moderate and cloudy.
9	SEIS
10	ENE	Squally ; shortened sail occasionally ;
			the Stirling Castle and Hector's siffnal was made for their being out of their
11	SEbyE	NEbyE
	m		station ; dark, haxy weather.
12 P.M.	ESE	NE	Lat. 29** 21', long. 71°.»
Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and heavy showers
1	ESE	NE
			of rain.
2	SEbyE		At 2.30, double-reefed the fore and main-
3	•	Variable	topsails and close-reefed mizen; heavy
4			squalls of wind and rain.
5 6			At G, in third reef in the fore and main- topsails.
7	SE		At 7, handed the fore and mizen ditto. At 7.30, split the foresail and fore-top- mast-staysul.
8			At 8, handed the main -topsail. At 9, saw the Admiral, oearinff about W S W. At 9.30, bent another foresail.
9	upSEby S off
	SbyE		and got down top-gallant- yards.
10	J		At 10, could not see the Admiral ; heavy
11			gales of wind and rain; lying-to under the mainsail, the gale increasing much.
12			About ten minutes before 12, our bow- sprit and foremast went over the side, about thirty feet above the deck, and in
			the fall carried away the mainyard and
			mainsail, all split to pieces.
1 2			A.M. At 2.15, blowing a hurricane;
3			carried away the mizenmast. At 2.30, the
4			mainmast went by the board; hands
5			employed in pumping and clearing the
6			wreck ; shipped a great quantity of water.
7			especially in the gun-room and ward-room ;

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Berwick*

* The Berwick's longitude does not agree with that gi?en in the other loga of the squadron.

y2

324

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

J^ of the Benrick.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Berwick — cimeimded.

Hour.

A.M.

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3 4

I)

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12

Couneii.

Winds.

Remarkf.

Variable

up N by E off

NEbyN

up N by E

off

Nby W

up N by W offNbyE E by S I S

• . . . • • .

ESE

SEbyS SEbyE

ESE SE

Friday, October 6, 1780. owing to the gailerieaaiid rudder-coat store in, great quantity of water went down in the cockpit and bread-roomi the ship labooiiiig hard ; on examining at daylight* fimnd — of the forecastle guns and two earrooMles gone oTerboard; two boetSy top-gallant- yards, and stecaJng-eaili gone from the booms ; stream and kedgearohon, hJimacle and compasses from the quarter-deck. ! At 9, saw four sail of ships aatam die- 1 masted.

Noon. Employed in dearinc the

and setting tne damaged breaaap from the bread-room, throwins it ofwboard to pre- serre the remainder uom haatinn ; atraiig gales.

By the falling of the maininaet two of the ujpper-deck guns broke adrift, andhy upset- ting them the carriages were broke ; simdry people much hurt in the gale ; onegamiBma the carriages found them unfit for usot aad hoye them oyerboard by Captain's

Lat. 28*» 45', long. 70* 17'.

WSW

8W

Variable

Saturday, October 7» 1780. • P.M. Moderate breeies and cloudy.

At 2.30, the Hector made the signal of distress ; employed clearing ship ; got up a maln-top-gallant-mast for a nuinnistt. with a top- gallant-sail on it.

Moderate breeies and doudj ; a htKwj swell from the westward.

A.M. Ditto weather; a heavy swdl from the westward.

Light airs ; employed in getting out a . jury bowsprit and foremast up; three ships ; dismasted in sight.

Ut. observed, 28'' 16'. Employed getting up sheers for the jnrj- furcmast. Ditto weather. Lat. 28' 19', long. 70° 29*.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

325

Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H. M. S. Trident, CHAP. Captain J. A. P. MoUoy.— In Nautical Tili. ^^^'

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			Thursday, October 6, 1780.
1	NNE	E	P.M. Light airs; Admiral made the
2 3			signal to disanntd the line.
4	Nby W	Variable
5	Ni W		Admiral called in all cruisers.
\3 7 8 9	N
10	•
11	NbyE
12			Ditto weather.
A.M. 1 2
W
3	NN W
4 5 6	ESE	NE	A.M. Tacked by signal.
7 8			Light breezes and cloudy, with heavy
9			r«in.
10 1 1	SE by E	NEbyE	Squally, with rain.
1 1 12			Ditto weather. Lat. 29° 17' N.
P.M.			Bermudas, N 75' 3', distance 146 leagues.
Friday, October 6, 1780,
1	ESE	NE	P.M. Fresh breezes and squidly, with
2			heavy rain.
3			In second-reef topsail ; down top-gal-
4			lant-yards.
5	SE^E		Spht main-topsail ; repaired it.
6			Squally ; split main-topmast-staysails and jib; bent others.
7			Handed fore and mizen-topsails.
8			Heavy squalls, with rain^
9	SSE	E	Admiral made signal to bring-to on the larboard tacks.
10		EbyN	Hauled the foresail up.
11			Handed main- topsails, btmt^ the main- sail, and brought-to under mizen-sUysail.
12			Heavy gales and violent squalls and rain ; bunted the foresail.
A.M.
1	up SE by S		A.M. Main- topmast went away.
2	offS		Mizenmast went over theside, with all the
3			sails and rigging, clearing the wreck away. Excessive heavv squalls ; earned aWay the foremast, and with it the best bower
4
			jnchor, sails, and rigging.

Log of the Trident.

326

SAVANNA-LA-MAR IIURKICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VUI.

Log of the Trident.

Their Jury- masts.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Trident — ameimded.

Hour.

lA)g of the Hector.

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

r.M.

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12

Courses.

Winds.

Remmrks.

up SE by S offS

EbyN

up NE by N NWbyN offENE

upNbyW offNNE

upNNW offN

EbyS

SE

WbyN

W

Friday, October 6, 1780.

At 5, the mainmast went orer the side; lost every thing belonging to it.

People cmpU^red clearing the ship of the wrecks.

SE4E

ESE E

NNW

SW

Hard gales and doadj ; no ship in light

Lat. 28** 18' N.

Bermudas, N 68^ 3' £, dist. 158 leagues.

Saturday, October 7, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and haiy; emplojed clearing ship and getting jurr-niMta.

Got a top-gallant-maat lor fnrwniel, another for a mainmast, and the loog-boat mast for a mizenmast.

More moderate ; made sail mider jury- masts.

Moderate and cloudy.

Variable

A.M. Fitting rigging for the jury-:

1

Employed getting a top-gaUant-niMt for a foremast Light airs ; no ship in sight Lat 28° 3' N Bermudas, N 6r 62^ E, dist 140 leagnee.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Hector, Captain Sir John

HamiitoD. — In Nautical Time,

Hour.

P.M.

Courses.

NbyE N by E

Winds.

Remarks.

I Thursday, October 5, 1780. !

E by N ; P.M. I/ght airs and fair at 60 min. past '

' noon ; tho squadron being in a line, thesig* I K by X iial w.w made to discontinuo ; nnfiwored

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

327

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Hector — contMued.

Hour.

P.M.

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3 4

6 6

7 8

'I

10 11 12

A.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

Courses.

8SE

NNE^E NbyE

N

NbyW

N by W i W

SEby E

SEiS ESE

SSE

SEJE

SEbyS

N

S

up SSE

off

SbyE

up S E by S

off

SbyE

Winds.

E

EbyS EbyN

NEbyE

NE

ENE

NE

E

NEbyE

EbyN

ENE ESE

Remarks.

Thursday, October 6, 1780. per signal, and immediately made sail. At 3, wore ship to get into our station. At 4, hauled our wind to the northward ; the Admiral, N N W i W.

At 6, light breezes ; the Admiral, N W by N. 6.30. Hoisted in the boat. At 8, the Admiral, NW J W, distance half a mile; light airs and cloudy. At 12, the Admiral, N W, distance half a mile.

A.M. At 3, tacked ship, per signal, to the S E. At 4, the Admiral, S by E.

At 5, squally, with rain, thunder, and lightning ; found the slings of the main- yard broke ; got them down ; employed fitting another pair. At 8, moderate and dark cloudy weather ; the Admiral, S by E.

Fresh gales and passing squalls. At 1 1 .25 the Stirling Castle's and Hector's signal was made for being out of thcdr station.

Answered, per signal, and bore down upon the Grafton's lee quarter. At noon, she bore E by N i N» distance half a mile.

No obseryation.

Friday, October 6. 1780. P.M. Strong gales and squalls. At 5, got down top- gallant-yards and close-reefed ue topsails J ditto, handed the mizen-topsail. At 7, the gale increasing and sea running high, took in the fore-topsail. At 8, the Orafton not in sight; wore ship to the northward, and at 8.30, to the south. At 9, hoye-to, per signal; do., handed main-top- sail and courses under balance-mizen and mizen^staysail. At 12, the main-topmast went oyer the side ; the gale increased to a hurricane* At 1 a.m. the misenmast went oyer the side ; at 1.30, the foremast went likewise, and a few minutes after the mainmast went oyer the side ; found the foremast by the fall carried away the stop- per of the best bower anchor, that we were obliged to cut it from the bows with ^e rest of the wreck ; found the ship had water in the hold, oyer the second tier of casks ; upon sounding of the wcdl, found 9f feet water in ; turned all hands down to the pumps; some chosen seamen only kept upon deck to clear the wreck ; she shipped many heayy seas, which broke loose aU our shot, &c. ; the longboat receiyed great quantities of water ; scuttled her in order to saye her ; hoye oyer seyen of the upper- deck g^ns, and four of the quarter-deck ditto ; off the forecastle one gun, likewise

CHAP.

vni.

Log of the Hector.

328

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Hector.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Hector — comehAd.

P.M.

1 2 3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A m 3A«

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

U

12

Courses. Winds.

Remarks.

•ipNNWoffN

SB

S£iS

Friday, October 6, 1780. all the shot from both decks, with ercrj loose thing to ease the ship. At daylight, found the small bower anchor haogmg bj the flukes ; cut it away, with eTerr other port of the wreck we had not seen oefiiret so that by 10 o'clock we were qoite dear of the wreck ; when the weather began to clear away, saw three of the aqaadraa in the same situation as ourselTea. Lat. 28° 28'.

N\V

SSE

WNW

WNW

IP

Saturday, October 7, 1780. P.M. Still hard gales, with a haarr i from the westward ; some of the ahip'a company employed getting dear the decks, and htting a top-gallant-s&l; hoisted H up to the stump of the foremast, to get the ship before sea. All the rest of the ship's company at the chain and hand-pumpa.

The ship labouring Tery much, and shipping a great quantity of water» and five feet water in the hold.

A.M. At 2, freed her; employed dfring away the booms, and getting tne topmasts out for jury-masts ; got up the upper and qxiartcr-deck guns HM OTerset in the gale.

Senred out drams to the people erery four hours while pumpii%the ship out. At noon, saw a sloop standing to the 8K; the ships in company.

Lat. 28° 19' N.

I«og of the Bristol.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Bristol,

Captain Glover.

P.M. 1

2 3 4

/>

Courses.

Winds.

NNE

NbyE

1

1 1 1 E

E by N 1

K X E

Kemarks.

lliursday, October 6, 1780. I^'ght breeses and fair weather. The Admiral made the signal to annul all signals. Ditto weather.

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

329

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Bristol — cantifmed.

Hour.

P.M.

7

8

9

10

ir

12

A.M.

1

2 3 4

5

is

7

8

9 10 11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M. 1

Courses.

NbyB

NNE

ESE

SEbvE

ESE

SE^E

SE

SEbyE ESE .

SEbyE SE

up SE

off

S W by S

Winds.

EbyN

E

NE

NEbvE

NN'E ENE

ENE

NbyE NE

NEbyE ENE

upNNBc^E

Remarks.

Thursday, October 5, 1780.

Light breezes and fair weather.

Tacked» per signal.

Squally, with rain^

In second reef of topsails { the Admiral made the Hector's and Stirling Castle's signal for being out of their station.

Cloudy, with some rain.

No obserration.

Lat, 29° 32', long. 73° 68'.

Crooked Island, S 1° 50' E, distance 132 leagues.

A sodden shift of wind.

Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and rain.

Ditto weather ; the Admiral> E S B> dis- tance 2 miles ; in first-reefed topsail.

Split the fore- topmast- staysail { bent a new ditto.

In second -reefed topsail, and down top- gallant-yards.

Split the main-topmast stay; bent a new one.

Fresh gales ; in third-reefed topsail, and handed ditto.

Ditto weather ; up foresail, and brought- to under the mainsail ; heard two guns in S E quarter.

Hard gales ; hauled up the mainsaili and brought her under the balance misen.

Ditto weather; carried away the fore and main top-gallant-mast.

Carried away the mizenmast ; employed in clearing the wreck, which carried away the main-topsail-yard ; found the ship to make much water ; 3^ feet in the well ; pumps constantly at work.

A.M. At 1, the mainmast went in the parUbers, wMch carried with it the main- topmast, sprung the gallows, stove the longboat, cutter, and yawl, colour chest from quarter-deck, binnacle with azimuth,

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Bristol.

The Stir- ling Castle.

L

330

8AVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of the Bristol.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Bristol — canebuML

A.M. 2

3 4

6 G

7 8 9

10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3

4 5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3 4 6 6

8

y

10

11

12

Courses.

upNNE off£

upN

off EbyN

Lying-to

up N by E

offNEbyN

S£ SEbyE

8SE

Winds.

Remarks.

Friday, October 6, 17S0. two common compasses, the gnnnier's stores.

At 2.15, the foremast went by the board, carried with it the fore-top- gallant and N W yard, with sunner's stores in this top, com- plete ; royu top and top-sallant steering- sail with riggmg full; cUsmonnted one forecastle gun, and d^d other material damage ; seamen cleariiw the wreck ; ahip made much water, 5 net in the w^ pumps constantly at work. At 6, the bow- sprit went with the wreck forward. At 6.30, cleared the wreck of the ship, and clearing the ship of lumber.

At 7, hard gsles ; employed in gettins W N W ! the ship in a state of safety ; shipped much ' water, pumps still at work. At 9, the |[iJe somewhat abated ; aaw two ahipa haTing lost their masts, supposed to be the Raby and Hector. At 10, the Hector passed irery j near ua. At 11, employed in i^ttinc mrs spars as jury-masts; the ship maioe lam water. At meridian, gale abated, and clear ; aaw a ship, supposed to be the Ber- wick, with stumps ; three sail in sight.

Lat. 28° 41'.

NW

WNW

SWbyW

w s w

w

I Culm

Saturday, October 7» 1780.

P.M. Fresh gales, and a mat swell from . the N W ; in company with the Rnbj and Hector ; the gale abating and dear. I

Saw in the S E three ships in oompanj; a strange sail, ditto onarter.

The Hector made signal of diitress, bose down to join her.

Moderate breeses and lair weather ; ployed in getting jury-masts ready.

Moderate breeses, with a great swell from the N W ; three ships in company.

A.M. Saw a strange sail in the SB quarter.

Turk's Island, S 18^ £, dist. 14o leagues.

Employed rigging a junr-foremast, with ; the spare topmast, and ditto topsail for a j foresail. I

T.it. obseryation, 2S" 20'. '

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

331

Extract .from a Journal of the ProceediDgs of H. M. S. Ruby, CHAP.

Captain John Cowling. V™-

Hour.

A.M.

12

P.M.

2.30

3 3.15

6.30

A* Ml 1

Courses.

Winds.

Not iu log

P.M.

2 8

Not in log

EbyN

NE

ENE

NNW

NW WNW

Remarks.

Thursday, October 6, 1780.

A.M. Light airs and cloudy ; made and shortened sail occasionally ; squadron in company.

Friday, October 6, 1780.

Fresh breezes and squally; made and shortened sail, and tacked occasionally; very heavy gales. At 12, the mizen-stay- sail blew overboard, bent another; the Admiral's light, N by E ; the misen and mizen staysiul blew overboard. P.M. At 2.30, the foremast went by the board, and carried away the best bower, and cut the cable. At 3, the mizenmast went by the board, ten feet above deck. 3.15. The mainmast went by the board, and stove two of the boats ; lost three tons of water casks from the quarter, and two ditto from the upper and quarter decks; violent heavy gales, ship very laboursome. At 5.30, hove overboard ten of the 9-pounder8 to ease the ship; cut the wreck of the masts away ; saw three of the squadron dismasted; got the cutter's foremast to the weather cat-head, and set the sail and wore ship to get dear of them ; employed rigeing a jury-foremast; Berwick, Bristol, and Hector in company.

Lat. 28** 20'.

Saturday, October 7, 1780.

A.M. Moderate and clear, the clouds much fallen ; three dismasted ships in sight ; found six puncheons of rum stove entirely. At 4, the Berwick made signal for the ships to the S E to join him ; two ships in sight, bearing N by E, 1 ditto, N N W, distance 4 miles ; saw a strange sail to the northward ; employed getting up jury-masts.

Lat. 28°.

Sunday, October 8, 1780. P.M. Ditto weather ; employed getting up jury-masts. At 2, saw the above sail, a sloop bearing down upon us. At 5, eot a jury-mizenmast up ; and at 8, a jury-fore- mast; Bristol and Hector in company; Berwick in sight; set forc-top-gnllant-sail

Loff of the Ruby.

Ut

332

SAVANNA- LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII

Log of the Ruby.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ruby — concluded.

Rt marks.

Sunday, October 8, 1780. for a foresail ; a heavy, confused sea ; em- ployed getting up aiury-mast. At 10 a,.u, saw a sail in the S £ ; Bristol and Hector in company. Lat. 28° 27'.

The next document is an extract from a report made by Sir George Rodney, and addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty. The squadron he alludes to was further removed from the centre of the storm ; and two of the ships' logs will be sufficient here to show in what way they were aflfected by it. The place of this squadron, which was under Captain Affleck's orders, is marked on the Chart.

On referring to the log-books of Admiral Arbuthnot's squadron, I found the Shrewsbury off Rhode Island, and employed blockading the French squadron, com- manded by Admiral Temay. On the 8th of October, 1780, by the Shrewsbury's log, the wind veered from E. N. E. to N. E., then N. N. W. and W. N. W., wUh strong gales and squalls^ with rain. The Sandwich, lying at Sandy Hook, had fine weather.

Extract from a letter from Admiral Rodney to Mr. Stevens, dated on board the Sandwich, off New York, October 20, 1780.

" I must desire you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships that the squadron of ships and frigates which I stationed off the Delaware received very considerable damage in a violent gale of wind ) and most of them have been obliged to return to port in a crippled condition. The Terrible and the Cyclops lost their mizcnmasts ^ the Guadaloupe was compelled to throw some of hor puns overhoai^i^ and nlmost every ship wa»< so much da- maged as to be obl^d to return into port."

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

333

Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H. M.S. Terrible, CHAP.

kept by Lieut. Benjamin Forest. — In Nautical Time,

VIII.

Hour.

P.M.

6

9 10

11

Courses.

Winds.

S23**W

NWbW

P.M.

3

4

8

A. Mi

2

7

10

S40°E

EbyN

P.M.

N 77^*2

, 11

NNW

Remarks.

Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and hazy weather. At 6, we made signal for a strange sail in the NE. At 9.30, saw three in the NW quarter. At 10.30, the signal for the ships to the windward to make more sail ; ditto the bignal to chase in the west. At 11, shortened sail and hove-to ; the Triumph brought- to the chase at noon ; fresh gales and Slick hazy weather ; sounded at dif- ferent times, and tacked occasionally, as per signal.

Cape Henry. S 65° W, distonce 74 miles. Lat. 36° 29' N, long. 74°.

Saturday,. October 7, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain. At 3, unbent the mainsail, being spUt; William Underbill, a soldier, fell overboard, and was drowned. At 4, em- ployed setting up the mizen rigging. At 8, carried away the larboard clew of main- topsail; handed the sail. At 2 a.ic. unbent the main-topsail and sent it down. At 7.30, the mizenmast went away ; employed cutting away the wreck. At 10, mainsail, in hauling up, split to pieces and blew away ; found the main- mast sprung in the lower decks ; lowered down the mainyard ; employed repairing the damages ; mtto weather.

Cape Charles, N 56 W, distance 48 leagues.

Lat. 35° 39' N, long. 73° 50'.

Sunday, October 8, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and hazy weather; carpenters employed making a fish for the mainmast; sailmakers employed re- pairing the mainsail; people employed setting up the ringing. At 6, saw five sail, two to N E, t&ee to S W, supposed to be some of our cruisers ; bent a foresail for a mainsail ; bent a main-topsail. At 11, spoke H. M. S. Triumph and Cyclops frigate; people employed repairing the rigging.

New York, N 11° W, distance 58 leagues.

l5t.-«6° 20' N, lAtt. 73° 17'

Log of the Terrible.

334

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Terrible.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Terrible — amehided.

Log of the Triumph.

Uour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks. 1
P.M. 6 12	N 34^ W	NEbyE	Monday, October 9, 1780. P.M. Moderate and cloudy weather; employed about the ri^^ing and aaila; carpenters fishing the mainmaat and Jury- mast and yard ditto. At 12, got up the rigging it; tacked occasionally, aa per signal. Sandy Hook, N 9"" W, distance 75 kaguea. Lat. 8«° 48* N, long. 73** 40^.
Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H.M.S. Triumph, kept by Lieut. W. A. Otway.— In Nauticai Tkme.
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. 10 A.M. 6 8 P.M. 4 A.M. 5 6 8	S2y'W S43**E	NNE NEbyN NEbyN	Friday, October 6, 1780. P.M. Throuffhout strong calaa and hazy; made the signal for aU cmiaera. At 10, saw the flash of a gun ahead. At 6 A.M. wore ship, in company with the Terrible; a frigate to the windward: made the private signal, which we taka to be the Triton. At 8, saw a strange aidl in the N W ; set fore-trysaU. At 11, came up with the chase, hronght-to, and sent a boat on board ; she prored to be a ship from Philadelphia, captured by the Retaliation cutter, and bound to New York. Soundings, 18 fathoms. Cape Henry, N 75'' W, distance 39 kegiica. Lat. 36^ 28* N, long. 73^ 49'.
Saturday, Octol>er 7, 1780. P.M. Throughout strong galea* with rain. At 4, uie squadron in compaiiy; furled the main-topsail. At 5 aj>u tne fore tack broke; up foresail, and ftirled it; excessive hard ^alea and a heavy sea; hauled the mamsail up, and aeC the foul weather misen-staysail. At 8» four feet water in the hold ; set all the chain-pumps to work. At 8, endeaToared to furl the mainsail, but could not perform it ; saw the Terrible, with her misenmaat carried away; quoined the lower-deek guns, it still continuing to blow excea- siTcly hard ; lost sight of the Terrible. Cape Hatteras, S 76'^ W, distance 48 lesgucs. Lat, 35^ 45', long. 73** 5'.

SAVANNA-LA-MAR HURRICANE, 1780.

335

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Triumph — concluded.

Hour.

P.M.

2 9

A.M.

6

Courses.

N77°E

9

P.M.

3

6

A.M.

11

N34°W

Winds.

NW

NNW

NNE

NNW

Remarks.

Sundaj, October 8, 1780.

P.M. First part, very hard gales and hazy weather ; middle and latter, mode- rate and cloudy. At 2, saw four sail ; set mainsail and lore-staysaiL At 9, set the topsail. At 6 A.M. the Terrible in the S £, her mizen gone, and main yard low- ered down ; saw the Cyclops to the east- ward, with her mizenmast carried away ; one of the ships in the S W fired seToral gims; three sail in that quarter; made the private signal to ships in the S W. At 9, bore away for the Terrible; out second- reef foresail ; in company with the Ter- rible and Cyclops.

Sandy Hook, N ll^ W, distance 99 leagues.

Lat. 86** W N, long. 72« 41' W.

Monday, October 9, 1780.

P.M. Light airs and cloudy; up top- gallant-yards, out first reefii. At 3, tacked ship; a ship ahead; made the private signal, which we answered ; found the knee of our head yerr much damaged, particularly the part which secures the gammoning of the bowsprit; carpenters employed repairing it. At 6, spoke H.M.S. Triton. At 7 a.m. one of the ships astern made the signal of distress ; brought-to, wore, and stood towards her ; she proved to be the Boreas, with the head of her rudder broken off, and her main- mast sprung in two places. At 11, made sail.

Sandy Hook, N ll^' W, distance 74 leagues.

Lat. 36*^ 49' N, long. 73« 14'.

CHAP.

vin.

Log of the Triumph.

This is as far as the hurricane, which destroyed Savanna-la-Mar on the 3rd of October, 1780, has been traced.

337

The Great Hurricane of 1780.

It has been stated that Sir George Rodney was off chap. New York during the occurrence of the hurricanes ^^' of October, 1780. He had left the command in the See

Chart IX.

Leeward Islands to Admiral Hotham, who, with his flag on board the Vengeance, and having with him the Montagu, Egmont, Ajax, Alcmene, Amazon, and some other vessels of war, was in the Careenage at St. Lucia, with his ships moored across the entrance of that harbour. The Albemarle was in Carlisle Bay, Barbados. The Endymion, with the Andromeda and Laurel, were cruising on the east side of Martinique ; and the Venus, Convert, and Surprise, were cruising among the northern Antilles Islands.

The storm, coming from the south-eastj was first felt at Barbados ; and the ships of Admiral Hotham's squadron experienced the hurricane each in turn, according to the place she was in; and it will be

4

found to have passed on, until it reached the ships under Sir Peter Parker.

The Deal Castle was wrecked on Porto Rico. The Ulysses and Pomona, with the fleet under their convoy, were in the Mona Passage ; and we find them suffering greatly, and almost in the centre of the storm.

The Diamond and the Pelican had been sent to Honduras, convoying merchant ships, and had felt nothing of the* first hurricane; but, on their return towards Jamaica, though on somewhat different courses, both ships came within the influence of the Great

z

338 THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

i

CHAP. Hurricane about the 15tli of October, as will be seen

vni. 1— on reference to their logs, which have bc*eii printed,

and to their places as marked on the Chart IX,

The Pallas and the Lowestoffe had, most fortunately, left their cruising ground just before the hurricane passed over it. On the 13th they were becalmed ; and on the 14th anchored at Port Royal, Jamaica; and there, on that day, the wind was north-west. On the 15th it became norths though light. On the 16th, by the log of the Pallas, it veered round to the south- south-west^ with squalls, thus indicating that a slight influence of the hurricane was felt at Port Royal. The storm, as marked on the Chart, is confined to that space over which it was violent.

The Thunderer, bearing the broad pennant of Com- modore Walsingham, had just arrived from England ; and, in her way to Jamaica to join Sir Peter Parker, had touched at St. Lucia. She foundered in one of these storms ; but where, and on what day, never has been ascertained.

The Chart shows the position of Admiral Rowley *8 already disabled ships when the second hurricane reached them. The Stirling Castle, which belonged to tliis squadron, was wrecked by striking on Silver Keys after the storm.

The Berwick had separated from this fleet afler the hurricane of Savanna-la-Mar, and was proceeding to England under jury-masts. She had reached north of the latitude of Bermuda when the second hurricane overtook her ; and by her track and log-book we are enabled to ascertain the direction taken by this storm.

On reading the logs of these ships, and the various accounts of this hurricane, and comparing the difierent

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780, 339

reports of the wind, it will be found, that no storm yet chap.

described more strongly proves than this the rotatory

nature of hurricanes; and, after attentive consideration of this tempest, in addition to the details of so many others, it seems difficult to refuse belief to this being their mode of action. The centre of the circle would

•

appear to have passed just to the north of Barbados, and thence ov,er the middle of the Island of St. Lucia : so that Admiral Hotham's ship, the Vengeance, which remained in the Careenage to ride out the gale, was in the right-hand semicircle of the storm ; whilst the ships which cut, or parted their cables, and ran first to the southward, were for awhile in the left-hand semi- circle. These last appear to have been dismasted, and the Vengeance driven on shore, just as the centre of the storm was passing between them.

The three ships to the eastward of Martinique being in the right-hand semicircle, had the gale from the eastward, and were therefore upon a lee-shore. By the log of the Endymion, it will be seen that ship just cleared the north-east point of the island; but the Andromeda and Laurel were wrecked, and twenty-five men of the crew of the Laurel alone were saved. These men, of course, were made prisoners ; but were sent by the Marquis de Bouill6 to the British Governor at St. Lucia, with a letter expressing that he could not detain them as prisoners, from the chances of a catas- trophe common to all.

An application having been made, at my request, by Viscount Palmerston, to the French Government, for any information which they could afford relative to the Great Hurricane of 1780, an extract from a report on the subject, made by the *'Intendant of

z2

340 THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

GHAP. Martinique" to the Minister of Marine, was received from r ranee.

The extract proves the wind to have veered at Martinique, as may have been expected, according to the apparent law of storms in the northern hemi- sphere; and throughout shows that the towns and fishing villages suffered even more from the extra- ordinary height to which the sea rose, than from the wind.

Such a portion only of this document is printed as is still of interest.

Coup de ** Le vent qui r^gnait de la partie de TE.N.E. ^tant devena

Bastres de ^^^^ ^^^ dajxa la journde du 1 1 Octobre, plusieurs des b^timenfl

St. Pierre, du convoi ddrad^rent et furent portds au large. II augmenta de

plus en plus et devint trbs violent. II se rangea cofloite k

r£.S.E et bient6t apr^ au S. et k 1*0. en varient avec aotant de

rapidity que d'impdtuositd. Alors tout ce qui restait snr la nde

fut entrain^ k I'exception de trois pctits b^timens cabotenra.

French Ceus de convoi disparurent avec beaucoup de bftteaux et de

^^^^^' go^lettes, soit de la colonie, soit des autres ilea Fran^aiaes on

neutres. The iwell. " Un raz de marde des plus furieux mit le comble aa malhear que Ton dprouvait; il ddtruisit dans un instant ploa de 150 maisons au boro^ dont trente ou quarante nouvellement bftdes ; ceUes qui dtaient derri^re furent enfoncdes en grand paitie ; et les marchandises qu'eUes contenaient enti^rement perdnes. CTcst avec beaucoup de peine que les particuliers qui les habitaient, sont parvenus k se sauver.

''Le Fort St. Pierre construit il y a environ 120 ana, a 6bi ^galement detruit, k Texception des magasins.

" La mer a fait dans les bourgs surtout k St. Pierre, bean- coup plus de mal que le vent ; lalame y a montdjusqu^ fjingt-aaq pieds, LaDomi- ''Le vent et la mer ont fait les plus grands ravages )^ la ^<l^e« Dominique. Plusieurs b^timens caboteurs ont dt^ jett^ k la c6te. Presque toutes les maisons du bord de mer ont €t^ em- portecs, ainsi que les magasins du Roi, la boulangerie et one partie des casernes.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780. 341

"Le d^sastre a ^t^ encore plus affreux a St. Vincent, et les CHAP, pertes plus considerables. La frigate la Junon qui venait d'y Vm. arriver y a p^ri. st.Vin-

" Des 600 maisons qui composaient le bourg de King*s-town cent, il n*en reste que 14. Les autres ont €t€ rashes. La campagne a €i€ enti^remeut d^vast^e, et tous les habitans sont expos^ k la plus afifreuse mis^re.

'' II y a eu peu de mal k la Grenade ; quelques b&timens s*y La sont dchou^s^ mais nous n*avons pas appris que Tile ait souflPret. ^'^**^®»

*' La Guadeloupe a re^u quelques dommages dans des planta- Guade- tions ', le r^ de mar^e en a fait beaucoup k la basse terre, et en Jjane** d* autres quartiers de la colonic. Galante,

" Marie Galante a €t€ epargn^e en grande partie.

" II n*en a pas ^te de m^me de St. Eustache. La mer y a St. Eub-> fieut aussi beaucoup de mal^ elle a consid^rablement mont^ et a ^^^®' inonde une grande partie des Magasins du Commerce.*'

A Danish report, also procured for me by Viscount Palmerston, was made by Captain Stockfleth, who commanded the frigate Christiana, to the Danish Admiralty. This ship met the hurricane on the 13th of October, 1780, when south-west of Porto Rico; but the direction of the wind is not given.

This report states, that only six or seven ships of the French convoy at Martinique were saved; and from Sir Peter Parker's Report, printed at page 302, we learn that there were 5000 troops on board.

From St. Lucia, the centre of the storm appears to have passed over, or very near to, the Island of Mona^ on the morning of the 15th of October; and, when we take up the logs of the Venus and Convert, which were on one side of the storm at that date, and those of the Diamond and Pelican, which were on the other side of it, we find the wind blowing in contrary directions.

On referring to the logs of ships lying in the harbour of Antigua, we there find the wind blowing in squalls ;

342 THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, at first coming from the east-north-east, then veering by

— the east to the south-east^ in strict accordance with the

apparent law of storms in the northern hemisphere.

The squadron of Admiral Rowley, being in latitude 26° 30^ (about which latitude we find hurricanes so frequently change their direction and set towards the eastward), first received the storm easterly. As the gale proceeded towards the north-east, this squadron was in its left-hand semicircle ; and the Ctiart shows

ft

the manner in which the ships then ran to the south- east, with the gale at north-west.

By referring to the log-books of H. M. ships Shrews- bury and Resolution, it appeared that they were under- weigh off Long Island on the 18th of October, 1780. The weather had been fine for some time, both before and after ; and the only exception was that day, when it blew in squalls, so as to make these ships strike their top-gallant-masts, and the Shrewsbury split a topsail, the wind becoming north.

At Bermuda, fifty vessels were driven on shore on the 18th of October; and we have here the log of the Berwick for that day, when she was to the northward of that island, from which we get the direction of the wind.* Thus the Great Hurricane is traced beyond Bermuda, moving in the direction of the Azores; and if this same storm was really the cause of the Shrews- bury and the Resolution striking their top-gallant- masts, and they increase in diameter as they proceed towards the Poles, this storm, on reaching the latitude of Great Britain, may have given a circular direction

* The wind, as laid down from the Berwick's log-book, accords with tht reports of living witnesses (1839) at Bermuda ; and this storm is then •M" referred to as the greatest ever experienced in their latitude.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780. 343

to the wind over an extent equal to the width of the chap,

vni. Atlantic from the British Islands to Newfoundland. 1—

But the extent of the storm marked on the Chart is

confined to the space where it was violent.

<€

Copy of an account of the hurricane of the 10th of October, 1780, which was sent to Lieutenant-General Vaughan, Commander-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands; and by him transmitted to Lord G. Germaine. Copied from the Gentleman's Magazine of 1780.

"The evening preceding the hurricane^ the 9th of October, was remarkably calm ; but the sky surprisingly red and fiery. During the night much rain fell.

''On the morning of the 1 0th much rain and wind from the north-west.

By 10 A.M. it increased very much. By 1 P.M. the ships in the bay drove.

" By 4 P.M. the Albemarle frigate parted and went to sea,

as did all the other vessels, about 25 in number.

" By 6 P.M. the wind had torn up and blown down many

trees, and foreboded a most violent tempest. At Government House* every precaution was taken to guard against what might happen : the doors and windows were barricaded, but it availed little.

"By 10 P.M. the wind forced itself a passage through the

house from the north-north-west; and the tempest increasing every minute, the family took to the centre of the building, imagining, ^m the prodigious strength of the walls, they being three feet thick, and from its circular form, it would have withstood the wind's utmost rage j

llh. 30m. however, by half-past eleven they were obliged

to retreat to the cellar, the wind having forced its passage into every part, and tore off most of the roof.

* The GoTemor of the Island of Barbados, in October, 1780, was Jamss CunDinghame, Esq.

344 THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. *'From this asylum they were soon driven out) the water, Vin. heing stopped in its passage^ having found itself a coarse to the cellar, they knew not where to go. The water had ros« four feet, and the ruins were falling from all quarters.

" To continue in the cellar was impossible ; to return to the house equally so. The only chance left was making for the fields, which at that time appeared equally dangerous. It was, however, attempted -, and the family got to the mina of the foundation of the flagstaff, which soon after giving way, every one endeavoured to find a retreat for himself. The Governor and the few that remained were thrown down ; and it was with great difficulty they gained the cannon, under the carriage of which they took shelter. Their situation here was deplorable ; many of the cannon were moved -, and they had reason to fear that the one under which they sat might be dismounted and crush them by its fall, or that some of the ruins which were flying about might put an end to their existence ; and, to render the scene still more doubtful, they were near the powder-maga- zine. The armoury was levelled to the ground, and the arms scattered about.

'* Anxiously did they look for break of day, flattering them- selves that with the light they would see a cessation of the storm ; yet, when it appeared, little was the tempest abated. Nothing can be compared with the terrible devastation that presented itself on all sides : not a building standing. The trees, if not torn up by the roots, were deprived of their leaves and branches 3 and the most luxuriant spring changed, in this one night, to the dreariest winter.

" It is yet impossible to make a calculation of the number of souls that have perished : whites and blacks together, it is supposed to exceed some thousands. Many were buried in the ruins of the buildings -, many fell victims to the weather ; and a great number were driven into the sea, and there perished. The troops suffered inconsiderably, though their barracks and hospital were early blown down. What few public buildings there were, are fallen in the wreck : the fortifications have suffered considerably. The buildings were all demolished ; for so violent was the storm here, tchen assisted by the sea, that a 1^-pounder gun was carried from the south to the north battery, a distance of 140 yards. ^ Tlic loss to this country is immense : many years will be required to retrieve it.

"Alarming consequences were dreaded from the number of * On its carriage, of course, which had wheels.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780. 345

dead bodies which lay uninterred, and from the quantity of fish CHAP, the sea threw up 5 but these alarms soon subsided.'* ^^^'

At St. Christopher s, many vessels were forced on shore. At St. Lucia^ all the barracks and huts for his l^Iajesty's troops^ and other buildings in the island, were blown down^ and the ships driven to sea ; and the Amazon^ Captain Finch> miraculously escaped foundering.

" At Dominica^ they suffered greatly.

"At St. Vincent, every building was blown down, and the town destroyed.*

''At Grenada, nineteen sail of loaded Dutch ships were stranded and beat to pieces.

" At Martinique, all the ships were blown off the island that were bringing troops and provisions. On the 12th, four ships foundered in Fort Royal Bay, and the crews perished. The other ships were blown out of the roads. In the town of St. Pierre every house is blown down, and more than 1000 people have perished. At Fort Royal, the cathedral, seven churches, and other religious edifices j many other public buildings, and 1400 houses, were blown down. The hospital of N6tre Dame, in which were I6OO sick and wounded, was blown down 3 and the greatest part of these persons buried in the ruins. The number of persons who perished in Martinique are said to have been 9000.

"At St. Eustatia, the loss was very great. On the 10th of October, at eleven in the morning, the sky on a sudden black- ened all round ; it looked as dismal as night, attended with the most violent rain, thunder, lightning, and wind, ever known before. In the afternoon the gale increased. Seven ships were driven on shore near North Point, and dashed to pieces on the rocks, and their crews perished. Nineteen vessels cut their cables and went to sea 3 . and only one is yet returned. In the night, every house to the northward and southward was blown down, or washed away with the inhabitants into the sea, a few only escaping. The houses to the east and west were not so much hurt till the afternoon of the 1 1 th, when the wind on a sudden shifted to the eastward 3 and at night it blew with redoubled fury, and swept away every house. The old and new forts, the barracks and hospital, the cathedral, and four

* St. Vincent and Grenada then belonged to the French.

346 THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, churches, stood. Between 4000 and 5000 persons are supposed VIII. to have lost their lives in St. Eustatia.** — Anmual RegiMier for

I7S0, p.^9r.

Extract from Sir George Rodney's official report of the hurricane of the 10th of October, 1780, at Barbados.

Sir George ''No naval stores of any kind can be got at Barbados or Rodney's St. Lucia, owing to the dire effects of the barricane which happened on the 1 0th of October.

"It is impossible to describe the dreadful scene it has occasioned at Barbados, and the condition of the miserable inhabitants. Nothing but ocular demonstration could hare convinced me that it was possible for the wind to cause so total a destruction of an island remarkable for its numerons and weU- built habitations ; and / am convinced that the violence of the wimi must have prevented the inhabitants from feeling the carthqaakey which certainly attended the storm. Nothing but au earth- quake could have occasioned the foundations of the strongest buildings to be rent : and so total has been the devastation, that there is not one church, nor one house, as I am well in- formed, but what has been destroyed. *****

" I leave their lordships to judge how much my concern must have been heightened upon the report made to me, of the loss his Majesty and the public had sustained in the destmc- tion of ships of war, and the gallant oflicers and men belonging to them, a list of which I have the honour to enclose. But I hope some of them have escaped and arrived at Jamaica, to which ii!iland I shall despatch an express, acquainting Sir Peter Parker with the great disaster which has happened, and reqoest and demand his assistance, in not only hastening snch of my squadron as may have escaped the hurricane and arrived at Jamaica, to rejoin me, without loss of time, with the Thunderer and the Berwick, in pursuance to the orders he recehred by Commodore Walsingham."

Extract of a letter to Lady Rodney, dated St Lucia, 10th December, 1780.

" I sailed from New York on the l6th November^ and arrived at Barbados on the 5th of this month.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780. 347

" You may easily conceive my surprise, concern, and astonish- CHAP, ment, when I saw the dreadful situation of this island and the VIII. destructive eflfects of the hurricane. The strongest buildings and the whole of the houses, most of which were of stone, and re- markable for their solidity, gave way to the fury of the wind, and were torn up to their foundation j all the forts destroyed, and many of the heavy cannon carried upwards of a hundred feet from the forts. Had I not been an eye-witness, nothing could have induced me to have believed it. More than six thousand persons perished, and all the inhabitants are entirely ruined. Our friend. Sir P. Gibbs, has suflfered severely. The hurricane proved fatal to six ships of my squadron, among whom poor Jack Drummond perished on the back of St. Lucia. Several other valuable officers underwent the same fate at Mar- tinique and Dominica. * * * * *' — From the Life of Lord Rodney, vol. i. page 455.

Extract of a letter from Dr. Blane (afterwards the The late late Sir Gilbert Blane) to Dr. William Hunter, dated Biane's

letter.

from on board the Sandwich (Sir G. Rodney's flag- ship), December 22, 1780.

" It hegan to blow at Barbados on the Qth of October, but it was not apprehended until next day that there would be any thing more than such a gale of wind as they experience, from time to time, in this island at that season. On the evening of the 10th, the wind rose to such a degree of violence as clearly to amount to what is called a hurricane. At 8 p.m., it began to make impression on all the houses, by tearing o£f the roofs, and overthrowing some of the walls. As the inhabitants had never been accustomed to such a convulsion of nature, they remained for some time in security, but they now began to be in the utmost consternation. * * « * Jt was thought to be at its greatest height at midnight, and did not abate con- siderably until eight next morning. During all this time, most of the inhabitants had deserted their houses, to avoid being buried in the ruins -, and every age, sex, and condition, were ex- posed in the fields to the impetuous wind, incessant torrents of rain, and the terrors of thunder and lightning. Many were overwhelmed in the ruins, either by clinging too long in them

348

THE GREAT. HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP, for shelter^ or attempting to save ivhat was valuable, or bj un- VIII. avoidable accidents in the fall of walls, roofs, and fiimitnre, the materials of which were projected to great distances. JEvem ikt bodies of men and cattle were lifted from off the grommd, and carried several yards. An estimate has been attempted of the number of deaths, from returns made to the governor, and they amounted to more than 3000, though several parishes had not given in their returns when I was there. * ♦ ♦ jy| ^^

fruits of the earth, then standing, have been destroyed ; most of the trees of the island have been torn up by the roots ; and (what will give as strong an idea of the force of the wind as any thing) many of them were stripped of their bark. The sem rose as high as to destroy the fort, carrying the great guns many yards from the platform, and demolishing the houses near the beach. A ship was driven on shore against one of the building* of the Naval Hospital, which, by this shock, and by the im- petuosity of the wind and sea, was entirely destroyed and swept away. * * * * Xhe mole head was swept

away; and ridges of coral rock were thrown up, wbieb still remain above the surface of the water : but the harboor and roadstead have upon the whole been improved, having been The effect deepened in some places six feet, in others many fathoms. Tbe laticms^'n ^'^s* ^^ coral, which had been the work of ages, having been ^e bed of torn up, leaving a soft oozy bottom, many shells and fish e sea. found ashore which had been heretofore unknown.*'

Lof? of the Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H. M. S. Albk- Albemarle. marle, kept by Captain Thomas Taylor, lying in Cariisle Bay, Barbados. — In Nautical Time.

In Carlisle Bay.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Bemarks.
1 . P.M. 1 1 A.M.	• •■# •* s*	E ENE	T icsday, October 10, 1780. P.M. First part, moderate and hasj; middle and latter, strong galea, with hard rain ; employed watering. A.M. It blowing very hard, employed clearing our hawse; freshened ditto; seyeral ships driving ; a brig parted her cables, hoisted out a boat, and tent a midshipman and four men to aarist.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

349

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Albemarle — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

1

10 12

A.M. 1

Courses.

Winds.

NEbyN

NNE

Wester^J'

Noon.

P.M.

Souther^J'

SEbyS

Remarks.

Wednesday, October 11, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales of wind, with hard rain at times. At 1, a ship and brig drove athwart our hawse; employed clearing them of us ; we found their anchors had hooked our best bower cable. The gale still increasing much harder, and a large sea heaving in from the S W, which broke over Needham's Fort, called the officers together to ask their opinion whether it was best to endeavour to ride it out or go to sea ; the officers' opinion was to go to sea. At 2, slipped the best bower cable, balanced the mizen, clapped a hawser on the small bower cable for a spring, veered away the cable, slipped the hawser. In hoisting the fore-topmast-staysail to wear the ship it split all to pieces ; the gale still increasing, got down the top-gallant -mast on deck ; got in the spritsail and j ib«boom ; got the dead lights in ; shut the ports. At 7» found the step of the mizenmast split ; cut away the mizen-topmast ; the mizen blew loose, and carried away the mizen- yard; got down the cross- jackyard; found the fore and main iliasts to work very much; At 10, cut away the fore topmast to save the foremast ; lowered down the foreyard. At 12.30, still blowing very hara ; a hurricane, with rain ; wind shift- ing round to the westward,

A.M. At 1, carried away the mainmast close to the quarter-deck ; employed clear- ing away the wreck ; at daylight found the people had cut away the sheet cable close b^ the hatchway, in clearing away the rig- gmg belonging to the mainmast. At 5, the wind shifted round to the sotUhward^ still blowing very hard, with constant rain ; still lying hull- to with a heavy sea; the ship, labouring very much, shipped a heavy sea, which stove the armche^ and hen- coops ; threw theni overboard ; found two 9-pound carriages broke all to pieces, and one 4-pound carriage ditto.

Noon. Still blowing a hurricane, with hard rain.

Thursday, October 12, 1780. P.M. Still blowing a hurricane of wind, with constant heav^ rain ; still lying hull- to, found thenc^of the rudder loose. At 4 saw the N W end of Barbados, bearing N £ by N, distance 4 or 5 miles ; found the wooden ends to work very much. At 4.30, wore ship ; wind shifted round to the S £ ; got the spritsail up for a foresail ; heavy

CHAP.

vra.

Log of the Albemarle.

1 p.m. on Oct. 10, civil time.

Put to sea.

L-j

\^'j^

Storm's centre.

1 p.m. Oct. 11.

350

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Albemarle.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Albemarle — ctrndmied.

Log of the Ven- geance, Admiral Hotham.

In Careen- age. St. Lucia.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Bemarks.
P.M. 11 A.M. Noon. P.M. 4 9 12 A.M. 3 5 8		SE SEbyS	Thursday, October 12, 1780. gales of wind, with constant rain. At 1 1, still sounding, the wind <m our quarter. A.M. At 5, more moderate ; hore the i ship to under a trysail ; employed clearing the wreck. Noon. Fresh gales ; large sea from the S W ; the Island of Barbados, 8 E by £, distance 6 or 7 leagues.
Friday, October 13, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and cloudy, with a heavy sea from the S W ; swayed up the foreyard, set the foresail and fore-staysail. At 4, the extremes of Barbados from ESB to SE, distance 6 or 7 leagues. At 9, ditto ; fresh breeze and basy. At 12, ditto weather, with heavy sea. A.M. At 3, ditto weather, wUh UgkU nintji to the westtcard. At 5, saw the Island of Martinico, bearing from N W to W by N, distance 7 or 8 leagues. At 8, saw the Island of St. Lucia, S W, distance 7 or 8 leagues ; employed getting up a top-gtl- lant-mast for a mizen-topmast ; saw two large pieces of a wreck pass us ; employed as needful ; N E end of St. Luda, 8 W by S, distance 3 leagues.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Vengeance (kept by James Waltou^ Master), moored in the Careenage at St Lucia. — In Nautical Time,
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M. A.M. 6 P.M. 7 9 11 • 12	I	Variable Variable Variable ■	Tuesday, October 10, 1780. P.M. Dark, cloudy weather; a mata and forty men employed on the Vigie. A.M. At 6, sailed the Blanche ami Ale- mene ; down top-gallant-yarda.
1 Wednesday, October 11, 1780. P.M. Strong squalls; shifted the stream anchor on the starboard bow to tlie N S. At 7.1'^, the Egmont drove and broncht up again. At 7.30, verv strong aqualU. At 9, the Ajax parted 'her cablea, and went out to sea. At 1 1 , the gale increaaed very much. At 12, the Egmont ^pped* and went out to sea.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1760.

351

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Vengeance — continued.

Hour.

Courses.

Winds.

A.M. 4

6 8

P.M.

8

Variable NE

NE

10 12

A.M.

4 6 8

11

NEbyE

ESE

P.M.

8 6

9

ESE

Remarks.

Wednesday, October 11, 1780. A.M. At 4, let go the sheet anchor. At 4. 30, the Montagu slipped and nin out to sea. At 6, struck lower yards and top- masts. At 8. A, the Amazon slipped and run out to sea. Several transports drove on shore and dismasted in the harbour.

Thursday, October 12, 1780.

P.M. Violent squalls, the gale still in- creasing. At 12.15, parted the small bower, and brought up with the stream and sheet anchors. At 12.30, cut away the mizen, main, and foremast; a smaU brig parted three cables, and drove ashore under our stem, and stove to pieces. The ship struck very hard abaft, run four- teen guns forward to ease her ; employed clearing the wreck; cut away the long- boat, cutter, and schooner-tender, which were immediately dashed to pieces; the hurricane still increasing, the ship still striking at times. At 8, rode clear off the rocks ; got the guns in their places, and quoined and secured the lower-deck guns and ports ; wind veering to the eastward. At 9, lightning between the squalls, still blowing excessively hard, with rain. At 10, less wind, with more rain and lightning. At 12, the hurricane abated, with rain.

A.M. At 4, strong gales and squally, with heavy rain. At 5, saw all the small vessels in the harbour on shore, and most of them dismasted. At 8, made the signal of distress with two guns ; got the boats over the side, and got the parted cable on board. At 11, carried out the small an- chor to steady the ship ; lost all the rigging of the masts and yardj, one foresail, one fore-topsail, one main-topsail, one main- topmast-staysail, mizen, andmizen-topsail.

Friday, October 13, 1780.

P.M. Moderate, with rain; warped further to the southward, and brought up with the sheet anchor ; veered away and hove up the small bower, bent another cable, and moored as before. At 8, thun- der and lightning, and rain.

A.M. At 5, saw the Montagu off the harbour, with all her masts and bowsprit gone. At 9, got up the stream anchor ; the Montagu brought up ; got a schooner and sent boats with hawsers to assist her in warping in.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Ven- geance.

Wind

veering

eastwtfd.

k.

352

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Ven- geance.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. VENGEANCK-^-ooiic/aMM.

Jjog of the Alcmene.

Sailed from St. Lucia.

Off Marti- nique.

Parted

from the Blanche, which woa lost.

! Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	ReBiarks.
1 P.M.	•#•• ••••	Variable •	Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Moderate and fair weather ; car- penters fitting the stump of the mainmast for a jurymast ; departed this life, John Green, marine ; people employed getting up shears for a jury-mainmast.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Alcmene — In Nautical 7»ie.
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remaxks.
P.M. 1 2 3 4 6 6		NNE	Wednesday, Cctober 11, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and squally. At 2, got under weigh, in company with the Blanche; out ftrst-rcef topsails.
NWbWiW	N^E	Martinique, E § N, 6 leagues.
7 8 9 10 11 12	NWbyW NbyE NW	NbyE NNE	Tacked. V<^ 5'-^ -^--r; Wore ship. y\,' Lf .*'-' «'
NWbyN	NbyE	0
A.M. 1 2 3 4	NNW EiN	NbyE	A.M. Hard gales and rain.
6 6 7 8 9 ! 10 11 12	E^N	NNE	Handed topsails. Up mainsail ; lay-to under foresail. Wore ship. Reefed mainsail; balanced misen; struck top-gallant-masts. Very hard gales and rain ; great sea. Handed mainsail.
P.M. 1 2 3 4	up NNW offNW	Variable 1 1	Thursday, October 12, 1780. P.M. Hard gales and thick weather, with rain. Laying-to under foresail, and balanesd mizcn. mizcn, and fore staysails, ditto. At 4, reefed and furled foresail; up mizen, and lott sight of the BlancA^, bear' ing SSEhalfamUt,

i

I.

lb-

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

353

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Alcmene — contumed.

Hour.	Conraes.	Winds.	Remarkf.
P.M.			Thunday, October 12, 1780.
6	upNNW	NW
6	offN W
7			Hie gale inareasing; split main-stay- sail; la^hnll-to.
8			Blowing very hard ; sliipped many seas.
9			Two pumps going ; lowered the cross-
10 11	upSWbyS offSby W	SE	jack-yard on deck.
12			Gale still increasing.
A.M.
1			A.M. Ship labouring hard, shipping
2			much sea ; six of the larboard half-poru
3	up S E by S offESE	SW	washed overboard.
4
6	upSE
6	offESE		Gale abated.
7	upESEoffE	SbyW	Kept one pump going.
8 9 10			Little more moderate.
		Gale abated ; saw a ship a-head» which was supposed to be the Blanche.
11			Began to clear up ; a great sea running.
12 P.M.			Passed by sereral pieces of wreck.
Friday, October 18, 1780.
1	upEoffENE	SSE	P.M. Fresh gales and squally; sent
2			down mizen-topmast and yard ; at half-
3	NNE	SE	past, set mizen-suysail ; more moderate ; kept more away. Squally, with rain.
4 5 6
7			Set foresail.
8 o			Set dose-reefed main-topsail.
10	NNE^E		Saw Martinique, B by N, 5 leagues ; set
11 4 tf%	NbyE		dose-reefed topsails.
12	NbyW
1 2 8 4			■
		A.M. At 4, up mixen-topmast. At 5, do. weather ; out one-reef-topsails. At 6, spoke a brig, the Norfolk, m dis-
6
6
7	NWbyN NW		tress ; ihe Saints, bearing ENE, 6 leagues. At 8, gave chase to a snow in the N W.
8
9	WNW
10			At 10, boarded ditto, being lateW from Bordeaux, and had drove out of Mar-
			tinique; fired one gun at ditto.
11	upNEbyS offNE		At 11, got the prisoners on board, and
.		fired a gun at and brought-to a brig from
			Ostend for St. Eustatia.
		1

CHAP,

vra.

Log of the Alonene.

2 a

364

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Alcmene.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Alcmbm

Hour.

I^g of the Ajax.

Striking in4| fathoDiB, cut and put to sea.

A.M.

12

Courses.

upNEhyS offNE

Winds.

SE

Kemarlri.

Friday, Oetober 18, 1780. |

At meridian, in boat; made laO, the ;

prize in company; the aonth end of Ova- i

oaloupe N £ by £, 8 leagnee. Fresh hreesea and hasy.

Extract from a Journal in H.M.S. Ajax, Captain John Symonds, at anchor in the Careenage, St. Lnda. — In Nautical Time.

P.M.

6

Not in the log

A.M.

11

P.M.

NB

Remarks*

NNE

P.M.

NbyE

Wednesday, Oetober 11* 1780. P.M. Squally, with rain ; aafled lunee the Blanche and Alcmene.

At 6, struck top-gallant-maeta ; etnog

gales; parted the small bower ealde, let go

the best bower, Teered to half a eabk,

wh«Mhe ship struck Tery heary on the

NcfToof the sea in 4| fathoma watar ; hove

"^ff by the spring, cast the ship's head to

I the northward, cut both cablea, and poahed

to sea.

A.M. At 11, Groaa Islet, B by N, 4 or 6 leasues.

P.M. Saually, with rain; doee teaiiil topsail and set the foresail ; a^it the fae- topmast-staysail and unbent it; etnaig gales continue ; in both topeaila, the ship taking a very heaTy plunge; ^^IBaa) Doyle was washed out of the head, and 1 was drowned ; blows haid. Tcry Strang • galea; brought-to, undcx tne mehiwfl; Tery heavy squalls in goats, with ain; the sea running very high and ~

Variable during

the horrioane

8

Thursdar, Oetober 12, 1780.

P.M. Very neayy guats of wind and rain; split the mainaail, whidi flev to pieces ; bent the fbre-staysail lor a miaen- stajrsail and set it ; balanced the ndnm and set it, which blew to pieces ; cut the wea- ther part of the mainsail from the wd and got it on deck ; bunted the foicaiul.

At 8, blows excessively hard, the eea running very high ; violent gusts of wind, which blew away the main-topmast 12 fret above the capstan, with the topaail-yaid and top-gallant-maat, and earned away the mainyard in the slings; cut all away to get clear of the wreck.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

365

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. kjkXr^coneluded,

flour.

P.M.

8

P.M.

7

A.M. 2

Courses.

Winds.

Variable during

the hur- ricane

P.M.

10

A.M.

6

9

12

Variable

Remarks.

Thursday, October 12, 1780.

A.M. Heavy gusts of winds with light- ning ; the mizenmast blew over the side, about nine feet above the poop-deck ; cut away the rigging to clear the wreck ; shipped a great quantity of water into our scuppers and ports, which employed our pum^ until morning; strong ffusts and blowmg weather, with a lofty and irregular sea ; saw a large ship to leeward of us, and two frigates to windward ; employed clear- ing the standing and running-rigging that had been cut; pumps constantly going, with which we but just kept the snip free.

At 8, more moderate ; set the main-stay- sail ; less wind ; the sea high and confused.

Fridajr, October 13, 1780.

P.M. Squally, with a confused sea; em- ployed clearing the decks of the running- rigging and blocks ; got down and saved both the main-yardarms.

At 7, more moderate and showery; kept only one hand-pump poing.

A.M. At 2, squally, with lowers of rain, thunder, and lightning.

At 5, wore ship ; employed cutting the head of micenmast to fit a cap for the jury- mast, and preparing the main topsail-yard for a mainyard ; set fore-topsail, employed rigging the jury mizenmast, and main- topmast; got ui> the jury mizenmast; fresh gales and rain.

Saturday, October 14, 1780.

P.M. Moderate and heavy rains ; se- cured the mizenmast and set a fore-stay- sail for a mizen ; got the main-topsail-yud across for a mainyard ; bent the sail and swayed the yard up; bent the main- top- gallant-staysail for a mizen-staysaiL

At 10, more moderate ; set the fore and mizen-staysail.

A.M. l)itto weather ; set the mainsail and got the top-gallant-yard across for a topsail, and set it on.

At 6, saw the land, south end Dominica, S E by E, 10 leagues ; Saints, N E by E, 12 leagues; examined the guns, and scaled ttiose that were wet.

At 9, spoke the Albemarle frigate, who had lost her mainmast, fore ai^d mizen- topmasts, bound for Antigua to refit ; em- ployed variously.

Noon. Saints, E by N i B, 5 leagues ; north end Dominica, £ | S, 7 leagues.

2a2

CHAP.

vni.

Log of the

Aji

Off Do- minica.

Spoke the ilbemarle.

356

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of the H. M. S. Eghont, Certain Fto- ;_ ahawe ; kept by Mr. Robert Hartley, Master.— In Naaticul Thmf.

TueBtUy, October 10, T80. P.M. Most part unsettled, with ft ■qoalla of ram; TeceiTcd c- "— —

bower underfoo

indhDY

n -upon her, uid ti BWBj on (he amftll bower, uiil hoi* vf the bcti bawcr; moored tha tbif wiu best bower and jmall bowtst, « whoU cable on the beat bover and tudf ■ cable ob the iimall bower.

Noon. Got down tlie top-nUant-jafdli iqtulW, with hud nia ; twati hiamf ik Blanche and Alccuene frigatw.

At 7, csmeonahearTpquaUo* rain, whi«h patted the small bowvoM at t went; fatkom &om th* anchor; 4a9 ■wiing to the b«fl bower, whj^ ^^4 hat up; emplaned clcatiog thfahipteM

At ll.io.-ciit a WSJ the beat boins u whole eable, the hawier that VrU fm _ the AxDsion, and the hawter 6m tkm spring, and went to tea under

Mitlnighi. Split the ruain-tc ■ail, and lei the conne*.

A.M. SlTong galea, with haid 1^

Split the foie-itajiail. Unbent the main-ti Carried away the n Saw the Aiax staad

Noon. St. Loda, N 19° ^ Iragnei. Eicew of UiitDde, r. Departnic. S0° W. Voy heaTj gale* and aqtully.

THB GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

Extract rrom the Log or H. M. S. Egmont — continutd.

Hour.	Counu. I Winds.
p«			Thursday, October 12, 1780.
		NE	P.M. \btj ttiODft gale*, wiib hard
2 3			•quallt and rain. Saw B sloop lying-to in the SE quatier)
■i			loal orerbottd the davit.
s			A.M. AtS.lhemaia-topniMtaiidbow.
s
7			•prit went away. At 8.16, the foremait went away by the larboard-. ide, and car-
8
9 10		From .11	tied away the rigging and .topper of the .heet anchor, which we were obliged to cut
11 n		quarter*	away ; very hard galea and a very heaTy tea. Nion. thetiUBrinthegUD-toombroke;
*.ii.			the wind Jrom aU guarttri of tkt eompet* ; ■hipped a great deal of water.
		Uuboard-quBrter, as did the munmMt ; aU
4

Thiuadaj. October 12, 1780.

A.M. At 8, got up B jury foremut and Kt the fprtUail' topsail for a fotesail.

Noon. Wore ship to the N W, the time the mast went away by the wieck ; the

358

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIU.

Log of the Egnont*

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Egmoict — etmiimmed.

8

P.M.

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11

12

A.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

U

12

P.M. 1

12 A.M.

12 I

P.M. 1

From all qutrtart

8SE

SE

SKbyE

SKbyS

Remarka.

Thursday, October 12, 1780. cutter and gig, larboard-tide on the ahip •ides, were stove to piecea.

P.M. At 9, waahed in both quirter- gallerr aaahea ; the ward-room oontinnaJl j full of water, and gun-room, the ahip being much by the stem.

St. Locia, N E by E f E, diat 1 1 leagoea.

Friday, October 13, 1780. P.M. At 1, wore ahip ; a greet deal of our bread damaged, and very wet.

Fresh gales and cloudy, squalls of wind and rain.

Much lightning/r. th4i

Course made, N W by W J W. Distanced, 21 milea. Excess of latitude, 7 milea. Excess of longitude, 21 milea Departure, 20 milea. Latitude by account, 13^ 37' K. Distance made, 68 asilea, W. Longitude made, 1^ W» Midnight. Ditto

A.M. Saw the land ; making Hhm Loaf in St. Lucia. Bearing, E by N, 10 or 11

Noon. St. Laeb, JX.WWH^ 151eagiiea.

Ditto weather; gettmg JvnMWl np. and clearing the bread foobm eff flriT"'gr' bread, and throwing it oretboeid; flfled twenlT-four butta of aalt-weter in the Ibiehold to bring the ahip by the hand.

Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and cloudy, with rain. Noon. St. Lucia, E, 27 leagoee 1 mile. Lat. by account, 13° 46' N. A.M. Fresh breezes and haiy

Sunday, October 15, 1780. P.M. Cloudy, with small rain.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

35d

tSxtract from the Log of H.M.S. Egmont — contmued.

Hour.

P.M.

12

8

9 12

P.M.

i

5 12

P.M. 1

12

P.M. 1

12

Connet.

P.M.

1 12

P.M. 1

P.M. 1

12

P.M. 1

12

P.M. 1

n

t,u.

Winds.

SEbyS Wt)yS SWbyW

SEbyS SEbyE

SEbyE

SSW

Remarks.

Sunday, October 15, 1780. Noon. St. Lucia, S 69'' 48' E, distance 44 leagues 1 mile. Lat. by account, 14° 30' N. Great swell firom the S W.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and hazy weather.

Lat. 14° 66' N.

Noon. St. Lucia, S 66° 38' E, distance 59 leagues 2 miles.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and fair weather. Lat. 15° 46' N. St. Lucia, S 59° 44' £, dist. 77 leagues.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780. P.M. Light breezes. Noon. Lat. 16° 29' N. St. Lucia, S 57'' 20' £, dist. 86 leagues.

wsw

NNE

NNE

N£

Thursday, October 19, 1780. P.M. Lat. by observation, 16° 54' N. Midnight. Calm.

Friday, October 20, 1780. P.M. Lat. by observation, 16° 45' N. St. Lucia, S 65° E, distance 104 leagues.

Saturday, October 21, 1780. P.M. Squally, and hard rain. Lat. 17° 10* N. St. Lucia, S 60° E, distance 137 leagues.

Sunday, October 22, 1780. P.M. Lat. 17° 19' N, long. ex. 8° 18' W. Noon. Port Royal, Jamaica, N 85° 44' W, distance 139 leagues.

Easterly

ESE

Monday, October 23, 1780 P.M. Lat. 17^36' N. Port Royal, Jamaica, N 89° 24' W, dis- tance 127 leagues.

Tuesday, October 24, 1780. P.M. Lat-H** 14'N, long.made, 9°44'W.

CHAP.

vm.

Log df the Egmont.

360

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780«

CHAP.

vm.

XiOgofthe Egmont.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Eomon

Aniyed at Jamaica.

Log of the Montagu.

Montagu parted and went to tee.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.
P.M. 12 P.M. 12 P.M. 12 P.M. 12 P.M.	.•«••...	Variable Easterly ENE NE NE	Wednesday, October 25. 1780. P.M. Lat. ir 28'. East end of Oi^ TOMran, N W i W,
Thursday, October 26, 1780. P.M. Lat. 18° 7' N. Cape Donna Maria, N B ; distance lOor 11 leagues.
Friday, October 27, 1780. P.M. Lat. 18° 15' N. Saw the end of Jamaica, W 8 W ; dis- tanoe 9 or 10 leagues; Morant Pointp 7 or 8 leagues.
Saturday, October 28, 1780. Noon. Kingston, 7 leagues.
Sunday, October 29, 1780. P.M. Moored the ship fai Fuet Bojal harbour, Janudca.
Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Montagu (kept by Mr. William Raven, Master), lying off the Entnoioe of the Careenage, St. Lucia. — In Nautical Time.
Hour.	Courses.	Winds.
P.M. 12 A.M. 3 6 8	WNW Head to N upNW oflfWbyN	N NNE 1	Wednesday, October 11, 1780. P.M. Strong gales, with heafy efsdh of rain ; struck the top-gallant ayali ; a Tery hesTy swell from the N W. At 12; parted or slipped, H.M.8. Ajax. A.M. At 3, slipped and stood to eea, H.M.S. Effmont. At 5.80, in ptepeiing to slip and go to sea, we parted ovr sHeHB and small bower cables ; stood out WK W till 8 A.M. South end of St. Loda them bore, S S E, 9 or 10 leagues ; beoQ^ h« to with her head to the notthwaid; up N W, off W by N, Tery strong galea ; ahip makes much water.

.^^

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

361

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Montagu — amtimied.

Hour.

P.M.

S)

A.M.

1

2 3 4

5' 0 7

8

9

10' 11

Noon

ConrseB.

upNW offWbyN

upNWbyW offWbyS

Winds.

NNE

Head to the BSE

NbyW

W8W

Remarks.

Thursday, October 12, 1780.

P.M. A heavy storm, with rain ; found the foremast sprung in the partners of the forecastle deck ; ship makes much water ; pumps continiudly going ; a yery high sea. At 3.30, in cutting away the main and fore-topmasts, with an intention to saye the lower masts, the mainmast, fore, and mizenmast, with all their yards, sails, and riraing, went oyer the side; a heayy storm with rain.

The foremast in going killed six of our people, and stoye two cutters and pinnace to pieces. At 4.15, the bowsprit went by the outer gammoning, and carried away the greatest part of the head.

At 6, ditto weather, and a yery high sea.

At 8, ditto weather ; pumps continually going, eight feet water m the hold.

CHAP.

vra.

Log of the Mmitaga.

A.M. At 1, the sea breaking in abaft, the coat of the rudder being destroyed, the starboard Quarter ^lery stoye in, with several of Uie deadlights of the wardroom, the Captain called a council of his officers to consult what was most advisable to be done for the preservation of the ship, there being then nme feet water in the hold, when it was unanimously agreed to cut awav the best bower anchor and veer out a cable, in order to bring the ship's head to the sea, and thereby prevent the sea from breaking in abaft ; cut away the best bower anchor accordingly and veered out a cable, which in some measure was found to answer the end proposed. At 5, more moderate ; got our pumps to gain upon her ; cut away Uie best bower cable, not having it in our power to heave in any part of it, all hands being employed at the pumps. At 8, got up a jury foremast, and set tne mixen-top- gallant-sail for a foresail. At 9, saw the Sugar Loaves of St. Lucia, bearing 8 f N, distance 4 leagues ; the Island of St. Vin- cent then bore, E S £, distance 6 leagues ; got up a pair of sheers, and set the main-^ top-gallant-sail for a mainsail.

£roon. Moderate breezes and a high sea ; pumps constantly going, seven feet water m the hold ; cloudy, with rain ; Sugar Loaves, E, distance 2 leagues.

(5u^

Veered CjJij , outacabla^^v i^

her head ^i ij to sea. ^V*^^

p;

362

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Montagu.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Montagu — etmeh^U.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 8

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3

4 6 6 7 8 9 10

11

12

P.M.

2

Courses.

Winds.

ENE

WbyN

wsw

88W

SEbS

ESE

amd

Variable

Remaiks.

Friday, October 18, 1780. P.M. Moderate, with rafau At 4, tftw the lights from Mome f^oftonla binbif ESE.

AJM. Fired one gun at a signal of dis- tress. At 7. came-to with the ahest an- chor in twenty fathoms, the outer pan of the Vigie, £, distance 1 mUa; ioond H.M.S. Vengeance, Commodore Hotham, lying in the Careenage, dismasted ; fbmd our long-boat, with fourteen full-boand water-casks (butts) store and beat to nieces, which had been watering, Ac, H.M.S. La Blanche (per order of the Commodore, on the 10th inst.), and only four of the water-buttt reeoTered again.

At 11, weighed and made sail.

Noon. Light breeses, with rain ; fommd the eurmU uUina to tk$ ne/rtkwmrd; atove two water puncheons, full-bound, wUdti were lashed to the arm of the anebor; employed in pumping ship.

Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Moderate breeies and dondy, with rain. At 2, eame-to with the stream- anchor in 9 fiithoms water; PSdgeon Island, N, distance 2 miles. At 4, weighed and made saiL At 6.80» came- to ot the Careenage, with the ikuMt an* chor, in 13 fathoms.

A.M. Receiyed boats and ha^ the Vengeance ; employed waiping into the (teenage.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

863

Extract from a Joamal of the Proceedings of H. M. S Amazon, CHAP. Captain the Hon. Clement William Finch 5 Log kept by ^^™' Lieutenant Edward Pakenham. Lob of the

Hour.

A.M.

P.M.

A.M.

P.M. 6

8

9

U

A.M. 4

7.30

12

Courses.

Not in log

P.M.

Winds.

£

£SE

NEtttiy

8

A.M.

2

NE

NW

Remarks.

Monday, October 9, 1780. A.M. Anchored here the Blanche and Alcmene firigates.

Tuesday, October 10, 1780.

P.M. Freeh gales and squally, with rain ; let go the best bower underfoot, with a hawser bent to it from the Egmont, in order to steady her.

A.M. Received on board proyisions, and completed for three months.

Wednesday, October 11, 1780.

P.M. Ditto gales, with haurd squalls ; struck top-gal&nt-masts. At 6, the Eg- mont parted ; ditto gales ; she brought up again imder our stem. At 8, strong gales and squally. At 9, the Ajax put to sea. At 11, the Egmont cut and put to sea; excessive hard gales, with rain; veered to a whole cable on the small bower.

A.M. At 4, the Montagu parted and put to sea; bent fore, main, and mizen staysails, and made all ready for sea ; got the spritsail yard in. At 7.30, finding the gale increase, slipped the small bower and stream cables, and cut the best, and put to sea ; split the fore-staysail to pieces.

Noon. Blowing a hurricane, with a heavy sea.

Thursday, October 12, 1780.

P.M. A perfect hurricane. At 2, got the fbre-top-^allant-mast's yards, &c., la^ed amidships on the main-deck ; split the staysails to pieces; ditto, lying-to imder bare poles. At 7, the ship began to water-log. 7.30, by the violence of the hurricane the ship overset, and lay in that situation the space of six or eight minutes, when the mast ^ went by the board ; found the ship to right ; cutaway the wreck, and began to heave the lee-guns over. About 8, the ship quite righted, with 10 feet water in the hold; kept the chain pumps going, and heaving theffuns overboard, clearing the wreck. &c.

a!m. At 2, the chain pumps choked, with 7 feet water in the hold ; kept the hands baleing ; found several dead bodies

Cut and slipped, and went to sea.

Ship overset.

i^.

364

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Amazon — eomiimmed.

Hour.

A.M.

4 12

Coones.

Not in log

Winds.

NNW

Bemarki.

Thunday, October 12, 1780. about the decks. At 4, found the wind abate, and sained on the ship.

Noon. Shipped a spare tiller in the cabin, r the old being sprung and broke ; found we I gained considerablyontheship by haleing; | eyery thing in the hold store to pieces [ and m disorder ; the gale much ahated^ j

Log continued by Captain the Hon. C. W. Finch.

Hour.

P.M.

6 10

12

A.M. 6

8

Courses.

Winds.

Not in log

EbyS

12

P.M.

£by S

6

K

Remarks.

Friday, October 18, 1780. P JC First pNsrt, hard gales with rain, a heary sea ; middle and latter, freeh galas and squally, with rain. At 6, brake the chain of the starboard pump ; rigged the fore-top-gallant-mast tat a jarr-raraMsl, and set the Ibre-top-gaUant sail oaU; goc one of the compasses fitted ; the wind in the last twenty-four hours had beoi revnd the compass. At 6, kept the pomps going, baleing, &c. At 10, the punqis^ Ae.

Midnight. Rigged the main-top*faIlant- mast for a jury-mainmast, and set the main-top-gaflant sail on it; the chain and hand-pumps kept constantly going, baleing &c.

A.M. At 6, rigged the miaen-top* gallant-matt for a jury-miaenmast. At 8, struck the main-top-gaUant-niast» and rigged the spare Jib-boom for a JnrjMBaiB* msst, and set a miien-topsail v^poa it; got the spare pump down in the spirit- room and worked it; the carpsntsn ie> pairing and clearing the chain*pamna. At 12, three feet water in the wdf ; dM pumps kept going, baleing, Ac

Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. First and middle parts, fredi galas and hazy weather, with ram ; latter, OMide- rate and clear weather; employ«l clearing the ship of the wreck, &c. ; rigged the main- top- gallant-mast on the bitca, and set main- top-gallant-sail on it. At 4, saw the land ; the pumps kept goinc, kc. At 6, the body of Martinico, IS by S, diet. 7 or 8 leagues. At 8, cleared the well, with

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

365

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Amazon — concluded.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
	Not in log		Saturday, October 14, 1780. the hand-pumps, baleing, &c. ; the spare pump choked ; set the royals. A.M. At 10, spoke H.M.S. Ajaz, with the loss of her mizenmast.
A.M.
10		SSE
12			Noon. The northward point of Domi- nica, E by S, and southward point of Gua- daloupe, N N E.— Lat. 16*» 26' N.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Amaion.

The following is from the Hon. Captain Finch's Captain

nk r ■ Finch 8

Narrative. nanatiTe.

" About seven o'clock at night the gale increased to a degree that can be better conceived from the consequences^ than from any description I can give. There was an evident necessity of • doing something to relieve the ship ; but I was unwilling tp cut away the lower masts till the last extremity, and accordingly ordered the people to cut away the main-topmast ; but, before it could be accomplished, I found it necessary to cut away the mainmast.

" Whilst I was waiting for the men to come down, a sudden gust overset the ship ; most of the officers, with myself and a number of the ship*s company, got upon the side of the ship : the wheel of the quarter-deck was then under water. In this situation I could perceive the ship settling bodily some feet, imtil the water washed up to the afterpart of the slides of the^ ,.^ j . carronades on the weather side. Notwithstanding that the ship*^^^^'^^ ^'^ *"** was so far gone, upon the masts, bowsprit, &c., going away, she ^^^ ^"^ righted as far as to let us heave the lee quarter-deck guns and carronades overboard, and soon after one of the forecastle guns, and to cut away the sheet anchor ; which had so good an effect, that we were enabled to get at the pumps and lee-guns on the main deck. The throwing them overboard was, in our situation, a work of great difficulty ; and I could perceive the ship was already going down by the stem. This arduous task was ac- complished under the direction of Lieutenant £. Pakenham, whose experience and determined perseverance marked him out as perhaps the only individual to whom (amid such great exer- tion) a pre-eminence could be given.'*

r •

f*-»4«^

^ fi*^

366

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of H. M.S. Endymion, dqpCain ^^^^' and kept by William Price, Master. — ^In

liOgof the EDdymion.

Windward of Marti* niqae.

Andro- meda and Laurel in company.

Hour.

P.M.

1

5

7

12

2 3 6

8

10 12

P.M.

1

6 10

A.M.

1

8 12

P.M. 1

2

5 9

12

A.M.

3

Courses.

• • . .

Winda.

S8W

E

Variable

EbrS EbyN

Remarka.

ENE NEbyE

NE

NE

NE

Monday, October 9, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breeiee and fidir weather; lying-to, setting fore-riffsiiif , ftmeUy end topmaatrimngai>; H.lft. frigates Audio- meda and JL^nrel in eompeay.

Midnight Moderate bneiea and C^r.

Lat. by obeerration, U"" 44' N.

A.M. At 8, made the AndnBeda aid Laurel signals, to keep on head» as frr aa signals could be obaenred.

At 9, the Andromeda made the sipMl for seeing a strange aail ; made the sipwl to chaae, and made aail ; out leefti ; set all sail upon a wind.

Roto new fore- topmast- stsyaail-hal* yards.

Noon. Moderate and lair

Martinico, W S W, diataaoe 17

Tuesday, October 10, 1780.

P.M. Fresh bieeiea and hasy weather; in chase.

The Laurel being aoonsiderahledisliBSS a-head brought £• chaae to, aftv Mam sereral shot ; found her to be the brig Sana and Nancy, from Boston, boond to Gi»> nada, loaded with lumber.

At 6, in second reefr, and won sU^; hoTe-to to shift the men out of tb» priM; manned her and aent her to Barbados.

A.M. Fresh galea and sqnally ; in third reefs.

Martinico, W S W, distance lOlssgaaa.

Strong gales and squally weather; An* dromeda and Lanr^ in oonqpsay.

Wedneaday, Oetober 11, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and hard aqiialla.

Handed topMuls; down fop g illiif yards; struck top-gallant-maats.

At 4. saw the land NE end of ICsrti- nioo, S W by S, distance 7 leagues.

At 6, set topsaila.

Strong gale and great iw$0 frosa the ENE; handed ditto topaaila.

Midnight. Strong gale and haidsqnsUs.

A.M. At 3, made the aignal to the An* dromeda and Laurel to lie-by on the lar- board tack.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

367

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Endym ion — ctmtinMed.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
A.M.			Wednesday, October 11, 1780.
8		ENE	At 8, handed topsail ; heavy gales and strong squalls ; lost sight of the two ships. At 9, nanded nudiuail under balance-
9
			mizen and mizen-topsail.
12			Noon. Blows strong and yiolent squalls ; north-east end of Miurtinico, W S W, dis-
P.M.			tance 4 leagues.
Thursday, October 12, 1780.
1		ENE	P.M. Strong gale and hard squalls.
12			Noon. Wore ship to northward; there
A.M.			saw white water to leeward.
2			A.M. At 2, saw land.
3			At 3, just weathered the Island of Cara-
6		E	cal, the north-east end of Martinico, then bore away, and run between Dominiea and Martinico. The main, mizenmast, and fore-topmast blown away by the vio- lence of the wind ; some time after, the bown>rit ; the wreck being so foul of the beet bower anchor, obliged us to out away
	^		26 fathoms of cable ; employed clearing
			the wreck.
7		Bl>yN	At 7, hove-to under a mizen-topsail.
12		ES£	Noon. Continues blowing a heavy gale and violent squalls ; bearing and distance
P.M.			Martinico, north end, dist. 15 leagues.
Friday, October 13. 1780.
1		SWbyW	P.M. Strong gales and violent squalls.
5			Bent the longTOat's mainsail to the stump of the mainmast, to keep the ship to the wind ; ship labouring very much, snipping
			very heavy seas; got a stay up to the
			mizenmast, and set a mizen-staysail, al-
	•		tered for the purpose. Midnight. Blowing a strong gale and
12		ESE
A.M.			hard squalls.
4			A.M. Ship rolls very heavy, which occa- sions her to strain much.
6			More moderate and settled. (Then fol- lows details of repairing the rigging.^
12			Noon. Moderate and squally. Martmico,
1 P.M.			£, distance 34 leagues.
Saturday, October 14. 1780.
3		£S£	P.M. Strong gales and thick weather, with rain; standing to the westward.
; 9			Constant rain.
A.M.
9		SE	A.M. Blowing strons and squallv; making a mizen-staysau to set on the
,			stump of the mizenmast.
			Lat. 14M7'N,long.64°rW.
1 t			Martinico, £ by N, distance 60 leagues.

CHAP.

vra.

Log of the BD4jmkm«

sight of Andro- meda and Laurel.

Weathered Caraval.*

Ship keep- ing up with the storm.

* Andromeda and Laurel went on shore.

368

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.	Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ewdymiow comtimued.
VIU.
r 1	Winds.	Remarks.
Loff of the	Hour.	Courses.
Eodymion.	1
P.M. 1 6 12		ESE SE	Sunday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Strong gales and sqiially» with hard rain, and a great swell oom aovitfa- south-east. Wore ship and hoTe*to ; head to north- ward; setting the main-staysail ; split it to pieces. Midnight. Thick weather, with hard
	A.M. 7 8 12 P.M. 2 8 A ir	• • • • • • • • • • » • • •	SSE 8SE	rain. A.M. Hard sqnaUs and heaTT rain. Santa Cms, north-easterly, distanee 67 leagues. lS»n. Lat. 14** 82* N, long. 6«* 9' W.
	Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh gale and thidt weather ; a great swell from the south, heaTy rahi. Blows dreary and squally.
	A.M. 6	«		A.M. Moderate and elear; aU hands cai- ployed rigging Jurr-mainmast and miasB-
	12 P.M. 1 5 9 A M		SSE SE SbjE WSW	^n. Santa Cms, north, ZV B, dk- tance 49 miles. Moderate and cloudy weather. Lat. by obserration, IT 16' N.
	Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Moderate and eloody. All hands getting jury-mast 19 and bov> sprit out. Squally, with rain from the ioiithwvd.
	6 12 P.M. 1 3	*..•••. .	SSE SWbyS SSW	A.M. Saw the land, bearing NKW, distanoe, 8 or 9 leagues, body of Porta Rico. Noon. Moderate and fidr weather; w«t end of the Island of Porto Rioo, bearing N N W, distance 7 leaguea. Lat. by obserration, IT 43" N.
	Wednesday, October 18, 1780. P.M. Light breeses and clear.
	9 12 A. If.		SWbyS	Squally; handed topsails.
	6 7 12		SbyW Variable	A.M. Fresh breeses. Noon. The westernmost land in sig^ bearing N W by N, distance 9 leagnea. A sail in sight ahead. Lat. by observation, 17^ 40^ N.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

369

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Endymion — continued.

Hour. Courses. 1	Winds.	Remarks.
P.M.			Thursday, October 19, 1780.
1		8WbW	P.M. Light breezes and clear.
10		SW	Fired a 91b. shot at the aforementiorei sail ; found her to be a French ship from Bordeaux, bound to Port-au-Prince; shifted the officers and men out of the prize, and gave chase to a sail in the ei b -
A.M.			ward
2			A.M. Light breezes and cloudy. Fired a 91b. shot at the chase, and
7
			brought her to ; found her to be the
			^olus French transport, with jury-masts.
			being wrecked in the gale of wind, with 150 troops on board ; shifted ihe men and
			arms out of her, and gave chase to a sail
			to the north-east.
			West end of Porto Rico, distance 17
P.M.			leagues.
Friday, October 20. 1780. P.M. Light breezes and cloudy weather.
1		NWbW
6	........	NNE	Came on a black squall northward, which prevented our coming up with the chase, in all appearance a large French ship.
12			Noon. Fresh breezes and squally. West end of Porto Rico, N W by W,
			distance 30 leagues.
P.M.			No observation.
Saturday, October 21, 1780.
1.		NE	P.M. Fresh breezes and squally. Midnight. Fresh breezes and clear.
Midn.	NEbyN
Noon			Noon. Light airs and fair ; two prizes in company. Island of Mona, N by E, distance 18 leagues. Lat. by obseryation, 17° 32' N.
Sunday, October 22, 1780.
P.M.		NE	P.M. Light breezes and clear.
A.M. 6			A.M. Saw the land bearing N E, dist. 5 or 6 leagues, the Island of Mona.
12			Noon. Light breezes. Island Saona, N by W, distance 5 leagues.
Monday, October 23, 1780.
12		N E	Noon. Point Salines, Ilispaniola, N W, distance 7 or 8 leagues. Fair weather and smooth sea.
Tuesday, October 24, 1780.
12		Easterly	Noon. Lat. by observation, 17° 11' N. Island Aha Vela, W N W, distance 8 leagues.
•			Moderate breezes.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of th9 Endymion.

Chases un- der jury- masts, and takes a ship.

2 B

TIIE GREAT HURniCANE, 1780.

CHAP.
Lor of the	Hont,	Couwe..	Wind..	lUmarkt.
	12 12 12 12		Eiutnlr Variable Variable ENB	IVcdnmd.J, OcU>b« 2fi. 1 7S0. or 18 leagues.
	Tl.uwd»y, 0otobCT26. 17S0. Noon. L»t. by obaerTHion, \r 32* N. I>1« & Vache, bearing N, diatann 10 UaguM.
	Fridar. October 37. 1780. Moderate weather. Lai. ir 67' N.
	SatuidsT, October 28. 1780. Nnon. Eait end of Jamaica, beariu N W, distance 7 leaguea.
	SandaT, October 29, ITM. difliance 7 inilcj. Pelican. Prineeai Rojal. Albion. Dincumd. Lowentoffe, Pomona, Hmmot, Rabr. &■ mom, Giafton. Briatol. Trident, UfrMaT: the ccven lut diamaated.
I«g of ihc Stir.	Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Star (kept by R. Camiodj. Master), lying in St. Joho's Ilarbour, Aatigna.— Id Namtieai Time.
	Ho...	CauneH.	Wind*.	Kemark*.
	I:::		ENE ditto ditt--	Tucndaj, October 10, 1.80. P.M. Moderoleandcloudj.
	Wedneaday. October 11, 1780. A.M. FrrahbreeMa; aqually.
Strain reaches Antigua.	Thuraday. October 12. 1780. P.M. Moderate brMtea and calm. A.M. Frcnh galea, wiih rqualU of .ub.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

371

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Star — concluded.

Hour.

P.M. A.M.

P.M. A.M.

P.M.

A • Jtt •

P.M. A.M

P.M.

A 9 3C»

Courses.

Winds.

Easterly

SE

ditto

ditto

Variable

Remarks.

Friday, October 13, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales, with squalU of rain. A.M. More moderate.

Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Moderate gales, with squalls of rain. A.M. Ditto weather.

Sunday, October 15, 1780. P.M. Moderate breezes, with squalls of rain. A.M. Freeh breezes and squally.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and squally, with rain. A.M. Ditto weather.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Moderate and cloudy. A.M. Light airs, inclining to calm.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Salamander, by Lieut. G. W. A. Courtenay, lying in the English Harbour, Antigua. — In Nautical Time,

Hour.

P.M.

Courses.

Winds.

Remarks.

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.

4

E

ENE E

ESE

ditto

Tuesday, October 10, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes, middle and latter part strong squalls, with rain; Commo- dore's signal for a lieutenant from ship.

Wednesday, October 11, 1780. Strong squalls and rain. P.M. Struck yards and topmast.

Thursday, October 12, 1780. P.M. Ditto weather.

Friday, October 13. 1780.

P.M. Ditto weather.

At 4, got the lower yards fore and aft, and the stream -cable on shore, on the lar- board quarter.

2b2

CHAP. VIU.

Log of the

Star.

Log of the Sala- mander.

372

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Sala- mander.

Extract from the LiOg of H. M. S. Salamander — conclmded.

Log of the Vigilant.

Remarks.

Saturday, October 14. 1780. P.M. Squally, with rain; people ployed scraping the decks.

Sunday, October 15, 1780. P.M. Ditto weather. 1

A.M. At 8, arrived here H.M.8. Ama- 1 zon, dismasted, and the Albemarle under !

jury-mainmast. i

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Vigilant (kept by Mr. T. O'Neil, Master), lying at Antigua. — In Nautical 7¥aie.

P.M.

1

A.M.

1

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.
A.M.
1		ENE
P M.
1		NE
A.M.
1		NNE
P.M.
1		N
12	■ ••••••	ENE
A.M.
1		Variable
12		NNE
P.M.
11		NE
A.M.
1		ENE
P.M.
3
A.M.
1	••••••• •	E
P.M.		•
1		ENE
3
A.M.
1		EbyN

Remarks.

October 10, 1780.

P.M. Rigged out & lashed the mainyvrd, for getting the guns in ; caulkers at work.

October 11, 1780. A.M. Squally, with showers.

October 12. 1780. A.M. Cloudy, lowering wind, the middle and latter parts strong gales; hem\7 squalls, with abundance of rain.

October 13. 1780. A.M. Strong gales, with heayy squalls and rain. P.M. Fresh gales and squal*j.

October 14. 1780. A.M. Fresh gales and squaUy, with showers of rain.

P.M. Bent the bower cables.

I

October 15, 1780.

A.M. Fresh ffales and squally.

P.M. Arrived here II.M. frigates Am-—. and Albemarle; the first lost all her masts, the latter her mainniust and topmast.

r: N E

October 16. 1780. A.M. Fresh gales and squally.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

379

Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H. M. S. Venus, CHAP. Captain James Douglas, at St. Christophers. — In Nautical Time. ^^^^'

JiOg of the Veniu.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
			Wednesday, October 11, 1780.
P.M.		ENE	P.M. Light breezes and clear weather ; people employed working up junk.
A. M.			A.M. Ditto weather.
4			At 4, weighed and came to sail. At 8, anchored in Old Road, with the
8
			small bower anchor in four and a half
			fathoms water, and veered to half a cable ;
			the northernmost fort N by E, and Uie southernmost fort SE by £; employed
			watering ship.
Thursday, October 12, 1780.
P.M.			P.M. Squally weather, with rain ; came down from Basse Terre Road ; H. M. sloop Surprise hove-to and hoisted her boat out, and sent her on board of us ; and at half- past made sail, and saw her bring- to a ship in the offing.
6			At 5, completed our water ; and at 6.30, weighed, and came to sail.
7			At 7. Sandy Point, N W by N § N, St. Eustatia, N W, distance 2 or 3 leagues ; strong gales and squally ; close-reefed the topsails.
9			At 9, the extremes of St. KitU, from S by E to SE; St. Eustatia from W by S to S W by S, distance 3 or 4 leagues. Midnight. Tacked ship and handed
12	• • •• m € 9 •	ENE
A* M»			mizen-topsail.
2		NE	A.M. At 2, strong gales, with heavy squalls ; at 2.30, bore up.
4 !			At 4, split the main- topsail; ditto, un- bent it ; Sandy Point, S E, distance 3 or 4 miles; sent down the top-gnllant-yards and masts ; got the spritsail-yard and jib- boom in.
8			At 8, strong gales; split the mainsail and unbent it.
9			At 9, split the fore-staysaiL
12			Noon. Handed fore- topsail; bent a main- staysail and a fore-staysail for a mizen- staysail ; split the main-staysail in setting of it, and hove her to under a mizen-
	S 56" W		staysail. Lat. 17** 8' N, long. 19' W.» St. Christophers, N E by E, distance 29 miles.
Friday, October 13, 1780.
P.M.	r		P.M. Strong gales and squally weather.
3			At 3, found the bowsprit sprung; car- penters employed in making a fish for it ;
			still lying-to.

• In some of these logs o( the year 1780, the longitude appear* to be reckoned from the iMt place of departure.

374

THE OUEAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP.	Extract from the Log	of H. M. S. Venus — concluded.
VIII
Log of the	Hour.	Courses.	Winds. llemarks.
T CittLB.	A.M.		SbyE	Friday, October 13. 1780. A.M. Ditto weather.
	r. M. 6 9 11 12	S od" W S 67° W	SbyE SSW	At 0, saw two strange tail, one to the windward and the other to the leeward; ditto, hoisted our colours, as did the strange ships; they proved to be ILH. ships Convert and Surprise. At 9, made the signal for a strange sail : ditto, saw the Convert set her foresail and give chase. At 11, bent another mainsail ; at 11.30, saw the Convert bring-to the chase. Noon. Ditto weather; set the Ibfcsail; Convert and strange sail in sight. St. Christophers, N by £, distance 21 leagues. Lat. 16° 60', long. 63' W.
liOg of the Convert.	Extrac	:t from the ]	Log of H. M. S. Convert (kept by Mr. W.
Caspel, Master). — In Nautical Time,
	Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
	P.M. I 2	upNEoflfN	ESE	Saturday, October 14, 1780. P.M. Hard gales and squally.
	3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ' 12 I			Wore ehip, and brought-to under the fore and mizcn- staysails.
	up S S E off 6 by W	E	French snow in company, Venus in sight.
	A.M. 1 2 1 3
	4 6 ; 0 7	up S off S W"	1 1 1	A.M. Wore ship, and brought- to under the mizen. Fired a shot at the snow for bearing away ; unbent the fore- topsail and bent another.

8

9

10

11

12

At 9, hoisted out the longboat, and sent )ilicer and 10 men on board the snow ; re- ceived 28 prisoners ; hoisted the boat in, ft set the foresail ; fresh gales and sqnally ; prize and Venus in sit;ht ; a brig in the N E, and a 6loop in the N W ; a schooner S W.

l^t. nr 50'.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

375

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Convert — continued.

Hour.

r.M. 1 2 3 4

5 6 7

8

9

10

11

12

1

2 3 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

2 3 4 6 6 7 8

Courses.

NEby E

Winds,

SEbyE

Sby W

S Sby E

Sby W

up S oflf SS W

up S W off WSW

WbyN SW

SWbvS

WSW

S W by W

EbyN

ESE £byS

ESE

SEbyE

SE

SEbyS

S W i S S S E SW

ESE E^S ESE

WN W

S

SbyE

S

Remarks.

Sunday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and squally.

Made the private signal to a Tessel a-head, which she answered. Made the signal for all cruisers*

Wore ship ; spoke the Venus ; made the signal to speak the Surprise. Set the main-topsail.

Venus, Surprise, and price in company. One strange sail to the windward of ub ; «plit the fore- topmast-staysail. Noon. Squally.

A.M. Handed the main-topsail; saw several guns and false fires to windward. Strong gales and squally.

Hove- to under the foresail, mizen, and mizen-staysail.

Midnight. Ditto weather; lost sight of the prize. Virgin Gorda, N, dist. 5 or 6 leagues.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and squally ; spoke H.M.S. Venus ; found her bowsprit, fore- mast, and main-topmast carried away.

Virgin Gorda, N by £» distance 5 or 6 leagues.

Made the signal, and wore ship.

A.M. Ditto weather ; wore ship ; Venus in company* Up mainsail ; wore ship.

Squally, with rain ; set the mainsaiU

Virgin Gorda, N by W, distance 6 or 7 leagues.

Up mainsail ; bore down and spoke the Venus.

CHAP. VIU.

Log of the Convert.

376

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Ijog of the Ulyssce.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Convert— co«c/imW.

Log of the Hour. Convert.

10

11 12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M> 1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Courses. Winds.

NW SW

EbyN

E

SSE

SEbyS

SSE

Remarks.

SWbyW : SSE

Monday, October 16, 1780.

Virgin Gorda, W N W, dUtance 5 or 6 leagues.

Wore ship ; saw a sail in the north-east : wore ship ; aet the mainsail.

Fresh gales and squally.

Midnight. Venus in company.

Virgin Gorda, N W, distance 6 or 7 leagues.

Lat. 18** 14' N.

E

EbyN SEbyE

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and cloudy.

Spoke a prize belonging to the Bellons.

East part of Santa Cras, S by W, 5 or 6 leagues. Wore ship.

E

Eby S

E^ S

EbyS

SSE SbyE

S E by E S by W

Noon. Ditto weather.

A.M. Fresh brccses and doody.

Two strange sail in the 8 E quarter ; swayed up top-gallant-masts.

Fired three shot at a Dutch ship from St. Eustatia, and hove-to.

Out third and second-reef topsails ; set the courses ; employed setting up thefere- ripging.

Midnight. Lat. \9^ 17'.

Extract from a Journal of the Proceedings of H.M.S. Ultnbs, Captain Thomas Damaresq. — In Nautical Time,

1

Hour. I C«iurj»C8. Winds.

Komarks.

P.M.

••••••«•

Saturday, October 14, 1780. NE by E P.M. These 24 hours strong galea and squally, with hard showers of rain ; handed > fore and main-topsaiU ; set courses. N E At 4, made the Itland Mona, bearing ! southward, distance 4 leagues ; bore away i to the S W of them.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

377

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ulysses — continued.

Hour.

Courses.

P.M.

8

A M.

1

2

P.M.

2

3

A

8

A.M.

2

P.M.

A.M. 3

• • • 4 • • •

Lying -to,

Southward,

and

SSE

Winds.

EbyS

SE

NE

Variable round the compass

Variable

Remarks.

Saturday, October 14, 1780.

At 8, the south end of Mona, E N E, distance 3 leagues, from which I take my departure.

A.M. At ly lost sight of the Pomona.

At 2, up foresail and brought-to under mainsail; struck top-gallant- masts ; car- ried away one of the fore and two of the main shrouds, and one of the main- topmast backstays ; employed getting up preventers.

Island Saona, N 22"" W, dist. 22 leagues.

Lat. 17'', long. 4® 14'.

Sunday, October 15, 1780.

P M. Ditto, hard gales, with a great sea ; lying-to under mainsail.

At 2, balanced the mizen and set it, and handed the mainsail.

At 3, carried the mizenmast over the side ; cleared the wreck.

At 4, carried away the fore-topmast and topsail- yard over the side ; ditto the jib- boom; carried away one of the main- shrouds.

At 6, the mainsail blew to pieces from the yard ; ditto, cut away the main-top- mast, in hopes of saving the mainmast ; got the ship before the wind.

At 8, the mainmast went over the side, stove the boats and the booms, and carried away the barricading on the quarter-deck ; the ship brought- to; employed clearing the wreck, it blowing a storm of wind ; the foresail and spritsail blew to pieces from the yard ; the ship proving very leaky, with four feet water in the hold, and one of the chain -pumps rendered useless.

A.M. At 2, the wind continued shifting round the compass.

Island of Saona, N 33** W, dist. 32 leagues.

Lat. 16° 20', long. 4° 36'.

Monday, October 16, 1780.

P.M. These tweritv-four hours ditto wea- ther ; lowered the foreyard down to get it rigged, the rigging being all beat to pieces ; got a new foresail and bent it ; took a reef in ditto, finding the ship to open much in her upper works, and the water gaining on us, having three feet water in the hold.

A.M. At 3, lying-to a-hull. At 3.30, got all the upper- deck guns thrown over- board, and all the lumber on deck, when, with the pumps and baling, we began to gain on the water.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Ulysses.

378

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Uiy8bC8.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ulysses — comelmded.

Hour.

Courses.

Winds.

r.M. 4

8

I'.M.

Lying- to. Southward and SSE

8 11

Variable

Remarkf.

SSE

Monday, October 16, 1780. |

At 4, began to heave the upper-deck ^ guns overboard ; ditto, taw a ship iu dia- ' tress in the S £ quarter.

At 8, we got the water to three feet in the well.

Island Mona, N 11'' E, diat. 28 miles.

Lat. 17** 49'. long. 4*» 13'.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780.

P.M. First part, strong gales and hazy weather; miadle, moderate and clear; latter, light airs, inclinable to calms; a great sea.

At 8, not able to get the forejard up, for fear of carrying away the foremast.

At 1 1, saw a saU in the N N E quarter ; swayed the foreyard up, and set wretsil ; set a top-gallant-sail on the misenmsst ; the sail stood towards us ; fired two 18- pound carronades ; she hauled her wind ; saw it was a large ship that had lost her furc and mizen masts ; the Island of Zacha, EXE, distance 6 lea;;ues ; saw two sail dismasted ; light airs, inclinable to calms.

Log of the Extract from the Journal of the Proceedings of H.M.S. Pomona, ' Pomona. | Captain C. E. Nugent.— In Nautical Time.

Hour.

P.M. A.M.

2

Courses. : Winds.

Remarks.

Saturday, October 14, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and cloody, with heavy squalls of wind and rain.

A.M. At 2, hove- to under the miicB- I staysail ; making a great deal of water ; ' scuttled the lower-deck and kept the ; chain- pump going.

At 3, reefed the courses and handed the topsails ; made the Island of Monm* bear- ing S W ; the Commodore wore nmad to stand to the northward ; made the signal to speak him ; hailed him to know if we fhould go ahead, and carry a light to lead him through the Mona Passage; and, being answered in the affirmative, loosed the topsails and bore up.

At 7, the south end of Mona, S E, dis* tance 7 miles.

r.M.

Sunday, October lo, 1780. P.M. Strong gales and heavy rain ; still • hipping a great deal of water, and keeping I

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

379

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Pomona — concluded.

Hour. Courses.

r M.

6

Winds.

Remarks.

A.M. 1

3 4

P.M.

P.M.

E

s\v

Sunday, October 15. 1780. the chain and hand pumps going ; lowered down the fore and main yards.

At 6, the main-topmast went overboard, with topsail-yard and part of the maintop ; obliged to cut away the mainyard to get clear of the wreck.

At 7, the mizf nmast went about 15 feet above the deck ; employed clearing the wreck; then bore awav ; the pumps going, with four and a half feet water in the hold; hove overboard four 18-pounders from the quarter-deck.

A.M. At 1, fore-top-gallant-mast blew away.

At 3, the fore- topmast went over the side, with the topsail-yard, &c.

At 4, shipped a sea which stove the cutter and long-boat; hove them over- board to clear the ship ; the gale abating ; employed in securing the foreyard and setting the foresail.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Light breezes, and a heavy sea and rain ; employed about the rigging.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Ditto weather ; employed as before. Lat. 16° 38^.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton, Rear- Admiral

Rowley. — In Nautical Time.

Hour.

P.M.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1 2

3

Courses.

SSE

SEby S

Winds.

Remarks.

ENE

Variable

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and thick, cloudy weather.

Ditto weather, and hazy, with a heavy swell from the N E.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Pomona.

Log of the Grafton.

380

THE (;reat hurricane, 1780.

C Tt A p. VIIL

Log of the Grafton.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton — comtimted.

Hour. I Cour»e8.

Winds.

Remarks.

A.M.

4 5

n

7

8

9 10 11 12

SEbyS

P.M. 1

2 3 4 5 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M.

1

2

3

4

o

6

/

8

9 10 11 12

up S S E off SSW

Variable

Monday, October 16, 1780.

up S S E off S W bv S

Easterly

EXE

A.M. Strong gales, and thick beary weather ; handed the topsails.

Hauled up the courses and handed ditto, and brought-to under m trysail; Trident, Ruby, and Bristol in company.

Noon. Heavy gales and cloudy weathrr ; employed at the pumps.

No observation.

lAt. 26° 30* N, long. 71** 30* W.

Caucus,* S 6° E, distance 97 leagues.

Tuesday. October 17, 1780.

P.M. Lying-to under a trysail; heavy gales.

Ship falling off in the trough of the sea, laboured much, and shipped heavy seas ; | employed at the pumps ; three feet water > above the kelson.

Split the trysails to ribands; lay-to under bare poles.

' N N E by N

: off EN E

NW

A.M. Wind shifted round, and a fused sea.

P.M.

I)

Lying- to

Trident and Ruby in sight to the north* ward. N(K)n. Saw the Ruby bear up urndtr ktr

fore»ail.

No ob-ier ration.

Lnt. 26*' r. long. 7 r 50'.

(caucus, S 7^ W, distance 84 leagues.

I W( dnesday, October 18, 1780.

P.M. Strong gnle^, with heavy squalls ; ' a h(>avy sea running ; employed baling the I ship ; all the pumps broke; six feet water in the hold.

Wore* and bore up under a reefed fore- sail ; Trident in company.

<in';it < 'hv« '■»'«.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

381

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Grafton — concluded.

Hour.

P.M.

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

AiM. 1

2 3 4 6 6

7

8

9 10 11

12

Hour.

P.M.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Courses.

£S£

SEbyE

SEby S SbyE

Winds.

Remarks.

NWbW

Wednesday, October 18, 1780. Two sail in sight. Out reef of the foresail.

More moderate.

Got up the fore- topsail-yard, and set the sail.

Midnight. Ditto weather. A great swell from the north-west.

NW

A.M. Ditto weather.

Trident made signal for a sail.

Swayed up the mainyard, and got up the main-topsail-yard.

The strange sail made signal of distress, and repeatsd it with a gun ; we made the Trident's signal to come within hail.

At 11, spoke the Hector in great dis- tress, heaving her lower-deck guns over- board ; shortened sail to keep her company.

Noon. Moderate and cloudy, with a great swell from the N N W.

Lat. 220 32' N, lonf?. 69«> 6'.

Turk's Island, S 23"* W, distance 68 leagues.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Bristol.

Courses.

Sby W

Lying-to.

up S S E off

SW

SEbyS

S SSE

Winds.

Remarks.

ESE

ENE

Variable E

Sunday, October 15, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breezes and fair weather; the Commodore made the signal for all captains ; bore down and answered ditto.

Carpenters repairing the yawl.

Made sail.

Saw two strange sail in the N W quar- ter ; signalized to the Ruby for ditto with two Kuns, repeated; two strange sail in the W by N ; hoisted a white jack at the mizen, and kept it there ten minutes; hauled down, as no ship answered it; some minutes after the Ruby hoisted a Dutch jack at the ensign-staff, fired two or three guns, and edged down to the Hector; we, perceiving no ship, answered it ; we still hauling our wind.

CHAP.

vni.

Ix)g of the Grafton.

Log of the Bristol.

LMjofth Brbtol.

THE GQEAT HUIIRICANE, 17&0. Extract from the Log of H. M. 5. Bristol — eomtimmed.

""„„„.	Couri«B.	Winds.
10	SEbyS	EbyN
12
A.M. 1 3
3 A 6	SSG	E
7 B 9 10	NbjW SEb,|,S	i EbyN
12
V 3	SEbyS	EbyN
4	8BE	E
6 6		1
B 9 10	SbrEiE s£b,s	1 E by N
IS
A.M. 1 2
3 4	SSE	E
\	S E bj S ' E l,Y N-
10
12		!

SundRT, October 16, 1780. The Hector S i W, dUbuce 4 or S milM. Putcd company with the Hector. Squally weather. Midnight. ThcBubyW,distaiiM3or3

A.M. 9,Av two lail in the KWqnirlfr,

appeared to be diimuted ihip* ; boM down and ipoke to the Kuby.

Wore «hip, then bearing N N W. fi or 6

The above (faipi proved to be the Oiaf- ton. AdiTiir&l Itowley, and Trident ; wore ■hip wiih ditto.

l>iuo we»lher.

Splitthcjib.

Light breece* and cloudy.

Fre»h breeeei and tqitally.

Midnight. The Admiral SB by 8, 3

Siw a ichooner (tending to the ninth-

Ficsh brccicB and iquilly. In ircond reef fbte-topMil. NiH'n. Ditto weather; in aerond mf

No ..1

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

383

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Bristol — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

2 3 4 5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12

I'.M. I

2 3

4

^

o

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2 3 4 5 6

Courses.

SEby S up S E off S

upESE off S bj E

upNE offESE

upNNE

off E

SEbyE

SEbyE

Winds.

EbyN

ENE

NE

NNW

NW

NW

NW

Remarks.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breezes: in second and third reef in main and fore topsail.

Fresh gales.

Brought-to the Admiral, S S E, 2 or 3 miles, under mizen- staysail ; saw a ship, supposed standing northward ; struck the fore and main topmast.

Hard gales and squally; lost sight of the fleet.

Ditto weather.

A.M. Heavy gales; split the mizen< staysail and set the balance mizen. A great swell running from the S E. Ditto winds and weather.

Ditto weather , employed repairing the mizen- staysail.

More moderate; wore ship and made sail.

Noon. Saw two sail on the larboard bow; brought-to for some minutes, and made sail again ; the Ruby in company.

No observation.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales; in company with the Ruby.

A great swell from the NNW. One mile and a quarter per hour.

Got the fore- topsail- yard, and set sail.

Some showers of rain ; out second reefi of the topsails.

Got up the ....

Saw a strange sail, bearing N E, quarter of a mile ; she made sail at our appear- ance, and made her escape.

A.M. Moderate.

In company with the Ruby.

Set the mainsail and other small sails.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Bristol.

384

THE CSIIEAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. Extract from the Log of IL M. S. Bristol — cancimded, VIH.

Log of the ; ^^°^^- I Co""e8. Bristol.

Log of the Hector.

SEbyE

Winds.

NW

W X \V

N

Remarks.

Wediiei^day, October 18, 1780.

Made the Ruby's signal to come within hail, which was not noticed ; made ditto ■ with Admiral Itowley's, with one gun, | and was answered. |

Ditto weather.

Employed variously. |

Noon. Ditto weather. Lat. observed, 24« 27' N.

— I

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Hector.

Huur.

P.M.

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1 2 3 4 5 6

4

8

9

10

11

12

I'.M,

Coursee. ' Winds.

SbyE

S by E 1 E

SSW

SSE

I

Eby S

S£ E

Remarks.

Sunday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh gales and doudj.

At 8, the Bristol, N E by £.

At 10.30, split the main-topeail, unbent it, and bent another. Noon. Moderate and fair.

A.M. At 3, fresh breezes and doody^W. |

At 6.30, saw two sail bearing abcrat i S by AV. !

At 8, fresh gales and squally ; put the j ship's company to an allowance of two quarts of water a day per man ; coopers employed shaking the empty and store ca^ks in the hold, to clear away.

Lat. observed, 27^13' N.

I 2	S by E ;
3
4	SSE
.*
(}
8	1
9 10	NbvE • 1

Monday, October 16, 1780. i E by S i P.M. The first part, fresh galea, with showers, rain, and sea; split the main- topsail, unbent it, and bi ni another.

E by N

At S, wore ship to the northward.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

385

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Hector — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

11 12

A M.

1

2 3 4

5 6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M. 1

2 3

5 6 7

8 9

10 11 12

Courses. Winds.

Nby W

SSE

up N by W offNWbyN

up N by W oflfNWbyN

upNNW offNW

E

NEbyE

NE

Remarks.

Monday, October 16, 1780.

Midnight. Fresh gales and squally, with a heavy 8ea from the eastward.

At 1.30, wore ship to the southward ; when veering, saw four strange sail in the NE.

At 2, set fore and main-topsail.

At 4, carried away the clew of the main- topsail, handed ditto. At 5, handed the fore-topsail.

At 7, the main-tack gave way ; hauled up the weather clew, and rove a new tack ; carried away the mizen-gaff.

At 7.30, set the main-sail.

At 8, the gale increased ; hauled up the courses, and close-reefed them.

At 10, hauled on board the main- tack; and in hauling on board the fore-tack, the sail split to piece?, and was lost.

At 1 1 , blowing a very strong gale, with a heavy sea running ; and the ship labour- ing very much, and making a great quan- tity of water, was obliged to throw over- board the remainder of the quarter-deck and forecastle guns to ease the ship.

Noon, Wore ship to the northward; hard gales, with chain-pumps constantly working.

No observation.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and squally, with a heavy sea from the eastward, and rain ; the hand pumps frequently working to keep the ship free ; the gale increased ; the ship labouring and straining very much, threw overboard 11 main-deck guns, in order to ease the ship ; got a preventer tack and sheet on the mainsail.

At 5, the leech- rope of the mizen-stay- sail gave way, and the sail blew all to pieces, likewise the long-boat's mainsail for a mizen ; both were entirely lost.

At 8, excessive hard gales and heavy squalls, with rain.

Midnight. Variable to the N W. Wore ship to the eastward, and scudded under close-reefed muinsall ; the ship making great quantities of water; the hand and chain pumps constantly going.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Hector.

2c

386

THE GRKAT HURRICANE, 1780.

C H A P. VIII.

Log of the Hector.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Hector — comehided.

Hour.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

P.M.

1

2

?

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

A.M. 1

2 3 4

5 6

t

8

9 10 11 12

Courses.

Winds.

EbyN ENE

Eby S E by S i S

ESE

EbyS

SSE

ESE SEi E

NW

W

W N W

8Ei S S E by S

SSE

SbyE

Remarkt.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780.

Served drains to the ihip'a eom^mj at 4 ; excessive hard galea, with rain.

At 8, ditto weather; the hand-pumpa and one chain-pump conatantly gouig.

i

Noon. Hard gales and squally, with' rain ; and a heavy sea running ; unbent the remainder of the foreaail from the

yard.

' No observation.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780. P.M. The first part moderating, got up ' a spritsail and set it for a foreaail ; we find ■ the ship more leakv, which obliges ua to \ clear away the hold for baling ; cooper and assistants employed shaking water- casks ; ditto, hove them overboard.

About 11, began to heave the remainder of the main-deck guns overboard, to esse the ship, as the leak increaaed ao tet; ditto, set the mainsail ; the leak obligea us to keep our chain and hand-pampa constantly working.

N N W

A.M. At 6, saw two strange aa& in the N N W, which we soon diacovered to be part of the squadron. N.B. We kept two of the upper-deik guna for tignala.

At 9, tired one 18-pounder, and made the signal in distress ; employed hcftving overboard the lower- deck guns.

Noon. The Grafton and Trident joined ; us ; we informed the Admiral of onrtitiia- > tion, who promised to star by ua, and | render us every assistance in hia power; unbent the spritsail, and bent a new fare- topsail for a foresail ; likewise, let all the reefs out of the mainsail to air ; broke two of the winches of the chain- pnmpa; armourers employed repainng them.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

387

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Trident.

Hour.

P.M.

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. 1

2 3 4

6 6

7

8

9 10 11 12

1 2 3 4 5 6

Courses.

SiE

ESE SSEiE

SEbyS

SSEiE

SSE4 E

SSE

SE JS

Winds.

EbyS

NE EbyN

EbyX

ENE

Remarks.

Sunday, October 15, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy ; made the signal to the Admiral for three sail in the S E.

Admiral made the signal to call in all cruisers, but the above ships took no notice of it.

Squally, with rain.

A.M. Moderate and clear.

Saw two sail in the S £.

At 8.30, the Bristol and Ruby joined us.

Noon. Fresh breezes and doudj; split main - topsail ; bent another, and re- paired it.

Lat. 27° 19' N, long. 10° 57' E.

Turk's Island, S 2° 41' W, distance 116 leagues.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy.

Set the rigging up ; condemned, per sur- vey, and Uirew overboard, 376 double pieces of beef, per order of Admiral Row- ley, being a nuisance in the ship.

Richard Jibb fell overboard and was drowned.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

A.M. Saw a schooner standing to the northward.

CHAP.

vni.

Log of the Trident.

2c-2

388

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Trident.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Trident — comtimmed.

Hour.

P.M.

7

8

9 10 11 12

P.M. I

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

A.M.

1

2 3 4 6 6

8 9

10 11 12

Courses.

S E i S SEbyS

Winds.

ENE

EbyN

up S E by S off S by E

up S E by E off S E by S

up E by S offSEbyE

upNE off E by N

ENE

Remarks.

Monday, October 16. 1780. Made the signal for a tail in the S E.

Handed topsails ; reefed the mainsail ; sailmakers repairing the foresail.

Noon. H<ird gales and squall j, with rain; brought-to. Lat. 26*^ 2' N, long, ll** ir E. Turk's Island, S 6° 20* W, distanee 91

leagues.

NEbyE NEbyN

NNW

upNbyE NWbW offNE

up N by E

offNEbyNi

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Strong gales and heavy squalls; handed course* ; lowered the lower-yards; got topsail-yards down.

Hard gales and squally, with rain; a heavy sea.

Midnight. Ditto weather.

P.M.

1

2 3 4 5 G

4

8 0

{

A.M. Two sail in sight; one Iteaiing S b^ E, the other E by S, 2 or 3 milca. Ditto gales and thick, with rain.

upNbyE NWbAV offNE E by S

E by S J S N W

ESE

Noon. Ditto weather ; aaw tha and Ruby put before the wind ; Admiral E by 8, 2 miles.

Lat. 26** 4^ N, long. IT 24' E.

Turk's Island, S 9r 24' W, diataneo 84 leagues.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and cloudy. At 1.30, made sail to join the Admiral ; got up fore- j yard ; brought-to.

Wore with the Admiral, and mado aail ; ' <;ot the main-yard up and topsail-yards across.

Fresh gales and cloudy.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

389

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Trident — concluded.

Hour.

P M.

10 11 12

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

Courses.

£SE SEbyE

SE^E

SEbvE SSE

SbyE

Winds.

NW

NEbyN

Remarks.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780.

Midnight. Fresh gales and cloudy.

A.M. Moderate and clear.

Admiral made the signal to speak us ; bore down to speak him.

Hector joined company, having all her masts gone.

Noon. Ditto weather; Admiral S E, quarter of a mile.

Lat. 24*' 20' N, long. 12*» 38' E.

Turk's Island, S 32" 64' W, disUnce 67 leagues.'

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Trident.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ruby. — In Nautical Time.

Hour.

P.M.

6

Courses.

A.M.

6

9

Winds.

EbyS

EbyN

ENE

Remarks.

Sunday, October 15, 1780.

P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy; sent an officer on board the Hector, ana supplied her with sixteen barrels of powder, per order of Sir John Hamilton, Bart.

At 6, the Hector parted company for Jamaica. At 6.30, saw two sail; made the Hector's signal for seeing two of our squadron in the S W ; ditto, answered ditto; the Bristol made the signal for seeing two sail in the N E.

A.M. At 5, made the Biistol's signal for seeing two of our squadron in the N W, dismasted ; wore ship, and stood towards them ; the Bristol made the private signal, which was answered.

At 9, joined us ; the above ships proved to be the Grafton, Rear- Admiral Rowley, and Trident, under jury-masM ; saluted the Admiral with three cheers ; answered ditto ; split the cross-jack ; unbent him, and bent another.

Lat. 27° 34'.

Los of the Ruby,

390

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

CHAP. VIII.

Log of the Kubj.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Ruby— amdmded.

Hour.

P.M.

9

Courses.

P;M.

2.30

A.M.

8

P.M.

Winds.

EbyN

ENE

ENE

NNW

N

Remarks.

Mondaj, October 16, 1780.

P.M. Ditto weather; sailmakera flniahed the mizen and mizen fore-topmaal-itaj- sail ; bent, and sent ditto.

At 9, carried away the foreyard in th« slings ; split and lost part of th« Ibrctail ovenxoard; split the main-topmaal-atay- sail; got the cross-jack-yard down, and got it up for a forevard ; and ditto sail, for a foresail ; got the mizen top-gallaat- yard and sail up for a fore-topaail i sot the fore- top- gallant-yard and sail up tun a cross- jack-yard and sail ; employed repairing the foresail and main-topmaat- staysail; got down top- gallant •/■zda upon deck ; reefed and handed ooaraas ; brough-to under the mizen-ataysail; Oni* ton, Trident, and Bristol in eompany } a very heavy sea.

Tuesday, October 17, 1780. P.M. Fresh breezes and cloudy. At 1, saw a strange sail in the S E. At 2.30, split the crosa-jack-yard.

A.M. At 8, three of squadron in tight,

to the S E, &c.

Wednesday, October 18, 1780.

P.M. Strong gales and thick aqnalls, and heavy following sea; Qraitcm, TH* dent, and Bristol in sight ; carried a light at the foremast head during the night; got up the cross-Jack and mainyarda, and set the sail ; Bristol only in sight.

Lat. 24*» 19' N.

Log of the Berwick.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Berwick.

In Nautical Time.

Hour.

P.M.

1 2 3 4 6 6 7

Coiirses.

Nby W

NbyWJW

NNW

Winds.

Remarks.

Sunday, October 15, 1780. NEbyE P.M. Fresh breezes and cloud j| th* sailmakers employed in altering and making sails for the jury-masts and jaida. Squally, with rain. N E Ditto weather ; bent the main-topmaat* staysail, and paralleled the foreyaro.

THE GREAT HURRICANE, 1780.

391

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Berwick — continued.

Hour.

P.M.

8

9

10

11

12

Am Bt»

1

2 3 4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11

12

P.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

S

9 10 11 12

A.M. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12

Courses.

N by \V| W

NbyE

N NbyWiW

Nby W

N

NbyE

NNE NEbyN

Winds.

Remarks.

Variable

NEbyE

EbyN EbyS

Sunday, October 16, 1780. Fresh breezes, with frequent showers of

ram.

Midnight. Light breezes and cloudy.

NEbyN

NE

ENE

NE

S

head to N E

ditto* to

NNE

EbyS

ESE

A.M. Ditto weather ; the sailmakers employed in fitting a jury-main- topsail.

Lat. observed, 34° 20' N.

Got two of the quarter-deck guns on the forecastle.

Noon. Lat. 34° 21', long 69° 18'.

Nantucket Shoals, N 5° W, distance 129 leagues.

Monday, October 16, 1780. P.M. Moderate and clear ; sailmakers employed in fitting and repairing sails.

Ditto weather.

Sailmakers employed as above « Ditto weather.

SSE

Calm Ditto

A.M. Light airs and cloudy.

Sailmakers employed as above.

A great swell from the eastward. Lat. observed 35° 3' N., long. 68° 42'. Nantucket Shoals, N 10° W, distance 116 leagues.

CHAP.

vm.

Log of the Berwick.

On her way to England.

Light airs.

but a great swell.

TtIB GREAT IIURHICANB, 1780. Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Berwick— oM/MMAf.

nurrictne tho Bei-

Hour.	Couraa.	Windi.	"-"••
P.M.			Tueid«y, October 17, 1780.
2	up N by E F, bvN £ JN	Calm	P.M. At 1.4fi, «u taktt, a-baUi kort-
3	Notihet''	■hip Mid handed topauk; •qnalljr, with
4		lain ; loosed the topuil*.
8
			BsiU ; in lectins ths nuU-topMU canM awny cha yard la tha (llnp ; got it down;
			frr.h galea. "^
7 8	EbyN		At 7 46, got uiothtr rtrd MnM. and bent ihc ibiI.
e 10	EJN E		"^«-- .w»-/^vr
12	EjN
y	EiS	NNE
3 4			Ditto weather.
5	E	NbyE
7	EJS	NNE
8	Eb;S
			No obaerraiion.
10	E^^ys
12		Noon. IM.. 34° SO*, long. M" W.
			Birmudan. N 31~ g, (Iuibocc 61 laaguM.
PSC			Wodnwday, October 1», 1780. P.M. Fresh galea and cloudy.
	EJS	NNB
i			At i. h«ulcd the inainiul up aad Ihc
			fore -iitny sail down.
			At i. handed the mtmsaa. Al 4.3a,
			mniii-tn-iil hore-to undn thn wliia
			ditto ! Tery hard galM Md •quUy.
S	EbyN		Hard galea and .quaUj.
fi	up K hy S
7	offESB		Dilto weather.
10			Midnifht. Slmng gale* .od Iumj
r			(qualU.
3 4 7			A.M. Ditto weather.

THE OR£AT HURRICANE, 1780.

393

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Berwick — concluded.

Hour.	Courses.	1 Winds. Remarks.
AM.			Wednesday, October 18, 1780.
8	up E by N	NNE	Strong gales and heavy squalls; rove
	offESE		new fore-tacks and sheets.
9	upENE offEby S
10
11			Lat. observed, 33° 81' N, long. 65^ 10'.
12			Noon. Ditto weather.
P.M.			Bermudas, S 53° E, distance 31 leagues.
ITiursday, October 19, 1780.
1	upENE	N	P.M. Fresh galeo, with frequent showerB
2	offESE		of rain.
3			Set the mizen ; the sailmakers employed
4		1 in repairing the main- staysail. Ditto weather ; set up the lee, main, and
5
		fore-shrouds.
6 7			Ditto weather.
6 9	upENE offEby S
10
11
12
AiM.
1	up N E by E		A.M. More moderate*
2	offE
3 4			Ditto weather ; bent the main-staysail.
5 6			At 6.30, bore away under a foresail and
7	SE	Nby W	fore-topsail.
8			At 8, got the mizen- topsail- yard across.
9			Fresh gales and cloudy ; the people em-
10			ployed at the rigging and sails.
11			At 11, set the mainsail and main- topsail ; the sailmakers employed in repairing the mizen-staysail.
12			Noon. Ditto weather. Lat. 32° 25', long. 64° 21'.
			Bermudas, E, d^tance 41 leagues.

CHAP.

vni.

Log of the Bewick.

394

Solano's Stomi, 1 780, and the Winds called " Norths''

CHAP. The chart of the great Barbados hurricane has been ^ made, and its course determined by closely following

the data procured. In none of the log-books of the same year, which have been examined at the Admi- ralty, is there any allusion made to other ^ales, coming from the eastward, and happening at the same time. The course laid down on Chart IX. is therefore, pro- bably, very nearly the true course of that tempest.

I have made this remark, previous to introducing the subject of that storm which dispersed and disabled the Spanish fleet under Solano, destined for the attack of Pensacola, in Florida, first colonized from Europe by the Spaniards. This state was ceded by them to the English in tlie treaty of 1763. It was still held by England in 1780; but the Spaniards reconquered that part called West Florida, in 1781, the storm having saved it for the English for one year.

This third storm, like that which destroyed Savanna- la-M ar, had been confounded with the great Barbados hurricane, which disabled Rodney's fleet, although it appears to have been a distinct one. It will serve to show, that the gales of the Gulf of Mexico are some- times, at least, of the same rotatory nature as those which have been described.

It is possible, that the Spaniards may apply the term Nortes, or Nortlis, to more than one pheno- menon ; but the violent north winds in the neighbour- hood of Vera Cruz, are frequently no other than the left-hand side of rotatory storms, in their northerly

NORTHS.

396

»5

90

HH

10

9ft

VM)

85

396 SOLAN S STORM, 1780.

CHAP, progression across the Gulf of Mexico ; just as Red-

L field's storms, in their northerly progression, have been

clearly shown to be in reality identical with Franklin's north-east storms. What is here meant will be under- stood by inspecting the preceding figure, which is in- tended to represent the storm which dispersed this Spanish fleet.

I am indebted to Lord Clarendon, formerly British ambassador at Madrid, for copies of documents, pro- cured by him from the Spanish government, relative to Solano's storm, extracts from which are here printed.

These records show, that the Spanish Admirals Air- ship was in tlie northern half of a circular storm, for the wind commenced at north-east, veered to south- east, and ended at south-south-east. It is possible that this storm may have had its origin near the west end of Cuba, for the weather at this period was moderate, and fine at Jamaica ; and we find no trace of it in any of the log-books of Sir P. Parker's squadron. The Phoenix British frigate, just before she was wrecked, had come from Pensacola, and she had looked into Havannah harbour, and seen Solano's fleet lying there.

On the morning of the 15th the wind at Havannah was south-east ; on that day, Solano (having first con- sulted the pilots) called together the captains of the fleet, when it was determined to sail the next day, provided the wind did not veer from the sauth-east quarter to south. Next morning, the 16th of October, the wind being light, and more easterly, the 8i<mal was made to weigli, and fifty-eight ships out of seventy-four got out of liarbour before night, and they were all out at i) p.m.

NORTHS. 397

Fuerza de la Escuadra. CHAP.

Comandantes. VIII,

Navios San Juan (flag-ship) Pereda.

Guerrero Estava.

Velasco Muiioz Velasco.

Dragon . . Autran.

San Ramon. Calvo de Irazabal.

San Genaro Tejada.

Astulo Velasco.

Fragatas .... Matilde Alderete.

Rosalia . . Tacon.

O. Comandante del Convoy. . Aristizabal.

Aulia Goicoechea.

Chambequin . Caiman Roda.

Paquebot. . . . Pio Ibregon.

Lugre Duque de Cornwallis Correa.

Convoy » — Aristizabal.

32 Transportes de Tropos . . . . / ^^^^^ al mando *^ L del Gen. Galvez.

2 Hospitales.

6 Transportes con Artilleria, viveres, municiones

y pertrechos.

1 1 Goletas con polvore.

9 Mercantes con destino d Nueva Orleans.

Extract from the Journal of the Spanish Admiral Journal of Don Jos6 Solano, having his flag on board of the juan,*flag. San Juan, commanded by Pereda : — * ^^'

" Oct. I6th, 1780. At daybreak, after a moderate land breeze from £. and E.S.E., the scud moving in the same direction, it fell calm. The wind afterwards sprung up again from the E. S. E. quarter, and freshened ; and at 6 a.m. the signal was made to heave short. The wind appeared settled in the E. ; the signal was made to weigh anchor, and the Caiman ordered to wait to see all the vessels out of port. By half-past nine the Admiral was a league from the land, standing on under topsails only, in order to unite his fleet. In this manner he stood on a northerly course with the same sail during the rest of the day, with the wind varying from E. to N.E. By sunset, the Velasco, San Genaro, and the San Ramon, with seven transports, had not got out of

398 Solano's storm, 1780.

CHAP. port. Tlie Admiral kept the same sail upon his ship during the _^'^"- night.

" Oct, \7th. At dawn it was calm in shore. By eight o'clock a breeze sprung up from the N.E. Fifty-eight ships and vessels were in sight, out of seventy-four ; the Velasco and San Genaro being among the missing ships. At seven o'clock, the Caiman made a signal that all the vessels had got out of the port by nine o'clock the night previous. The Admiral, concluding that the missing ships were cither covered by the haze. Or that they bad got a-head of him during the night, made sail in the coarse N. 10° W.* By noon the wind freshened at N. E., scud and heavy clouds closing in upon us. The San Juan carrying her foresail and topsails, lowering and raising the latter occasionally, in order to keep the fleet together. At 9 p.m., the breexe freshened ; took in the topsails ; towards evening, we coold only just see the vanguard, owing to the density of the clouds. At 6 P.M., reefed the foresail. By 10 at night, the wind in- creased, and was then at N.E. j E., with torrents of rain and some hard squalls, shifting as far as E. N. E.

" Oct. ISth. At daybreak, heavy clouds, rain, wind, and sea. Two ships and a brig of the convoy in sight. At 9 a.m., the wind was E. N. E. At 10 a.m., a ship near us, which we took to be the Guerrero, made a signal that she was leaky. A squall coming on we could make out no more, and we then lost sight of all ships 3 furled the close-reefed foresail, and lay-to under a mainsail -, the ship labouring very much.

"From the I8th to the ^Oth, continued lying-to in the fborth quadrant ; f the weather still dark and increasing ; the wiad at N.E. 3 continued rain, with a heavy sea 3 kept two pumps constantly working.

*'At 10 P.M., on the QOM, our tiller broke 3 secured the rudder 3 the ship sustaining heavy and repeated squalls, whilst she came up from the E. N. E. as far as E., as the wind veered round from the S. E. to the S. S. E.

" Oct. 2l8t. By half-past four in the morning, the wind changing, made the ship come up head to sea. The ship then pitched away all her masts as well as her bowsprit, and with it lost the greater part of the cutwater. By the exertion of the officers and crew the wreck was cleared by six o'clock ; at this hour it began to clear up from the S. S. E. Lightened the decks of everything we could. The sea ran so high that were still unable to ship another tiller.

* In the original, Al rum bo, N 10. f Del 4t.i cusdr&ate.

NORTHS. 399

^' At 11 A.M., set top -gallant-sails on the stumps of the main CHAP, and fore masts, and the sail of the launch on the stump of ^^^' the mizen, keeping her head to the N. E. At noon, latitude 26° 42' N., longitude, 290° 9' E. of TeneriflFe -, longitude 86° 1 1' W. of Greenwich.

*' Oct, 22nd. Commenced with less sea and wind. At daylight saw a large vessel ; we fired three guns, but she did not answer our signals. Got another tiller shipped ; prepared jury-masts and sails, but the ship would not wear, and we could not set them. At noon fell in with the brig Industria, which had received no damage, and we were the only vessel, excepting one, (name unknown) that she had fallen in with since the 17th; she had laid-to all the time. The Industria was ordered to keep along with the Admiral. In the evening spoke the trans- port St. John the Baptist -, she had not suffered much.

" Oct, 23rd. At daybreak found ourselves close to the frigate Rosalia, the captain of which came on board. During the first four days of the storm the Rosalia lay-to, but on the fifth she scudded with her spritsail for a foresail. Towards the end of the storm, for eight hours, she was in a complete hurricane; her seams had opened, and she leaked both through the decks and sides. By the assistance of her boats we were enabled to wear the San Juan, after which we got up the jury-rigging.

''The Admiral calling a council, it was determined upon returning to Havannah ; orders were therefore given to Captain Pereda (captain of the San Juan) to proceed to that port, and to conduct thither all the ships he should fall in with. The Admiral shifted his flag on board the Rosalia, leaving the San Juan rigging jury-masts, in latitude 27° 20' N., longitude 291° 9' E. of Teneriffe ; longitude 89° 21' W. of Greenwich.

"The Spanish Admiral then sailed for Pensacola; and, after cruising in that neighbourhood for some time without finding any of his ships, he left it; and on the l6th of November he reached the Tortuga soundings, which had been ordered as a point of rendezvous ; finding no vessels there, he sailed for Havannah, and arrived there on the 19th, and there found his fleet."

It is stated in the journal that Admiral Solano wished to go to sea again ; but in this desire he was overruled by the superior officer commanding in the

400 SOLANO's STORM, 1780.

CHAP, island of Cuba. Having called for reports to be

— made to him by tlie commanders of ships of war and

frigates, giving an account of what each suffered during the storm, I have received extracts from these, made by order of the Spanish Government: but it is better that we sliould endeavour to trace recent storms than dwell on those of which little more information can now be obtained. I sliall, therefore, briefly state what befel some of the other ships whose places are marked in the figures inserted in page 395.

The The journal of the Guerrero, for the first part of

the storm, is nearly the same as the journal of the Admiral's ship; but this ship experienced the severest part of the hurricane with the wind blowing from the north.

On tlie 20th their latitude was 25^ 57' N., and long. 91° 7' W. of Greenwich. The wind haviog then veered into the fourth quadrant (il 4*** cuadrante) they made for the Tortugas soundings, where they fell in with the San Juan, Velasco, and other dis- masted ships, and the Guerrero returned with them to Havannah.

Th*» During the early part of the gale the Velaaco car-

ried away a topsail, lier foresail, and fore-topmast staysail. During a part of the storm this ship scud- ded to the W. N.W., under bare poles, and therefore she probably had the wind from E.S.E. It blew in violent gusts, and during the night of the 18th she lost her main-topmast. At two in the morning, the sea and wind augmenting, the main and mizen masts went. On the 20th the fore-topmast went, and the rudder split diagonally. Tlie storm with the Velasco ended on the 22nd, the wind having veered from

NORTHS. 401

the first to the fourth quadrant They considered chap. themselves in lat. 24° V N., long. 88° 14' W. of J^ Greenwich.

The Dragon carried her foresail throughout, and The reached lat. 25° 59' N., long. 88° 53' W. of Green- ^^"^^^ wich.

The 18th9 the San Ramon, having no ship in TheSan sight, and unable to stand her course, scudded to the W. S. W. In one of the most violent squalls this vessel became water-logged; four pumps did not keep the water under, so that they were " inun- dated " between decks, and the whole crew were put to baleing. This ship, intended to batter the forts of Pensacola, was armed with heavy guns, and eleven of them were thrown overboard to lighten her. She was carried to lat. 24° 10' N., long. 90° 5' W. of Greenwich.

The San Genaro, losing the fleet on the lUth, TheSan scudded under bare poles to the W. S. W. ; and during that day lost all three masts, one after the other. The storm with her ended oiP the 20th ; lat. 23° 33' N., long. 87° 14' W. of Greenwich.

The Astulo lost the storm on the 2l8t, in lat. The

AituJO.

26° 46', long. 89° 30', having run for some time N. W., under bare poles, and then lay-to.

The Matilde at first lay-to under her mizen, but The afterwards bore up and scudded. The storm with her was most violent on the 19th ; at three o'clock she lost her foremast, and soon afterwards her main and mizen masts. The wind veered from £. to E.S.E. and S. E. ; and she lost the storm on the 21st, in lat. 26° 29' N., long. 88° 42'.

Extracts from the journals of other ships have

2d

402 SOLANO S STORMy 1780.

CHAP, been sent from Madrid ; but enough is already given

L- to show that the wind veered in this storm as in

other West Indian hurricanes. The paper conclades by stating that there were nineteen vessels missing : whether any of them were ever again heard of is not stated.

By referring to the storms of 1837, and examining that one experienced by the Racer, it will be seen that the course of it was very similar to that of the storm met by Solano, just described; and both of them, in all probability, caused a northerly wind to blow on the shores of Mexico.

403

CHAPTER IX.

ON STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

Having traced hurricanes to the fortieth degree of chap.

. XI.

north latitude, with their courses pointing in the '- —

direction of the islands of the Azores and the con- tinent of Europe, we are naturally led to consider whether the gales of our own country partake also of a rotatory character ; and whether those of the corre- sponding latitudes in the other hemisphere revolve in the contrary direction. Whilst we pursue this subject, however, following it up as facts may lead us onward, we must not suppose the rotatory storm (though probably the greatest) is the only disturbing cause of the regular atmospheric currents; and we should bear in mind not to carry its application too far. The further we go from the equator, the more com- plicated this subject becomes ; and gales succeed each other so fast during our stormy season, that it is not easy to identify the particular storm we may wish to study. It has been shown, that the hurricanes which originate within the tropics increase in diameter, and diminish in force, as they proceed towards the poles ; and as the meridians approach each other the gales may become huddled together. They may, therefore, frequently neutralize each other, and become irregular. Their force, too, may often fall off, until the strength of the wind on that side of the circle where it blows

2d2

404 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, from east is unable to reverse the regular westerly ^^' atmospheric current, and to convert it into a tem- porary easterly gale ; and this may be a reason why easterly storms are less frequent in botli hemispheres in the latitudes within which Great Britain is situated.

What is here meant will be better understood by turning to the two figures at page 410. These two figures, which are intended to represent the manner in which great storms revolve in both hemispheres, will also serve to show that on the sides of the circles next the poles the wind always blows from the east ; and on the sides next the equator from the west.

The wind's force on the polar sides of the figures may be expressed by the rotatory velocity diminished by that of the regular westerly atmospheric current ; and if they should be equal a calm would be the con- sequence ; on the contrary, the same atmospheric current would add its force to the westerly and oppo- site sides of the storms in both hemispheres. Within the tropics, however, the violence of the hurricanes is so great, that the difierence here alluded to b not perceptible.

Circles have been used in illustration of the move- ments of progressive whirlwinds; but the ciures described are most likely not circles. It is mcae probable that they resemble the figures annexed, the degree of curvature altering with the rate of progress of the storms ; and this may be another cause why, in high latitudes, westerly winds, in storms, blow harder than easterly. These two figures will serve to explain what is here meant, and the manner in which squalls may, perhaps, revolve in Iwth hemi*

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

405

spheres, if, for the sake of illustration, we may suppose chap. them to be continuous.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

^-Jl\

SOUTHERN HBMI8PHBRB.

The Cause of the Barometer falling with a Southerly Wind in the Northern Hemisphere^ and with a Northerly Wind in the Southern Hemisphere^ ex- plairted.

On the south coast of England, violent gales usually set in with the wind about south, or south-south-east, and veer by the west towards north-west. The baro- meter, falling at the commencement, rises as the wind becomes northerly. In the corresponding latitude in the southern hemisphere, this order, as regards both the wind and barometer, is reversed.

Captain King, in his sailing directions for Terra Weather. del Fuego, says —

406 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDBB.

CHAP. '^ Gales of wind succeed each other at short inter-

'-. . vals, and last several days. At times the weather

is fine and settled for a fortnight; but those times arc few. wiiida. " Westerly winds prevail during the greater part of

the year. The east wind blows chiefly in the winter months, and at times very hard ; but it seldom blows in summer. Eantfriy " Wiuds from thc eastern quarter invariably rise light, with fine weather ; they increase gradually, the weather* changes, and at times end in a determined heavy gale. More frequently they rise to the strength of a treble-reefed topsail breeze, then die away gradu- ally, or shift to another quarter. Ni.rih and " From the north the wind always begins to blow w1nd87"^ moderately, but with thicker weather and more clouds than from the eastward; and it is generally accom- panied by small rain. Increasing in strength, it draws to the westward gradually, and blows hardest between north and north-west, with heavy doads, thick weather, and much rain.

^^When the fury of the north-wester is expended, which varies from twelve to fifty hours, or even while shift Bud- it is blowing hard, the wind sometimes skifis tuddmly south- into the south-west quarter, blowing harder than be- fore. This wind soon drives away the clouds, and in a few hours you have clear weather, but with heavy squalls passing occasionally.

^' In the south-west quarter the wind hangs several days (generally speaking), blowing strong ; but mode- rating towards its end, and granting two or three days of fine weather.

'' Northerly wiudr^ then begin again, generdly

west.

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES. 407

during the summer months ; but all maimer of shifts chap.

and changes are experienced from north to south by !

the west during that season, which would hardly ^*^*^ deserve the name of summer, were not the days so »^in^CT. much longer, and the weather a little warmer. Rain and wind prevail much more during the long than the short days.

*^ It should be remembered, that bad weather never comes on suddenly from the eastward; neither does a south-west or southerly gale shift suddenly to the northward. South-west and southerly winds rise suddenly and violently ; and must be well considered in choosing anchorages, and preparing for shifts of wind at sea.

^^The most usual weather in these latitudes is a Common

weather.

fresh wind between north-west and soudi-west, with a cloudy overcast sky.

" Much difference of opinion has prevailed as to the ^"ometer

* * and aym-

utility of a barometer in these latitudes. I can only pi«ometer. say, that during twelve months' constant trial of a barometer and sympiesometer (Adie's) I found their indications of the utmost value. Their variations do not, of course, correspond to those of middle latitudes; but they correspond to those of high northern latitudes in a remarkable manner, changing south for north (east and west remaining the same).'*

Captain King makes also the following remarks on the same subject : —

" The mercury stands lowest with north-west winds, and highest with south-east. With the wind at north- west, or northerly, the mercury is low : if it falls to 29 inches, or to 28.80, a south-west gale may be ex- pected ; but it does not commence until the column ftas

408 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, ceased to descend. It frequently, however, falls witli-

— out being followed by this change/'

Horsburgh, in speaking of the winds of the South Atlantic, about latitude SS"" and 39^ says, '* Although here the westerly winds prevail during niost months of the year, they are often very unsettled, completing a revolution round the horizon, coincident with the course of the sun, every two, three, or four days, with intervening calms, particularly when the wind is in the south-west quarter." • • • • And in a note he says,* "When cloudy weather accompanies these northerly or north-west winds, there is a risk of a sudden shift to south-west or south : this happened to H.M.S. Bristol, to the Queen, and to us in the Anna, in January, 1800. We were in latitude 31® S., long. 22^ W. : had run 230 miles in the preceding twenty-four hours ; and, with steering-sails set, were running at the rate of ten or eleven miles an hour, when, at 9 p.m., in a shower, the wind shifted from the north-west to the south -south -west in an instant, taking us a-back. We lost all the light sails and booms, and the ship's head was thrown jound against the north-west sea before the sails were trimmed, which made her plunge bowsprit and forecastle ander. " Off the south coast of Terra Australis the progress of the gales is usually this : the barometer falls to 29.5 inches or lower, and the wind rises from the north- west, with thick weather, commonly with rain; it veers gradually to the west, increasing in strength, and when it veers to the southward of that point the weather begins to clear up; at south-west the gak blows hardest, and the barometer rises ; and by the

* East India Sailing Directory, vol. i. p. 67, second editkm.

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES. 409

time the wind ffets to south or south-south-east it chap.

IX.

becomes moderate, with fine weather, and the baro '- —

meter about 30 inches."*

Professor Dove, of BerKn, aware of what is here stated, viz., that storms set in, in the southern henii- spbere, from the opposite quarter to that in which they commence in the northern, proposed a theory to explain the cause, in an octavo volume, published in German ; a portion of which will be found trans- lated in Nos. 67 and 68 of the "London and Edinburgh Journal of Science." Professor Dove, in support of this fact, quotes reports from various authorities, from which the following are copied : —

" 1 • I am indebted to the kindness of Captain Wendt, who sailed round the world several times as commander of the Prussian ship Princess Louise, in answer to an inquiry ad- dressed to him, for the following notice : —

'* * The wind in the southern hemisphere usually turns from north through west to south and south-east. Its direction consequently is contrary to that of the wind in the northern hemisphere. To the best of my knowledge the fact is nearly as follows : near the Cape of Good Hope in summer the wind is chiefly south-east, but if the wind turns northerly it is then more violent. When the best summer months are at an end, after a calm of short duration, the wind usually blows very moderately from south-east, with an unusually clear sky. The wind is continually increasing, whenever it turns easterly ^ and if it has turned to the north, clouds and lightning are sure to appear on the western horizon, and in less than half an hour a storm from west-north-west will ensue, and will not cease until, after 24 or 48 hours, it has veered more to the south.

" ' Near Cape Horn, both to the east and west, with a north wind there is generally good weather ; when it veers to the north-west it soon blows hard; with a west-north-west to south- west it usually blows a storm (which is also frequently the case from west-north-west and north-west). The wind subsides as it becomes southerly. South-south-east fine weather, frequently succeeded by a calm.*

* East India Sailing Dirsctory, toI. i. p. 07, second edition.

410

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP. IX.

'' 2. jEthiopic Sea.— {he Gentil.) ' On the 35th and Mth wc experienced a kind of gust (coup de vent) from north to south- west by west 5 and I remarked a fact, which yon have had opportunity of observing more frequently than myaelfj that the winds do not follow the same rule in this hemisphere aa m the northern hemisphere; physicists have hitherto given no ex- planation of this phenomenon.* *' *

If we project two circles to represent rotatory gales, one for each hemisphere, and draw lines across these circles, which shall be in the direction of the last

NOBTBBBN HEMISPHBKB.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

* Article entitled Professor Dove's Outliucs uf a General Thenryof Winds, in *• Brewster's Journal of Science," toI. zi. p. 233.

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDBS. 411

*

portions of the tracks of the storms traced on Charts chap.

VII. and VIII., but in both figures on the side next '- —

to the equator, being that on which the wind is always westerly ; and if we suppose these two circles to revolve as the ^toms did which are represented on Charts VII. and VI 11., then the lines drawn across theae figures wiU show the veering of the wind in high latitudes of the two hemispheres. They will ^Iso explain the reason why the barometer usually l^^ns to fall with a southerly wind in the northern hemisphere ; and with a northerly wind in the southern liemisphere. In these figures, the spear-heads mark the courses of the storms, and the sides which first sMrrive at each place they would pass over.

In high latitudes the veering is often not com* wind pleted, before the wind backs to near the point from whence the gale had commenced, and in such in- stances the wind often blows harder than before. A succession of storms, which all revolve in the same way, following closely upon each other, might pro- duce this effect ; and something approaching to this consequence may be seen on Chart VII,, where two stomas nearly meet: but my desire, throughout this investigation, has been to avoid theory or hypothesis, and to confine myself to collecting and arranging facts, and to observing the consequences to which they lead. In an attempt made to procure sufficient in- formation relative to the storms of our own country, I have received the most liberal and I'eady support frpm various quarters: the Trinity Board having furnished observations from the lighthouses in all parts of the kingdom, and the Comptroller-General

l>acking.

412 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, of the Coast Guard.* and the officers under him,

IX. *

contributing much useful information ; but the whole

length of our kingdom, from the Scilly to the Shet- land Islands, is not equal to the diameter of the storm traced on Chart VII., and the breadth of Great Britain and Ireland is still less so.

The attempt alluded to was to ascertain the nature of the gales of February, 1838; particularly a storm which was severe, from the south-east quarter, in Ireland and on the west of Scotland. The report received from the Irish lighthouses possesses the great advantage of having the wind's force denoted by numbers : a 0 denoting a calm, and 12 a hurri- cane ; and iu the tables, which will be found at the end of this chapter, numbers have been substituted for the expression of the wind's strength in words. The state of the weather is denoted by letters, and an explanation of these will be found at the end o( the next chapter.

Where the height of the barometer is wanting in the English and Irish tables, it has been in part supplied from the Coast Guard reports.

By referring to the report from Cape Clear lightr house (pp. 424, 5), it will be seen that a storm set in there on the 13th of February.

On the 12th the wind's force is marked . . 8,

On the 13th it is marked 11,

On the 14th 12,

and on the 15th its force removed the stone-coping of the lighthouse ; but from that time it appean by the report to have begun to diminish.

* Captain Bowles, K.X.

BRITISH ISLANDS. 413

If we compare the reports, we find, on the 14th, chap.

the wind's force in Shetland is marked 4, and at the '. —

Pentland Firth only 1 ; at Greenwich it is marked 2, and on the coast of Northumberland a calm. On the 16th the revenue cruiser Swift, at sea, between Cum- bray and Rothsay Bay, on the west coast of Scotland, reports the weather calm and cloudy between 1 1 a.m. and 2 p.m. on that day ; and the first indications of /the storm were felt by the Swift between 2 and 4 of the same afternoon.

On the 15th the wind also removed the coping- stones from the lighthouse at Maiden Rocks, on the north coast of Ireland, its force being marked 10 ; but the ftirther to the eastward we examined the wind the less we find its force becomes. At the same date, at Greenwich, though easterly, it is only marked 6 ; and at Heligoland, on the same day, a strong breeze. By comparing the reports, the gale is found to make a gradual northerly progress ; as, for example, at Pent- land Skerries, the force on the 15th is marked I, but on the 16th it is reported 8.

Thus the scope afforded by Great Britain and Ire- land being too limited for this inquiry, application was made to Admiral Sir John Ommaney, commanding on the Lisbon station, from whom I have received every assistance he could afford. By the reports from the ships under his command, we find, on the 14th of Fpbruary, when the storm was blowing violently at Cape Clear lighthouse at south-easty that the Camelion was lying-to in a hard gale off* Oporto, with the wind at south-west. On the 15th the Camelion ran into the harbour of Vigo. By midnight on the 16th there was moderate weather, with the wind west-north-west ; and

414 STORMS IN HIGH LATirrnEs.

CHAP, next day light southerly breezes. A meteorological .^^ report from the flag-ship in the Tagus contains a state- ment nearly similar, and is annexed.

The Bellerophon and Iberia steamer were at Gib- raltar, and the Magicienne in the Bay of Cadiz. At Gibraltar the wind was light on the 7th, and the wea- ther cloudy until seven in the evening, when it set in to blow hard ; and on the 12th the Belleroph(m was driven on shore. At Cadiz, by the Magicienne's log, the wind blew from south-west and west during this period ; but at Gibraltar it was more variable, beii^ south-south-east, south-south-west, and north-west. On the 14th, 15th, and following days, the Magicienne*s log reports the weather at Cadiz as being moderate ; and, in proof of this, during each of these days that frigate was enabled to loose her sails.

The Iberia steamer left Gibraltar on the 9ih, was at Cadiz on the 10th, and came out again the same day: from that time to the 14th, when she entered LisboD, she was off* that coast in heavy gales of wind varying from south-west to west-north-west. This looks as if it were the same storm there ; having also a northerly progression.

At the time the Bellerophon was driven on shore at Gibraltar, with the wind at south-west, the Athol troop-ship, in lat. 27° N., long. 36° W., returning from Mauritius, was then about south-west of Aat place, having at the time light and variable winds, and the day before the Athol was becalmed. As she sailed north the wind freshened, and became west-north-west and north-west, with squalls ; but the weather was not bad.

s^Tn. Ky I^loyd's printed reports it appears that a ship,

BRITISH ISLANDS. 415

called the Swan (Errington, Master), sailed from Cork chap. for Jamaica on the 11th, when the wind was easterly '

both at Cork and at Cape Clear lighthouse ; yet this ship returned to Cork on the 19th, in consequence of meeting a gale at south-west and south-south-west, so heavy that she was obliged to throw part of her cargo overboard.

I have been informed by Mr. Yarrell that a great Effect of

undula-

many of the Red-band-fish (Cibola rubescens), as well tions on

the bed of

as various tribes of the genus Labrus, which inhabit the sea. only the bottom of the sea, and are rarely seen, were cast on shore on the coast of Cornwall during this gale. This was supposed to be occasioned by the effect of the surfiELce undulations being transmitted by degrees to the bottom. A similar effect, but one of a greater degree, is described in the late Sir Gilbert Blane's let- ter to Dr. Hunter, speaking of the hurricane of 1 780, printed at page 347.

What has been here stated is not sufficient to prove satisfactorily that the gale during the middle of Feb- ruary was rotatory, although this south-east storm of Ireland, and of the west of Scotland, does not appear to have come as a storm from the south-east ; nor the south-west gales of Gibraltar from the south-west, since the Athol was becalmed in that quarter.

When the first edition of this work was published I had not been able to procure the log-books of the squadron on the north coast of Spain under the orders of Lord John Hay. These vessels, at anchor in the harbour of Passages, at the bottom of the Bay of Bis- cay, should have had the wind from south, but more moderate than in Ireland. The log-book of the North Star, the Commodore's ship, has now been procured.

416 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHA.P. and it proves that the wind changed,. and it became ' south for two days, and then became south-west. The following is au extract from the log-book of the North Star, lying in Passages Harbour : —

" 12th February . . . Wind south; light winds, and fine.

13 th	•	. . — south; moderate, with rain a times.
14th	^*^ •	. . — S.W. J moderate and fine.
15th	**^""	— S.W.; A.M. ditto; P.M. fwd breezes and squally.
16th	•	. . — S.W. ; fresh breezes and sqiudly.
17th		. . . — S.W. J moderate, with rain."

The annexed diagram of the British Isles is intended to show what the veering of the wind would be in these islands during a rotatory storm of great diameter, moving in a north-north-east direction, with its centre passing on the westward side of Ireland and the western isles of Scotland. By examining this figure it will be seen that in Ireland such a storm would set in about south-east, that it would veer more and more towards south-west, and end with the wind about west ; so that this diagram will serve, almost without alteration^ to represent the storm just described, and to explain the veering of the wind in many of the gales which pass over Great Britain and Ireland.

The dotted portions of concentric circles show the way such a storm would set in, whilst those marked by continuous curved lines represent the storm pass- ing off; the right-hand side of it passing over Great Britain. The influence of such a storm might be felt much beyond the limits of the curves as drawn in the diagram. Thus it might change a north-west wind to a south-east one, as far as Heligoland, which hap- pened in February, 1837, as may be seen by turning

BRITISH ISLANDS. . 417

to the Lighthouse reports of the weather for that chap- penod.

When we look at a globe, and examine the true figure of the earth and water, we see how very much the Atlantic narrows between Greenland and Norway. If land in any way influences the course of storms, it is possible the centres of a great number of the Atlantic storms may pass between these two countries. It will be curious to know the truth of this, which is at present little more than mere hypothesis. If cor- rect, north-easterly storms must be the most frequent gales at Labrador and Greenland ; but whether these really are the prevailing winds there I am not in- formed.

In studying the subject, and consulting the figures, it should be borne in mind that the squalls, particu- larly those of high latitude, in all probability, do not follow curves so regular as the figures represent.

The greatest difficulty in the inquiry is, in getting Value of the logs of merchant ships, which have hitherto been log-bookB. considered of no value after the accounts for the voy- ages to which they relate are settled. Sometimes they are retained by the masters, at other times by the brokers ; and no doubt they are often destroyed. Whilst procuring information I found that a proposal Proposal had long since been made, by a Captain in the service ^ernng of the East India Company,* to preserve the log- *™* books of merchant ships, and to deposit them, when no longer required by the masters or merchants, in some public building, where they might be referred to. If this were done at the principal commercial ports, by agreement amongst the merchants, each port keeping

* Captain Geddes. 2 E

418 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, its own, and placing the log-books together in a dep6t __JJ__ where they might be examined, then the further pur- suit of this inquiry would be made comparatively easy; and the log-books of ships in all probability would assume, as meteorological reports, a high d^ree of importance.

The registers of the weather kept at the lighthouses afford a means of obtaining much information on this subject; and, if different countries would exchange reports, such observations would become of great use. On our own coasts the revenue cruisers have the means of making good reports.

Our numerous colonies, and the islands we possess in various seas, could furnish information from fixed points on shore ; and these, combined with the reports contained in the log-books of ships, would afford very great means for determining whether or not the courses which storms pursue are as uniform as they appear to be. Much information respecting the weather is also transmitted, from all parts of the world to which British commerce extends, by the agents and correspondents of Lloyd's Society. But, to render all such information useful for meteorological purposes, it requires to be arranged ; and it might be printed periodically.

Of Mr. Luke Howard's work, entitled 'The Climate of London,' two volumes are entirely occupied by recording facts collected during many years. The fol- lowing passage extracted from it bears directly on the subject of this chapter : —

'' Corresponding Opposite Currents in the Atmosphere, " ()u the 30th October, 18*23, at Grcneva, it was very warm, the thermometer at 59° F. j but in the following night there a remarkable change of temperature. A very strong gale on, with much rain ; and, towards morning, snow on the moan-

BRITISH ISLANDS. 419

tains round the lake down to one thousand eight hundred feet CHAP, elevation. The thermometer fell to 38-6° F. ^*

" On the coast of Bretagne^ and in the counties of Wilts, '

Bucks, Bedford, Oxon, &c.^ there was in the same night a great storm of wind, with torrents of rain. On the morning of the 31st of October the hills round Salisbury were covered with snow, which near Devizes^ &c., was said to be drifted four or five feet deep.

" The remarkable part of this case is, the opposite directions of the wind during the storm. At Geneva, on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of October, it is stated to have been constantly south-west. In England it was north-east, or even verging to north ; yet the same depressure of temperature obtained in both situations.

" So far M. de Luc, who writes to the editors of the BibL Univ. for November, 1823. I may add, that having fallen in with a gentleman from Halifax, Nova Scotia, he informed me, that, during the gale above mentioned, the vessel in which he came, being then in the midst of the Atlantic, one thousand miles from Britain, had fine weather, with a strong westerly wind, which brought them to Falmouth 3 but attended with so great a swell from north-east as to occasion a remark by the Captain, that he was persuaded there must have been a great storm in that direction. The northerly gale, therefore, spent its fury on the ocean west of Britain ; and the neighbouring continent was subjected merely to the counter current from the southward, which yet must have descended from a colder tract of atmo- sphere above.** — Vol. iii. page 127.

Whatever the phenomenon may be which has the power to cause such gyrations, it may originate new disturbances within the expanded limits of storms diminished to a breeze; and this, in high latitudes, may be another reason for the complicated nature of the winds in Great Britain.

When gales diminish to strong breezes, and become no longer dangerous, they cease to be noticed in the shipping reports, and therefore we can trace them no further.

The following Tables relate to the gales of Feb- ruary, 1838. 2 E 2

420

STOnMS

IN

HIOH

LATITUDEB.

CHA-P.

IX.

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421 CHAP.

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

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424 STORMS IN HIQH LATITUDES.

CHAP.

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425

CHAP.

»TOHHS IN illOH LATtTUDEB.

Her Majcaty'e Ship Donegal's Meteorok^cal Jonnisl, in the River Tagtu, Feb. 1838.

		Wind*.	1
D.r	8		8 ■ S	1	8
l.H	-•"■			"
1 ' 59	69	58 27.78	29.80	29.73	V«ui.bk	Light untndckradr.
2 60	69	GO ,29.02'2g.'J2	29.93	Variable	Light sin ud hur/
3 1 61	62	60 '99.92	29.89	29.80	Viritbi^
i 68	66	68 29.70	29.68	29.68	Light ain ud fin*.
5 fiO	67	59 29.60	29.60	29.50	NEui'r	DftK..
0 fi7	66	58 29.60	29.67	29.60	sw	Light wmd>& Bite WMth«. A3i. SqB^y. withnfat.
1\ 00	66	66 i 20.60	29.66	29,64	■WSW
		1
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0 68	60	eo 29.47	29.42	29.32	SWe>t"
							P.M. SqiuJlr, wlthnli^
10	60 67	61 68	69 -29.36 69 .20.20	29.33 29.42	29.11 29.17	SWtoW Wco BSB	Bar. at 1 *.»i. 28.20. At 4.30. blowing • (tie.
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IS 10	SO 60	69 69	59 69	29.10 20.60	i9.14 29.59	29.46 29.61	W8W WciieH'
17	61	61	at .29.76	29.76	2978	Butcrlj	Light >tn and Am.
18	GO	h9	00 29.66	29.60	29.64	E8E	Light wind* and ckiady.
la	62	00	60 29.51	29.62	29.63	WeiWt*	Light hreeuaud Am.
20	60	62	61 29.60	29.62	29.66 N Wnt'>	DUio.
21	67	60	60 29,70	29.61	29.55 S W
22	SI	69	60 ■29.63	29.60	29.66 8 Wen''	!ffi!::sui'5S-,.
23	69	59	S7 ■'i9.17	■9.23	29.10 8 W
							P.M.a«.T,.la..lAiiiL
24	61	SB	67	29.20	29.31	29.21 WSW
25	61	66	.53 29.03:29.03	M.IO NTVtoW	Frab galea, vilh hM*T
						-mdlTfromWNW.
	65	56	66 '29.20'29.26	19.11	NW	Squally, with beavynia.
37	67	66	57	29.41 29.11 29.44	Why S	SquaUy, with tain.
28	6.'i	57	50	2B.31 29.36 29.36	W S W	A.M. Ht«*r aqvdil tt wind, rain, thaadv, and lightning.

BRITISH ISLANDS. 427

It is upon the European side of the Atlantic that chap.

attention should now principally be directed, in order !

to ascertain the usual course of storms. That which follows is printed with a view to induce inquiry into the gales of Europe.

On the 11th of October, 1838, a very violent storm, stonnin

Scotl&nd.

which was called a hurricane, passed over Scotland ; and it is remarkable, inasmuch as its progress was to- wards the southward of east, and consequently coming from the northward of west : the progression appeared to be gradual. There was nothing unusual in the weather in the south of England on the 11th and 12th of October; but early on the 13th the wind at Ports- mouth set in with squalls, commencing at north-west, veering towards north, — an unusual circumstance, which led me to believe that a gale to the northward of us might be passing on a south-easterly course ; and the snow which fell at intervals, during the squalls in the afternoon, strengthened this opinion, which subse- quent accounts confirmed.

It will be a very curious and interesting part of this Cause for

1 !• T 1 r changes of

inquiry to ascertain hereafter, it the nature of storms tempera- should become better understood, whether the great alterations in the temperature of the air, particularly in the winter season, be not frequently caused by the rotation of a great extent of the atmosphere. Thus, for example, circular storms of a thousand miles dia- meter, as they approach Great Britain, would bring to us part of the atmosphere of the Azores ; and may, perhaps, cause us to have the thermometer in the early part of December standing as high as 60°, which often occurs. On the contrary, if we suppose a storm coming to Great Britain from the direction of Labrador, with a

^^^^

428 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, progression somewhat southerly, we may conceive a

' very sudden alteration in the temperature likely to take

Early faU place, and that in our winter months it would cover the

of mow. ^ . ,

country with snow.

The progression of this gale, which passed over Scotland on the 11th of October, 1838, coming from the northward of west, and moving somewhat to the southward of east, seems to have been the cause of snow falling so early in the year as the 1 3th of October in the south of England. Eflfect of The chain-bridge at Montrose was broken by this

stormB on ^ ^ ^ •'

chain- storm. This bridffe was visited soon afterwards by

bridges. ^ ^ ^

Colonel Pasley, of the Royal Engineers, who made the following remarks upon the subject : — Montooee « The suspension-bridge of Montrose was inspected by me soon after it was blown up by the hurricane of the 11th of October. It was blown up from below, it being, like our English roofs, rather resting by its own weight than secured against hurricane action. The bridge at Montrose had nothing to stiffen it longitudinally in a vertical direction. Iron transverse beams, supported by the rods, had two tiers of planking over them, and a light railing on each side, like that of a common balcony. The suspension-bridge at Hammersmith, on the contrary, has railing of strong iron posts, and the rest of wood, on each side ; and two longitudinal sets of king-post trusses on each side of the carriage-way and between it and the foot- paths." Brighton Previous to this period Brighton chain-pier had been pier. twice broken by the force of the wind : this occurred the second time during the gale of the 29th of Novem- ber, 1836. Having witnessed the effect of the wind

BRITISH ISLANDS.

upon it until the fracture took place, I endeavoured c immediately afterwards to record the appearance, by _ sketches, from which the two following woodcuts have been reduced. The roadway of the pier gave way half an hour after midday of the 29th of November ; about which time Mr. Osier's anemometer recorded the pres- sure caused by the wind's force at Birmingham as equal to Hi lbs. on the square foot: the barometer at Greenwich had sunk to 29*24; the wind's force there being denoted by Hi.

There was a double motion in the Brighton pier, for both chains and roadway oscillated laterally and undulated longitudinally; but the latter movement increased greatly, whilst the former diminished just before the fracture took place. It was, perhaps, owing to this double motion that half the upper part of the roadway (at J), and half the under part (at a), were visible to the spectators at the same instant.

429

HAP. IX.

leuyfL '2(i5/^'

ST0RM3 IN HIGH LATITUDES.

As soon as the side-rails gave way the undulatiooi greatly iDcreased, aod almost immediately afterwards the roadway broke. It was remarked at the time that, had the side railing been a trussed rail, in all proba- bilily the pier would have withstood the force of the storm.*

Mr. Reodell, the civil engineer, employed by Govern- ment to repair the chain-bridge at Montrose, having been so good as to send me drawings of the way in which he proposed to truss the bridge to prevent a recurrence of the same misfortune, woodcuts of Mr. Reodell's design are here inserted; for the effect o( the wind on these beautiful structures does not appear always to have been sufficiently considered. It will be seen the trussed rail, proposed by Mr. Rendell, passes below the bridge as well as above it.

Longiivdinal Section of Mr, Rmd^* Tnuttd Bail /or MmfroM Brit^

• I'rbCGMional I'apcn of the Roytl Engineer*, »oI. i. p. IDS.

BRITISH ISLANDS.

431

Transverse Section of Half the Roadway and One Foolpaih,

CHAP. IX.

1

Transverse Section showing Cross bracing at every 35 feet below the Roadway.

A storm which passed over England on the 28th a storm

and 29th of October, 1838, is one of much interest, came from

From the information collected it appears to have been west, proceeding on a course somewhat to the eastward

Ik

432 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, of north, and therefore coming from the westward of

' south. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, the

28th, it was calm at Portsmouth. The breeze which existed previous to the calm had left the vanes point- ing: (Tom the west. I observed them turn suddenly and to the opposite quarter, whilst the smoke from the

neighbouring chimneys also showed that a decided change of wind had taken place. By 4 o'clock the sky, which had been clear, became overcast, and from that time all the appearances of the atmosphere indi- cated the approach of bad weather. The wind rose, passed blowing from the eastward of souths and soon became England, squally. The squalls increased, the wind veering to the south, and then towards west; and between 10 and 1 1 at night its violence at Portsmouth was veiy great. It continued increasing in force until about two in the morning of the 29th, at which time it was alarming, and appeared at its height. After daylight the wind continued to veer towards west-north-west, and the barometer rapidly rose. By the log-books of H. M. S. Etna it appears that she was in sight of the Needles at daylight of the 28th, and at noon she was becalmed. Between 4 and 5 in the afternoon she was working up to Spitliead with tlie wind at east-soath- east; the wind's force, by Captain Beaufort's scale, being marked 4. The barometer had descended from 29*70 to 29*44. Between 7 and 8 p.m. the wind was south ; and at midnight it is marked west-south-west. By the Etna's log its force at 3 in the morning is expressed by the number 9.

From a statement in the Exeter newspaper, appa- rently made by an experienced observer, the barometer at 2 P.M. of the 28th was observed to be as low as

IX.

BRITISH ISLANDS. 433

29.28y and the air to be saturated with vapour. In c ha p. the evening the barometer continued to fall rapidly, _ and at 9 p.m. it was at 28.29, with squalls And heavy showers of rain. At 1 in the morning the wind was at its highest force : the barometer then standing at 28.7. At this hour, at Exeter, the wind 'suddenly shifted with great force from nearly south to west. At 2 A.M., on the 29th, the barometer had risen to 28.b2, and by 10 o'clock it was as high as 29.27, when the gale was nearly over.

An extract of a letter addressed to me by Captain Pringle, R.E., the circumstances therein detailed having been communicated by Captain Allen, of the Adelaide, states that *^ the Adelaide and Leith steamers were together off Flamborough Head, 28th October, 1838. Wind north and by west, a hurricane. The Adelaide stood south-south-west, and the gale lasted three hours; the Leith, north-north-east (out to sea), and was ten hours in the gale."

By the following reports from Lloyd's list, the centre of the storm seemed to have passed over Port Talbot and Milford, and from thence proceeded nearly in the direction of Hull : —

" Port Talbot, 29th Oct. — It blew a heavy gale at south-east last night, which shifted suddenly to north-west at 2 a.m., and blew a perfect hurricane for about an hour. The coasters in the port all broke adrift, but no material damage was done.'*

'' Milford, 29th Oct. — Yesterday the wind was moderate at south-east; at 12 last night it flew to west, and blew a perfect hurricane for five hours.*'

"Hull, 29th Oct. — 11.15 a.m. Yesterday the wind backed to south-east and east-south-east, and blew strong till this morning, when it got round to the westward, blowing very heavy ; — at 6 a.m. it flew round in a heavy squall to north ; but has since backed to west-north-west, blowing hard."

2 F

434 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP. In the "Nautical Magazine" for February, 1839,

further details relative to this storm may be seen.

At Dublin the wind became ecLsUnorth^asL The whole evidence indicates the storm being of a rotatory nature, although the veering of the wind in the left- hand semicircle was not regular. This in high lati- tudes will probably often prove to be the case. Gave a No incidents connected with this storm are more

foul wind ,

to the interesting than those which befell two great steam ships in their passage to America. One, the Liver- pool, had sailed from her port some days before the storm. She had gained the 46^ of lat., and 20'' 60' of long., and there on the 27th of October meeting a violent storm, was forced to put back to and a fair Cork. The Other steam ship was the Great Western, Great which Sailed at three o'clock in the afternoon of the day preceding the storm. Much anxiety was natu- rally felt for her safety, no accounts of her having reached England until the arrival of a ship, called the Pearl, which met the Gi-eat Western on the 29th, in lat. dO^ N., and in long. 11^ W. As she bad by that time made good progress, there was reason for supposing she must have had the storm at east, and consequently by being more to the northward, had fallen into the left-hand semicircle of the gale, which would be to her a fair wind for America. The follow- ing letter was received from the secretary of the Steam Navigation Company, to which she belonged, relative to this subject, on the ship's return, and is a document of much interest and importance :—

'' Bristol, 13th Dec.. 1838. '' Dear Sir, — On leaving King*8 Road at 3 p.m.. 27th October. the wind was west-south-west, blowing strong and squally.

Western.

MEDITERRANEAN STORMS. 435

** On the morning of the 28th^ wind west-north-west^ and mo- CHAP, derate, ftdling to a cakn by noon ; from noon the wind rose in ^' sudden gosts from the southward, gradually drawing to the east- ward until 8 p.m., when it blew a gale at east, with very heavy squalls and confused high sea to midnight, when the wind had gra- duBlly drawn to north-east ; from that time to eight in the morning of the 29th, the wind gradually shifted to west-north-west against the sun, blowing very hard all the time ; it then moderated.

(Signed) ''C. CLAXTON.

" Great Western Steam Ship Office, 36, Princes-street.*'

In the lighthouse reports from Scotland, the wind on the 29th of October, 1838, is marked " Variable*' at most of the stations ; at some easterly, and at a few on the north-west course, westerly. The force of the wind in most is marked moderate, or light.

It deserves to be remarked, that by the same reports on the 27th October, it had been blowing strong from the west. If it be admitted that the storm, the course of which was over the north of England, was a rota- tory storm, the left-hand semicircle would pass over Scotland with the wind easterly. But the westerly gale which just previously prevailed, would, as it encountered the easterly storm, tend to neutralize its effect, and perhaps be the cause of variable and fluc- tuating winds. By referring to the reports from Heligoland lighthouse, the same storm appears to have been there on the 29th and 30th of October.

Mediterranean Storms.

Inquiries into the storms of the Mediterranean pos- sess an interest peculiar to themselves, from classical as well as from sacred history. The violent east or Levant winds, in all probability, will be found to be storma

2f2

436 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, coming from the south-west ; and they may sometimes

! also originate to the southward of the Sahara. We

may be enabled to account for the peculiar sensations felt in the Mediterranean during the prevalence of certain winds, and to ascertain the cause of the sirocco. It is stated in different books of sailing directions that the sand of Africa has been observed to be carried ht into the Atlantic by the wind.

Should it be ascertained that the storms of the Mediterranean have a northerly progression, it may be found that they sometimes carry with them impalpable powder from the deserts. When the brig of war Ferret was in the Mediterranean, a few years ago, her commander, Captain Thomas Hastings, collected a fine sand from the shrouds and rigging during a sirocco wind. This fact, and the statement whida follows, will, I trust, induce those who have the oppor- tunity for observation further to investigate into this part of the subject. The following communication is from Dr. Davy : —

" Fort Pitt, Chatham, Dec. 25, 18S8. " The phenomena respecting which yon have applied to ok occurred at Malta on the 15th of May, 18S0. The dost conveyed by a sirocco, or south-easterly wind. On tlie day, and about the same time of the day, a similar dott lidl at Utica, over a considerable portion of Sicily, and in Sardinia; dso accompanied with a south-east wind. I examined two or three different specimens of it collected in Malta, and a small quuitiqr which was brought from Palma Bay, by the late Hon. Sir Robert Spencer, which had fallen on the deck of his ship, the Madagas- car ^ and I found them all agreeing in appearance and chemical composition. In Italy, in many places, the phenomemm was also witnessed. Here it appeared to have occurred a day or two later. The opinion I formed at the time was, that the dust nught have been raised from the desert of Africa by a wkirlwmd, up to a great height, and then be driven and spread over a

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES. 437

•

iurftice. At Malta when it began to fall there was a luU^ the CHAP, violence of the storm having ceased. I could not learn that it ^' had fallen on the decks of any vessels close in on the AMcan shore, or on the African coast. On Etna it is said that the dust fell less abundantly than on lower situations in Sicily. It certainly was not derived from Etna, as was at first supposed. What I have mentioned I believe may be depended on, being given from the notes taken at the time, and to which I have referred.

(Signed) " JOHN DAVY.

" Lieut.-Col. Reid, Royal Engineers."

The Storms of 1838.

The first intelligence of a severe storm on the Ameri- can coast in September, 1838, was brought to England by the Montreal, New York packet, commanded by Captain GriflSng. She left New York on the 13th of September. A violent gale had set in on the 10th, blowing at first from north-east^ ''and, on the wind veering more to the northward^ this ship, with the Sheffield, for Liverpool, slipped away."

According to the theory of storms, these vessels, after putting to sea from New York for England, should have had the wind veering towards west^ and conse- quently for them a fair wind. I have not been able to procure their log-books.

The storm above alluded to, however, has been clearly traced in its course, from the Bahama Islands along the coast of America; and the reports made by the officers in command of the surveying vessels, Thunder and Lark, at the Bahamas, to the Admiralty, are of very great interest. These reports have been printed in detail in "The Nautical Magazine" for January, 1839.

438 BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839.

CHAP. The Thunder, after dragging her anchors amongst

'- — the Bahama Islands, was carried into the Gulf Stream.

Sl^ndl^r^ Falling into the right-hand semicircle of the progressive

round\he storm, with the wind blowing in the same direction as

front of the current of the Gulf Stream set, the Thunder was

the atorm. '

driven along faster than the storm's centre progressed. As the vessel advanced, the wind, by degrees, from being southerly became easterly; and the ship, crossing before the track of the storm's centre, got the wind from north-east. Then the Thunder was driven by the wind in the opposite direction to the storm's coune, until her anchors, which were still dragging, helped to bring her up on the coast of Florida.

This is the explanation given by Mr. Lawrence, mate of H.M. surveying ship Thunder, of the cause for the many changes of the wind experienced on board that ship during this hurricane.

The Bermuda Hurricane of 1839.

The account of a storm, which passed over Bermada on the night of the 11th and morning of the 12diof September, 1839, is placed amongst the stonns of high latitude, because it has been traced from the tropic to Newfoundland, and over the mouth of the River St. Lawrence ; and because there is evidence to show that it still partook of the nature of a revolving storm on reaching the high latitudes, as well as when passing over Bermuda, and when further to the south. In setting in, over Newfoundland, the wind was iomtk^ easterly, veering to south-toest ; whilst at Halifiut it was north-easterly, ending in north-west.

BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839. 439

This storm appears to have originated to the east- chap.

ward of the West Indies, as it was not felt in any '■ —

of the most windward islands. Whilst passing over Bermuda, it was evident that it was at that time moving on in a course nearly north ; for it set in with violence at east-south-east^ and ended at west-south- west.

In proof that the centre passed very near the Ber- mudas, the merchant schooner Jane, coming from the American continent, which had seen the islands the previous night, and hove-to to the westward of them, had the wind during the whole storm northerly. The centre, therefore, must have passed between this vessel and the islands, for in the islands it was southe7^ly.

Northward of Bermuda its course appears to have been a little to the eastward of north, as the annexed plate will show. An abstract only is given from the various ships' reports, to show in what manner the wind was experienced by each, in order not to en- cumber the subject with longer details, most of which have already been printed in the Bermuda news- papers.

" The barqae Euterpe, from London, bound to Antigua, en- cofuntered this hurricane in lat. 20° 36' N., long. 46° 55' W., on the evening of the 8th of September, having studding- sails and royals set at the time. The published log does not state which way the wind blew, but it has the expression, ' in dose-reefed topsails, and furled the courses.* At eight p.m., the storm became a violent hurricane, which laid the ship over on her beam-ends -y so that she was dismasted.

''The French barque La Blayaise, from Cayenne, bound to Bourdeaux, met this storm in about latitude 22°, longitude 58°, and at noon, on the 9th of September, began to feel the effect of

BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839. 441

By referring to the Chart it will be seen that the chap.

storm was upwards of six hundred miles from the —

Bermudas on the 9th of September; yet, at that ^^nll^^the period, a swell had begun to roll on the south side of l^^^ the islands, and to break on the south shore with a loud noise. This indication of a storm in the neigh- bourhood gradually increased until the 11th, when the barometer began to give corroborative warning that a gale was approaching ; and it was also observed that the sea assumed that brown or muddy colour which the inhabitants remark to take place in violent storms. In the afternoon of the 11th, the surf broke against the south side of the island with great gran- deur. The wind blowing very fresh, and somewhat 'unsteady, was generally to the northward of east; but between eight and nine at night the true storm seemed to reach the islands ; for then the wind blew in hard squalls from east-south-east. The barometers continued to descend to 28.3 inches, and the wind to become more southerly y until about five on the morn- ing of the 12th, after which the wind was south. Then the barometers began to rise, and the wind to veer gradually towards west-south-west; and it moderated about one or two in the afternoon.

During the hardest part of the gale, several persons observed remarkable oscillations of the mercury in the tubes of the barometers. i

The following is a copy of the Weekly Report of the weather; a similar Report to which is printed each week in the *' Bermuda Gazette," and afterwards deposited in the Library of the Colonial Office, in London.

442

STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP. IX. Weekly Report of the Weather, from the Central Signal SUtion

at Bermuda, between the 8th and 1 4th September, 18S9»

height above the Sea being 134 feet.

Date.	Direction	Wlnd'0 force.
Sept. 1839.	Hoars. of ! Wind.	Weather.	Bar.	Thar.	i
8th,	Noon' SW	2	b.	30.1	1 1 85. ;	1
9th,	Noon; S 1	3	b.	30.14	85.	Sea bmUng loudlj on aoatk aide.
10th,	Noon' N£ r 1 1 1 1	3	b. ▼.	30.15	85.	Wind Tcered to N b J E at 6 T.M. Lightning in the aouth at 8.26 r.M. Sea breaking load- er on aouth alda. Weather threatea* ■
nth,	1 NoonlSEbyE	1 fi	b. c. n>.	29.95	87.	Threateniag m- pcarance or the weather.
	p.if. 1
	6 jNEbyE	6	m. u.	29.83	85.	Sea roaring on aoQthaido.
8 SE	6	o. u. r.	29.8	84.	Wind Teend lo SB bj B; vary heary zain k light-
						ning.
	11 SEbyS	8	0. 1. r.	29.6	83.
	Midn.; SE	10	0. r.	29.5	82.	A whdla gala at
	A.M. ;					thiahour.
12th,	1 SSE	11	0. r.	29.35	82.	Storm; baicaw ter falling rapidly.
	2 SSE	11 1	0. r. 29. 2 1	82.	Evary anpeaf^ ance oif a aani- cane.
	3 I SSE	12	0. r. 28. 85	81.
	4	SSE	! 12	0. r. 28. 64	81.	Hnznaaneu
	6	SSE	12	r. 28. 3	81.
	7	S	11	r.	28.72	81.	If ore modKala.
	9.45	SW	! 9	m.	29.	81.
'Noon	wsw	1 8 1	T.	29.43	*79.
P.li. 7	WbyS	4	b.	29.9	79.	Quite moderatt; storm right.
13th,	Noon! NW I	1 3 1	b. c. m.	29.94	79.	High sea break- ing at north reet i
14th,	Noon^ NE	i 3	b. :30.14	78.	1
	Midn. E	' 4	c. 1 30. 1	76.	SquaU at 9.40
			1				P.M.

John Mahon^ Sergeant 30th Regiment^

Signal Director.

BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839. 443

By examination of the south coast of the islands, chap.

TX-

the sea was found to have risen fully eleven feet

higher than the usual tides. It carried boats into fields, thirteen feet above the usual high water mark, and removed several rocks, containing by measure- ment twenty cubic feet; some of them bearing evi- dence of having been broken oS from the beds in which they rested by the surge. On the north and leeward side of the island, and within the camber of the dock-yard, the water was observed to rise two feet and a half higher than the ordinary tides.

As the weather became fine at Bermuda, and the hurricane proceeded on its course, the northern reefs of the islands, in their turn, presented a line of white surge from the swell rolled back by the gale.* Vessels, as they arrived from the east or the west, reported that they met the wind in conformity with what appears to be a law of nature in these tempests. Thus, the Jane coming from Baltimore and the westward, had the wind northerly ; whilst the schooner Governor Reid, from England and the eastward, had the wind sautherly.

On the arrival of the brig Lottery at Bermuda, it was ascertained that she was becalmed in latitude ^T" V N., longitude 71° 52'. At the same time that the Vincennes was in the centre of the hurricane, the Lottery experienced a heavy swell.

''The storm reached the schooner Damsel about midnight, between the 11th and l^th, blowing from the • . north-east, and veering to ...>•• • north-west.

"It was six in the morning of the 12th before the storm overtook the Daphne (in latitude 35° SS', longitude 65° 24'), a

* Bee t^e EngrAving of the Bermuda Horrioane of 1889 in the ** Progresi of the Derelopment of the Law of Stonn8»" and the Chapter <* On the Swell raiaed by Storma."

444 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP, schooner^ which had sailed from Bermada for Halifax, on the ^* 10th, at noon. The master. Captain Ingham, states, 'Bnt

for the warning given by the barometer, we mast have been

dismasted.* The wind with the Daphne at 6 a.m. was E.N.E.

and its force marked 6

At noon it was N.E Force 1 1

At 2 p.M N.N.E „ 18

At 4 p.M N. „ 1«

At 6 A.M. 13th Sept. N.W. „ 9

At noon N.W. by W. „ 7

On the morning of the llth, the barometer of the Daphne

stood at 89.95

and from that time it fell with great regularity to 89.1

At 4 P.M., on the 18th, the wind was morik,

and consequently the vessel may be supposed to have been, then,

due west of the centre of the storm.**

Extract from the Log-book of the Brigantine Stamoard, Thomas Blay, Master, from Jamaica, towards Halifax, N.S.

''Wednesday, llth September, 1839. — Commences with light variable airs from north-cast to south-east, and clear sky ^ aD sail set. At 6 a.m., civil time, moderate breezes from north- east, accompanied with light showers of rain, and a very heavy swell from that quarter : latitude by observation 34^ 3'« long, by chron. 66^ 6' at noon. At 8 p.m. strong breezes, the sky to the eastward very dark and gloomy, whilst it remained qaite dear to the westward up to midnight : took in the gaff-topsail and royal, and single-reefed the topsail; light showers of nin occasionally, and a very heavy swell — the wind and aweU atill from north-east. At midnight, strong breezes withoat rain^ the sky to the eastward very gloomy.

"Thursday, 18th September. — Commences with strong breeiea, and dark gloomy sky, the wind blowing steady from north-east. At 6 A.M. it commenced raining, the wind increasing rapidly every instant; so suddenly indeed did the storm comnienee» that we were compelled to clew up and furl every sail set as quick as possible, without stopping to reef; and in one hoar after, I found it necessary to shorten sail — ^we were laying-to under the storm -trysail. At 7h. 30m. a.m. sent down top- p;allant-yard, housed top-gallant-mast and main-topmast. FVom 9 A.M. to nonn it blew tremendously hard in gustx, bnf we had little rain ; lat. at noon, by account, 35® 5' N., long. 67^ 8' W. At I P.M. the 5well appeared to set more from the northward.

BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839. 445

the wind shortly after commenced to back gradually. At 2h. SOm. CHAP. P.M. the wind was at north-north-east j the sky to the north- ^^ ward began to open^ and the wind to moderate. At 4 p.m. wind north, sky clearing fast, wind still moderating, saw a brig scudding to the southward. At midnight, wind north-west, clear sky, wind moderating fast, and sea falling; wore ship, and made sail to the north-east.

"Remarks, — I remark that I have experienced several hurri- canes at sea, and have invariably found, that by observing strict attention to the set of the swell previous to the commencement, and even after, a tolerable correct idea may be formed of the direction the wind is likely to take.

"I particularly noticed this in the last two which I expe- rienced; and on the 2nd Sept, 1838, in a hurricane that com- menced at east-north-east, although the sea when I first hove-to, set from that quarter, I found it afterwards altered its direction, and came from south-east, and for some time before the wind shifted to that point.

''I felt so confident from that circumstance that I should have the hardest of the storm from that quarter, that I continued to lay-to on the starboard tack, well knowing that when the wind shifted I should head the sea much better, and con- sequently the vessel would lay safer.

" In the storm of the 12th September last, although the sky looked much more dismal in the south-east than any other direction, the swell gave no indication of the wind coming from that quarter, as it set constantly from the northward.

" T. W. BLAY."

The Victoria sailed from Bermuda from New York, on the 9th. The storm overtook her when in the position shown in the chart, with the wind blowing at north-east, which caused her to heave-to for six hours.

The Grant, on her voyage from Baltimore, was either beyond its influence, or very nearly so ; for she had no occasion to take in any sail

The mail-boat Margaret had sailed firom Bermuda to Halifax, a few days before the storm. She was overtaken by this gale, and lost her topmast, in . . latitude 37° 30',

longitude 64"" lO'.

The Ariel had the wind from north-east; the Joseph Porter from east-south-east, veering to south and south-west.

BERMUDA HURRICANR, 1839. 447

*' St. John's, Newfoundland. — September 13th, eight a.m., C H A. P. noon. Barometer 29.90. Ten p.m. Barometer 29.67; wind _ south-west; 3. b. c.

"September 14th, six a.m. Barometer 29.64; wind south- west; cloudy. — Ten A.M. Barometer 29-70; wind west; force seven to eight. — Noon. Wind west ; force eight to nine. — ^Three P.M. Barometer 29.90; wind west; force seven. — Seven p.m. Wind west ; force five ; and cleared up.

" Taken from the Register kept by Mr. Templeman, Colonial

Office.

"Alex. Milne."

The following data I received from Mr. Redfield.

" Brig Alfred Taylor. September 13th, latitude 43° 30' N., longitude 62° W., experienced a severe gale from east-south- east to north-north-east.'*

"Ship Echo. September 12th, latitude 43° N., longitude 63° W., experienced a severe gale from north-east, lasting eight hours."

"Ship Lucretia. September (date not given), experienced a most violent hurricane from south-east, shifting rapidly by south-west to north-west; latitude 43° N., longitude 62° W."

" Ship Cosmo. September 13th, latitude 41° 50' N., longitude 62° 3/ W., experienced a severe gale from south-east.**

"Ship Lancashire. September 13th, experienced a hurricane from east; latitude 41° 30' N., longitude 63° W.**

" Ship Emerald. September 13th, latitude 40° 8', longitude 62° 50' W., experienced a severe hurricane from east, veering round by south to west, and west-north-west.**

" Barque Madonna. September 13th, experienced strong gales from north-north-east to north-north-west and north-west; lati- tude 36° 19' N., longitude 71° 26' W."

" Brig Angola. September 13th, experienced heavy gales from north-north-east; latitude 36° N., longitude 68° W.**

" Schooner Ganges. September 10th, experienced a hurricane from east; latitude 29° 15' N., longitude 62° 10' W.**

H. M. ship Andromache, commanded by Captain Baynes, was in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and an extract from this ship's log is here printed in detail.

k

8TOHMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

Extract from the Log of H. M. S. Andbohachk, commuided by Captain Bayaei, 18th Sept. 1839, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

a. &■ F. Counea. Wind*. F. W. Ther. Bu. Sei

September IS, 18(9. A.U. 4. Fine. Single uwluT ID Pu-

8.30.* Shortened ia cabla : mmde lail.

S.45. Weiglied, md i proceeded.

9.30. Set toyti* ; ap

9.30, Trimmed and ' ^ *et •taiboard fbre uid ,«4 mtiit top-galUnt, «nd 't-^ fon-topmutitnddiaf- 1^'* ■■ill. [l . w

Sl*nding oDt of the birbouT.

Obwrrad ■ faerqnt I ilardlnK out of the Baf ' ofChaleur. ;

Running fn>m Mimni.

Lang. W. I Bearing! and Diatance at Noo

NWpaitorMiacou, Bi SO'cff 10^.

P.M. a. Shonmed •ail, and hore-io o£ ihe Oahing eatablialt- , nient, Miacon Poinl ; . ■ent a boat vilh an

with ditto.

2.44. Boat n up ditto; flllad and aadeaail to (heNXE. I

Riuming for Bona-

I 6. Muatered at qiiar> ! ten ; in ieooBd mm d ' lopiaila. i

BERMUDA HURRICANE, 1839. Extract irom the Log of H.M.S. Akdrohachk-

H.	K	F	CouTset.	Wind*.	J	Tbei.	B.,.	Sem.	Remuki.
pa										September 12, 1839. 8. ^CRTly calm.
				C>lm.	0		S9	29.91	30.00
										Bonsventura, W by
										S, 2-07 3'.
										Hoye-tooffdilto.
S				NW Tuiible						9.-30, Up foreaaU, down jib, and hove-to on larboard tack. Standing off and on.
10										lO.lB. Set jib, wore tBck.
11
IS				NE	2				12. Fine, with an
r									tUjOTB boTaatii.
		A.M. At 3, tacked.
i										Standing off and on
a
i										4.BonBvec,tura,Wby S.fi'or6'.
7										6. Set forpiail. 8, PeniS, W S W, 3. Working to wind- ward towazda Cape Ga.p4. 8.20. Taoked; oom-
8							69	29.95	SO. 4
										nmnicaled with a boat
										from the shore; out
										second reeft, aet main-
»										sail, and flying jib.
ID				NNB	6 6		Si	29.90	30.2	10.43. Spoke the barque Pallaa of Cork, troiii dilto. out twenty- reefa of topaaili.
11										11. Tacked. 11.20 ditto; aet top-gaUanu aails. 12. Tacked; in top-
l£				N	7		48	29. SB	29.84
										fallant-aails. Barque
										in company.
Coone.	Dirt.	Ut.N.	Long. W	Bwring* «ad DiitmcM « Nooo.
		■•		~		Flatlslwid, NW. 2'or3'.

449

CHAP.

STORMS IN HIGH LATTrODBS. Extract from the L(^ of ILH.S. Amdeohacbs — raBtimmi.

H. K.	F. CoMMi.	Windi. F	W.	Thet.	Bu.	Bern.	«-*•
P.M.		NbjE
a							C>Hp«; fb^ ■nry
						Ding. At 1.30, Mt tor-gd.
3							IJO. Indhtoiwaffc- msihcn tMkinpmid E&Idai>d,totrr«Di
							«T»dedMcwieu: Sad
							we|«nbutT<fylialt
							oncMhtuk.
6							4. CloM.n«Ad■eM■ ker:i()llIHaIn^.
							S.30. 0«la iaamm.
«							ing; doM-iMlBd tte
						topMibi naU te
			■=				Unuymk, »1 abSek
1 2	6 ENE	N	*•				UWDIMtl.
8 9	4						•uruo*.
	r	49	29.60	29.60	7. Foried tlMMto-
							wU.
							port^to.
9 3							8. 8<t num-tryHL
						9. Down fan-Mf.
10 1	6 upENB off		c				uil. Fulled tpukM.
U I	4 EbyN	N	" q				IQ fbre ud K». MiU:Curiedditt»:i« prerenteilmeMMS*
			,
13 1	4		0	SO	39. £0	29. M	judi. .12. Bmwj mm frt-
							dnenp.
*■[■ 1	EbyN		q				8«pt«BilMr 14.
a 1	NbyW	0 c				A.If. Blowlac k«d St timM in iqwDt.
3 I	upNNE		D
1 1	off			S3	29.70	SB. 80	b^ri^NW.twSl
« 1 S I	NEbyE apNNF						UiebuqaoboUd^ oiDinemilMMitlMC quarUr.
	off		I			7.30. Wok. nd M
7 I	JJEbjE	NW				foiouol.

BERMUDA HURHICANE, 1839. 451

Extxact from the I.og of H. H. S. ANDROUACHS—cotic/wbd. CHAP.

H.	K.F	CouTBoa.	Winds.	F,	W.	Ther.	Bar.	Sem.	Rematka,
9 10 U 13	1 4 i s G i i	WbyS W WbyN	VKiable	10 9 8 7 to	b	63 63	29.84 29.Bfi	29. 8S 30.10	with ft heaTT les. ed fore- topsail. 9. Set ditto. 10.3D. Set out fourth reeli of topsailB and ree&oC course*. Fid- ded topgaUant-BOftats ; croseed the yards. Set close - reefed apan- topmast - Btftysail i in northerly swell; two BsU in Bighl.
Courwi.	DUt.	Lat.N.	Long.W.	Bearinga and Distance at Ntmn.
		••				Cape Ga»p« NNW. Bonaventura W N W fl or 6 leagoea.
10 11 la	3 i	WNW NbyE	N NNE E 8E Variable NNW	4 3 3 2	b b	S2 5S	30.00 30. 10	30.12 30.12	P.M. 1.30. Out se- cond reefc; aet top- gallant-sails; outreefe 3. Set rojaU and Btarbosril top-gallanl- Btuddiug-sails. 4. Out first reefs: Bet Btarboard fore-top- miBt- studding tail. 6. Flat Island bote N W by W three or four degrees. G, Muitered at quar- ters ; obaervod astrong upon Flat Island from the northward, round Cape Oftsp£. 8. Trimmed; in stud - diog-saiis. 9. Neorly calro. Beaiing up the Bay of Gasped 10. Tacked; hove- to, head to the N E off Grand Or^e. 12. Nearly cahn.

452 STORMS IN HIGH LATITUDES.

CHAP. By the journal of Mr. Redfield, at New York, oii

IX y o

__J the 12th of September, the wind was .... sauth-taesi^

but it freshened on the 13th, and became . northerly. The barometer, which had been standing at. . . 30.08, began to rise ; and at ten a.m. of the 14thy

reached 30.48

By the report of a Bermuda vessel, commanded by Captain Whitney, which was to the eastward , and beyond the reach of the storm itself, the wind was southerly.

453

CHAPTER X.

ON MEASURING THE WIND'S FORCE.

The first successful attempt for measuring the force chap. 'and velocity of the wind, that I am aware of, was that ' of the Rev. Dr. Whewell, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, who thus describes it, in a paper printed in the Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society.

A fly (resembling the fly of a revolving ventilator, Whe- or the sails of a windmill) is fixed to the small end of anemo- ft;he vane of a weathercock, so as always to be turned ^srith its circular disk to the wind ; and it consequently ■revolves, by the action of the wind, with a rapidity S.ncreasing as the force of the wind increases. The devolutions of the axis of this fly are converted by a ■irain of toothed wheels and screws into a vertical motion, by which a pencil is carried downwards, touching the surface of a vertical cylinder, the cylin- cier having the axis of the weathercock for its axis. ^s the vertical rod on which the pencil slides is at- toched to the vane of the weathercock, the point of the compass from which the wind blows is recorded on the side of the cylinder on which the mark is made ; ^hile the quantity of the wind is represented by the extent of the descent of the pencil.

One of the diflSiculties which most interfered*with

§

the precision of the observations was that which arose from the wavering of the wind. The weathercock is

454 MEASURING THE WIND's FORCE.

CHAP, in almost constant motion, swinging to and fro through __1J an arc often not less than a quadrant ; and the conse- quence is, that the pencil describes upon the cylinder, not a single line, but a broad path of irr^ular form, made up of the transverse line which the oscillation of the vane occasions. It might at first be supposed that this oscillation arose from the momentum of the vane, and might be remedied by some contrivance which should cause the change of direction of the wind to come into efiect more slowly. But the cause of this oscillation is in reality almost entirely the constant shifting of the wind, as may be seen by examining the motions of the vane ; for it often swings into a nev position, or stands still awhile, before it swings back again.

Whewell's anemometer was erected at Cambridge, Edinburgh, Greenwich, and Plymouth, in 1838. Oaier'8 In the year 1837, another instrument, for the same

meter. purposc, and of very ingenious construction, was ex- plained to the British Association by the inventor, Mr. Follett Osier.

Extract from the Report in the '' Athensum *' for Sept. 16, 1837, of the proceedings of the British Association, at Liverpool.

'' In Mr. Osler*s instrument, the direction of the wind is ob- tained by means of a vane attached to a rod, or rather tabe, tkl carries it; and conseqaently causes the latter to move with itadL At the lower extremity of this tube is a small pinion working ii a rack, which slides backwards and forwards at the wind mow the vane ; and to this rack a pencil is attached, which marks the direction of the wind on a paper ruled with the cardinal poiflli^ and so adjusted as to progress at the rate of half an inch per hour by means of a clock. The force is at the same time ascff- tained by a plate one foot square, placed at right angles with the vane, supported by two light bars nmning on friction -roIkn» .^^ and communicating with a spiral spring in such a way that the »

MEASURING THE WINd's FORCE. 455

plate cannot be aflfected by the wind's pressure without instantly CHAP, acting on this spring, and communicating the quantum of its ^' action by a light wire passing down the centre of the tube to another pencil below it, which thus registers the degree of force.

'* The rain is registered at the same time, by its weight acting on a balance, which moves in proportion to the quantity fallings and has also a pencil attached to it recording the result. The receiver is so arranged as to discharge every quarter of an inch that falls, when the pencil again returns to zero.'*

It is sufficient to supply the instrument once in twenty-four hours with a sheet of paper ruled to the proper form.

In order to render the observations recorded by his anemometer and rain-gauge as generally useful and available as possible, Mr. Osier has adopted a plan for giving a condensed and comprehensive view of the records obtained.

Having been much struck with the manner in which this anemometer records the squalls, writing their force at the same time that it gives the veering of the wind, and the quantity of rain that falls, showing also the precise time of their occurrence, Mr. Osier has done See plate me the favour to copy a portion of his condensed to page registers (which is here engraved and annexed) for fourteen days in the month of February, 1837, made by collecting and condensing the work of the instru- ment, and adding to it the heights of the barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer; so that we see at a glance six simultaneous comparisons. It is divided into days, and the days into hours.

The upper portion records the rain which has fallen, and the hour at which each portion fell. Thus the first fall of rain commenced on the 10th of February, at h past 4 P.M., and ceased at a i before 6 the same

456 MEASURING THE WINDS FORCE.

CHAP, afternoon. The next portion, amounting to '52 of an ^' inch, began the following day at 6 a.m., and ended at 11 A.M. The rate at which these descended was regular, but the rest marked on the regbter fell at various rates; sometimes very rapidly, and then almost ceasing, as the different inclinations of the line indicate.

The next division of the table gives the variations in the current of the wind, together with its degree of force. These observations are condensed from the registers of the anemometers, thus: — The course as recorded is not a definite line, owing to the oscillations of the vane, produced by the waves or pulses of the wind, already referred to in the extract from Professor WhewelFs paper : the mean, however, of these oscilla- tions gives the absolute direction, and this is the line transferred to the table. — See the dark line, a.ajl.

On this line, as a base, is drawn the force of the wind at the time, represented by lines perpendicular to it, and varying in length according to the pressure ; thus showing the force and direction of the wind on the same division of the paper. The bars which cross the perpendicular lines, and run parallel with the direction line, denote each 1 lb. pressure on the square foot. Thus, on the morning of the 10th of February, the wind was south by west, with a pressure of 2 lbs. on the square foot ; and between five and six in the afternoon it veered to about south-west, and increased in strength to a gale, with 6 lbs. pressure on the square foot : then the wind began to abate, declining in pressure to what it was before.

On the 11th of February the force of the wind was only 1 lb. on the square foot ; and the register shows it

MEASURING THE WINd's FORCE. 457

backing to the south-east. By referring to the portion o H a p. showing the register of the barometer, we find it de- ' scending until it comes to 28*50; and we find by the register of the thermometer and hygrometer that the air was saturated with moisture. The line which denotes the direction of the wind shows that it veered from south-east to souths and then to west ; and as it veered it blew a gale of 9 lbs. pressure to the square foot; The rain registered just above this is the heavy rain alluded to before.

The state of the barometer is taken at 9 a.m. and 3 P.M. daily. The daily maximum and minimum temperatures are denoted by two black lines, and the temperature at 9 a.m. by a dotted line. The dew- point, taken at the same hour, is marked by an arrow head.

These fourteen days were selected by Mr. Osier as strikingly illustrative of the extraordinary meteorologi- cal changes which accompany squally weather.

A gale in the south of England, which blew down trees, and broke the chain-pier at Brighton, on the 29th of November, 1836, approached in violence almost to a hurricane. Mr. Osier's anemometer had then been set up at Birmingham ; and it has recorded the wind on that occasion as blowing with a force equal to the pressure of 1 U lbs. on the square foot. A squall the day before, which lasted but a few minutes, yet did much damage, blew with a pressure equal to 17 lbs. on the square foot; the wind veering at the time from south-west towards south, and '10 of an inch of rain fell at the same moment.

Mr, Osier informed me, that, being desirous practi- cally to ascertain the force exerted by the wind at

458

CHA.P X.

MEASURING THE WINDS FORCE.

various velocities, be made a few ezperimentB for that purpose while travelling on a calm day on a railroad. No very great degree of accuracy was at* tempted; but, as far as the experiments went, they fully corroborated the tables published many yean ago by Dr. Lind, of Edinburgh, of which the followii^ is a copy : —

Scale of Pressure on One Square Foot.

Pressure on one square foot in lbs. AToirdupoit.	Miles per hour.	Feet per seooad.	ObMmrtionB.
•005	1	1-47	Hardly peroaptibl*.
•020 •044	2 3	2-98 4-40	Just peroeptiblft.
•079 •123	4 6	5-87 7-83	Gentle, pleasant wind.
•492 1-107	10 15	14-67 22*00	Pleaiant gale.
1^968	20	29-34	Brisk gale.
3^076	25	36-67	Verj bosk gale.
4-429	30	44 01	Stonn.
6-027	35	51-34	Great stoou
7-873	40	58-68	Tempest.
9-963	45	66-01	Violent iMvert.
12 •SOO	50	73-35	Hurricane.
17-716	60	88-02	)
31 -490	80	117-36	> Most Tidlent hnnieaae.
49-002	100	146*07	)

Since the first edition of this work was published Mr. Osler^s anemometer has been placed at sereral places in India as well as in Europe.

A measure of the wind's force, as r^aids its strength, to be inserted in the log-books of shipa, pro- posed by the hydrographer to the Admiralty, Cap- tain Beaufort, is now ordered by the Admiralty to be adopted in the Royal Navy. The concise mode of inserting this measure, as well as the descriptian <^ the weather, first adopted at Greenwich Observatory, fe so great an im])rovement, that it is annexed; in the

MEASURING THE WINd's FORCE. 459

hope that, when generally known, it will be used both chap.

in ships at sea, and for recording the winds's force on

land.

Figures to denote the Force of the Wind,

0 denotes Calm.

1 „ Light air ... . just sufficient to give . .. Steerage-way.

2 ,, Light Breeze. . /^^ ^^i^h a well-con- \ i to 2 knots.

^ I ditioned man-of- war, i

3 „ Gientle Breeze . < under aU sail, and > 3 to 4 knots. . -r* f cleanfull,wouldgoinl

4 „ Moder* Breeze \ smooth water, from / 5 to o knots.

5 „ Fresh Breeze ."I T Royals, &c. Strong Breeze I Single-reefs and

I I top-gallant-sails.

Moderate Gale I in which the same ship I Donble-reefs, jib,

y could just carry closer „ _ , _ . I hauled ' &c.

Triple-reef,coar8es,

6 »

7 ..

8 ,i Fresh Gale . . .

9 >, Strong Gale . .

&c. Close-reeft & courses.

( -v 1.. V V ,, (Close-reefed main-

10 „ Whole Gale. . "^^^ly^, .'^.^. ^^'^^^ topsail and reefed

V \ foresail.

11.. storm {-*-Si.fedt.:?r!')Stonn-8tay8aa8.

1 2 ,> Hurricane. ... to which she could show No canvas.

If the above mode of expression were adopted, the state of the wind, as well as its direction, might be regularly marked, every hour, in a narrow column on the log-board.

Letters to denote the State of the Weather.

h	denotes	Blue sky j whether with clear or hazy atmosphere
c	>»	Cloudy; t.e., detached opening clouds.
d	99	Drizzling rain.
f	99	Fog— f Thick fog.
g	«>	• Gloomy dark weather.
h	99	Hail.
1	99	Lightning.
ni	>y	Misty or hazy — so as to interrupt the view.

460 MEASURING THE WIND's FORCE.

CHAP, o denotes Overcast — Le,, the whole sky covered with one ^- impervious cloud.

p ,, Passing showers.

q „ Squally.

r ,» Rain — i.e., continuous rain.

S „ Snow.

t » Thunder.

u >» Ugly threatening appearance in the weather.

V 9, Visibility of distant objects, whether the iky be

cloudy or not.

w n Wet dew.

„ Under any letter denotes an extraordinary degree.

By the combination of these letters, all the ordinary pheno- mena of the weather may be recorded with certainty and brevity.

EXAMPLES.

b c m — Blue sky, with detached opening clouds, but hazy round the horizon.

g V — Gloomy dark weather, but distant objects remarkably visible.

q p d 1 1 — Very hard squalls, and showers of drizzle, accom- panied by lightning with very heavy thunder.

461

CHAPTER XL

ON WATERSPOUTS AND THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS ; AND ON THE FALL OF FISHES ON LAND.

On Waterspouts and the Smaller Whirlwinds.

Of the different atmospheric phenomena, none are chap. more curious than waterspouts. That they cause ^' small whirlwinds there seems no reason to doubt ; but I regard them as phenomena of a different nature from the great extended storm. Since the first edition of this work was published it has been found that the waterspout, or whirlpillar, does not revolve always in the same direction.

That which renders the waterspout remarkable is the circumstance of a double cone being formed when the phenomenon is complete, one cone pointing down- wards from a cloud, whilst another points upwards from the sea. The thin semi-transparent columns, which stalk, as it were, on the surface of the ocean in calm weather, though no cloud is to be seen above them, as well as the small agitated circles, which are only seen by their marking the smooth surface of the sea in their gyrations, may probably have the same origin as the waterspout. One of these circles, which appeared too insignificant to do harm, afler performing many g3rrations near a ship commanded by Captain Marquis, on the coast of Malabar, suddenly approached

s ■

462 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, her, as she lay becalmed, with her saik loose, and,

XI

_ _J passing across her bows, carried off the flying-jib and

jib-boom into the air, higher than the mast-head. 1 have myself witnessed these semi-transparent columns, within the tropics, without being able to decide which way they turned round ; and the spiral fonn in which they are said to revolve may be the reason.

Captain The following account I received from Captain

l^^!^*' Beechey, R.N. :—

spouts.

" While we were off Clermont Tonnerre we had a uurrow

escape from a waterspout of more than ordinary lixe. It ap- proached us amidst heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, and wai not seen until it was very near to the ship. As soon aa we were within its influence, a gust of wind obliged us to take in every sail ', and the topsails, which could not be furled in time, in danger of splitting. The wind blew with great violence, mentarily changing its direction, as if it were sweeping roond in short spirals : the rain, which fell in torrents, waa alao prcdpi* tated in curves, with short intervals of cessation. Amidat tins thick shower the waterspout was discovered, extending in a tapering form, from a dense stratum of cloud to within thirty feet of the water, where it was hid by the foam of the aea being whirled upwards by a tremendous g3nration. It changed its direction after it was first seen, and threatenled to paas over the ship ; but, being diverted from its course by i heavy goat ot wind. it gradually receded. On the dispersion of this magnificent phe- nomenon we observed the column to diminish gradually, and at length to retire to the cloud from whence it had deaceoded, in nn undulating form.

" Various causes have been assigned for theae fonnatioiia which appear to be intimately connected with electricity. On the present occasion a ball of fire was observed to be precifntated into the sea, and one of the boats, which was away from the ship» was so surrounded by lightning, that Lient. Belcher thought it advisable to get rid of the anchor by hanging it some fathoaM under water, and to cover the seamen's muskets. From the accounts of this officer and Mr. Smyth, who were at a distance from the ship, the column of the waterspout first descended in a spiral form, until it met the ascending colomn a short diatanoe

THE. SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 463

from the sea: a second and a third were afterwards formed, CHAP, which subsequently united into one large column, and this again ^* separated into three small spirals, and then dispersed. It is not impossible that the highly rarefied air, confined by the woods encircling the Lagoon Islands, may contribute to the formation of these phenomena.

" Neither the barometer nor sympiesometer were sensibly a£fected by this partial disturbance of the atmosphere 3 but the temperature underwent a change of eight degrees, falling from 82° to 74°: at midnight it rose to 78°. On the day succeedmg this occurrence several waterspouts were seen at a distance, the weather being squally and gloomy.**

Clermont Tonnerre is in south latitude, and is one of the group of islands called " Dangerous Archipelago," about lat. 19° S., long. 137° W.

Having applied to Captain Beechey, in the hope that he might be able to explain in which way the gyrations of wind which accompanied this waterspout revolved, I received from him the following expla- nation : —

'' The g3nrations were in a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch : if it had been otherwise the ship would have changed her tack, whereas she only broke off. She was on the starboard tack, and the waterspout came down upon the weather- beam, {md passed under the stem. At first the ship broke round off seven or eight points, and afterwards kept coming up and breaking off, as the gusts of wind varied their direction ; but the wind continued on the starboard side the whole time, and the ship did not alter her position more than a quarter of the circle. It was quite dear, from the peculiar manner in which the rain (if such large drops can be so designated) fell, that we were within the vortex of the spout, and that the gusts which laid the vessel on her side were part of the phenomenon, and consequently that the gyration must have been as I have stated. I have observed many waterspouts between the tropics, but, with the exception of that off Clermont Tonnerre, never noticed the direction in which they turned, and regret that the subject was never before mentioned to me, as I have had many opportunities of determining the fact.

464

CHAP.

OK WATERSPOUTS AND Diagram to explain theforegoiny Rtmarkt.

Tbe arrviM denote til* dilectionof thewind.

The dotted ffromd-plan, the thip broken off htz eomM.

" As it appears to me that any observations npon thi* extra- ordinary phenomenon will be intereating, I extnct from my journal a few lines, which I wrote when T last craned the equator : —

" "The day had been very sultry, and in the afternoon ■ long arch of heavy cumuli and nimbi rose slowly above the southern horizon : while watching its movement, a waterapont b^an to form at a spot on the under side of the arch, that wai darker than the rest of the line. A thin cone (Sketcb No. 1)

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 465

first q>peared, which gradnally became elongated, and wu CHAP. shortly joined with Bcveral others, which went on increasing in ^■ loigth and balk until the columns had reached about half down to the horizon. They here united and formed one immense dark-coloured tube. The sea beneath had been hitherto undis- turbed ; but when the columns united it became perceptibly agitated, and almost immediately became whirled in the air with a rapid gyration, and formed a vast basin, from the centre of

which the gradually- lengthening column seemed to dnnk fresh nippIieB of water (Sketch No. 2). The column had extended about two-thirds of the way toward the sea and nearly con

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 467

Newcastle; and the circumstance was mentioned to the chap

XI.

Admiral, by Captain Cochrane, on their arrival at St. '• —

Helena, as a curious coincidence, viz., the Orontes being carried forward, whilst the waterspouts were a-head of her.

Observations on a' Whirlwind or Waterspout in my passage from Demerara to Barbados, on the 24th August, 1836, in lat. 9° N., and long. 58° W.

"Hamilton, 19th July, 1839. — The early part of the day was sultry and calm, with occasional heavy squalls of rain and wind, such as are common at that season of the year in tropical climates. At about two o*clock in the afternoon (a gentle breeze having sprung up) we observed a waterspout to windward of us. Phenomena of that description being very common in this quarter, it excited no particular attention, until it was seen ap- proaching the vessel with considerable velocity, and in a direction so likely to come in contact with her, that it became necessary to clew up all sail and put the vessel before the wind, in order that, sailing in a line parallel with the line of motion of the meteor, we might keep out of the range of its gyration. We were obliged to continue in company with it in this way for twenty minutes or half an hour 3 and I had an opportunity of satisfying myself that its progressive motion was in the direction, and of course with the velocity, of the general current of air, and that its rotatory motion, supposing the point of commencement to be the east, revolved towards the south. The water was raised up like water boiling in a pot to the height of two feet or more 3 and the spray, by the centrifugal action, to a much greater altitude. I would also remark that, although when at a distance the conical spiral-shaped cloud, indicating the existence of waterspouts, was perfectly apparent, yet on the approach of the meteor it entirely disappeared ; nor did it again show itself after passing to leeward of us.

(Signed) " W. BURGESS.

"To Lieutenant- Colonel Reid.

" P.S. The waterspout, when at its nearest point to us, must have been within a hundred yards, and I judged it to have a diameter of about twenty to thirty feet."

2h2

k.

468 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP. The moving pillars of sand described by Bruce as

_ ' . having been seen in Nubia, though the account may

Moying \yQ familiar to many, is here reprinted, because these

columns of •' ' *^ '

sand. moving pillars probably originated from the same cause, whatever that may be.

" On the 14th of November, at 7 in the morning, we left Asm Nagga, our coarse being due north; at 1 o'clock we alighted among acacia trees at Waadi el Halboub, having gone twenty- one miles. We were here at once surprised and terrified, by truly one of the most magnificent sights in the world. In that vast expanse of desert, from west and to north-west of as, we saw a large number of pillars of sand at different distances, at timet moving with great celerity, at others stalking on with a majestic slowness; at intervals we thought they were coming in a ^-ery few minutes to overwhelm us -, and small quantities of sand did actually more than once reach us. Again they would retreat, so as to be almost out of sight, their tops reaching to the very clouds. Then the tops often separated from the bodies; and these once disjoined, dispersed in the air, and did not appear more. Sometimes they were broken near the middle, as if struck with a large cannon shot. About noon they b^;an to advance with considerable swiftness upon us, the wind being very strong at north. Eleven of them ranged alongside of nt, about the distance of three miles. The greatest diameter of the largest appeared to me, at that distance, as if it would meaauie ten feet. They retired from us with a wind at soath-east, leaving an impression upon my mind to which I can give no name, though surely one ingredient in it was fear, and a con- siderable deal of wonder and astonishment. It was in vaia to think of flying: the swiftest horse, or fastest sailing ship, would have been of no use to have carried us out of the danger.

'* 15th Nov. At 7 A.M. we left Waadi Dimokea. The same appearance of moving pillars of sand presented themselves to us this day, in form and disposition like those we had seen at \Va.idi el llalboub. only they seemed to be more in number and los^t in si/e."

riu^' inovinii: pillars of sand are not confined to \l'ur;i rhov may he seen in every quarter of tlie

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 469

globe. They are thus alluded to by Captain Lyons, chap.

in his work, entitled " Residence and Tour of the ! —

Republic of Mexico," p. 196: —

'' From San Lois Potosi to Zalatecas. — Our whole journey on this day was over an excellent, though dusty road, through a desert, only enlivened by the numerous spiral whirlwinds, which half buried us at times beneath the cloud they created.**

Page 157, "Journey in Protillas": —

" In three leagues over a stony road, we reached the Raneo del Tejou, and passed on to a plain, on which the number of whirl- winds was quite extraordinary. We had repeatedly seen a few of them ; but on this day they appeared to have assumed a new form, raising the dust to a height of 200 or 300 feet in straight o^umns, which preserved their perpendicularity and moved but slowly over the plain, while many continued to turn rapidly on their axis, without any perceptible progressive motion.**

The same phenomenon is constantly observed in India: and the following extract is descriptive of some small whirlwinds seen at Deesa. These whirl- winds are usually termed ** Devils " in India.

Extract from a letter from Lieutenant Fyers, 40th regiment, dated Deesa. Bombay Presidency, 1838.

''The sand is so loose here in many parts, that the Devils take it up to a great height, and in such quantities that it has almost the appearance of an immense pillar of about eighteen feet in diameter, and some hundred in altitude; this goes travel- ling along in no very straight course. When it comes to any loose bushes cut for hedges, it takes and twirls them up, a good number of feet, like a corkscrew. Up high, the pillar loses itself in a cloud of sand, which is carried along by the current of air, but which appears to have lost the revolving power.

(Signed) "WILLIAM FYERS."

The sudden storm -which sunk the steam-boat Tigris on the River Euphrates, on the 21st May,

470 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP. 1836, in some respect l>ears a resemblance to the ' waterspout and the moving columns of sand just

described.

A memorandum, written by Mr. Ainsworth, who kept the meteorological journal of the expedition, states, —

" It was a fine afternoon, only a few clouds, cuiiralo and cirro-strati, in the horizon ; a light breeze from the east-norUn east; the sun about two hours past the meridian, when a dense black cloud was first observed moving across the wildemcsi from the west-south-west, and in the teeth of the wind. As it approached, it was found to consist, in its base, of red-colourrd masses of dust, which succeeded one another rapidly, breasting the wind in their onward progress, and rising till theg were re- ceived into the bo9om of an overhanging cloud, from wkiek tkem columns of dust were again precipitated with great fares umi rtjridiig, accompanied with a violent rain.

" During the storm the barometer fell upwards of two-tenths of an inch, which is a very large amount in a climate where the average diurnal oscillation did not at that time amount to

05 . Immediately after the storm had passed by, the

weather resumed its previous tranquillity; nimbi, or large clouds in the horizon.

(Signed) "W. AINSWORTH."

A written account by Captain Lynch states, —

" Light blue clouds, with sheet lightning, had been observed above the western and west-north-western horizon, between the hours of noon and three p.m., for two days previooa to the storm. On the 21st, a little after noon, the clouds in the wesC- north-west assumed a dense appearance, and the breeze that had blown lightly from the northward, a little westerly, daring the morning, drew gradually round to that point, and freshened about one p.m. sufficiently to induce the officer on deck to fori the awnings of the Tigris; ere this operation (the work of a few minutes) was performed, the clouds were drawn down in contact with the horizon, inducing the commander of the Tigris to wars Colonel Chcsney, who happened to be on board, of the proba- bility of a squall; and endeavoured to make both vessels (the Euphratosi was in company) fast to the bank during its expected

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 471

passage. Almost as soon as the cloud toacbed the horizon, a CHAP.

point of it a little to the left of its centre, as seen from us, was ^*

disturbed and enlightened, until cracked by fine white lines,

which I recollect remarking at the time resembled a lace veil

thrown against the cloud ; this advanced rapidly, preceded by

numerous little whirlwinds, gyrating contrary to ' the direction of

the hands of a watch.* The gyrations of the main shaft could

not be seen, even if my attention had been drawn to it, as the

clouds of sand that preceded it rendered its motions invisible.

About three minutes after the appearance of the veil, the vessel

was unable, from the force of the wind, to keep her head to it

with full force of steam, and in another she was whirling in

it, contrary to 'the direction of the hands of a watch.' A

minute of noise and horror, in which sand sparks (probably

from the galley) and large drops from the clouds, were soon

mingled with foam and wreck from the river, and the Tigris went

down in silence — head south, or right down the river ^ having

gone round by the westward, or against the storm point. Her

head being north-westward, the wind on her larboard bow.

Head westward, wind on the starboard bow. South-westward,

on the starboard beam -, larboard side under water. South,

wind on starboard quarter as she sunk.

(Signed) " H. BLOSSE LYNCH."

Having read an account in the " Times " newspaper of whirlwinds (similar to those so often described by Mr. Luke Howard), as having been seen near Lincoln, as well as Manchester, on the same day, I wrote to the persons named in the paragraph.

The answers which have been received deserve attention, and are inserted, as well as the paragraphs which led to the inquiry.

"Effect of a Whirlwind. — ^That phenomenon, which is known by this familiar name, was witnessed with great atten- tion, and no small cause of apprehension, on Wednesday last, by Mr. John Prestwood, of Branston, near this city, whose minute description we state almost in his own words. About a quarter before 3, just preceding the storm, a whirl of air was

472 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP. 9eeu to approach from the east, and to become a vast cdiimn ^I- about 80 yards in height, and as hirge round as a hay-stack that should have about^l5 tons of hay in it. It approached the field slowly where Mr. Prestwood and his men were hay-making, and took up the hay in a spiral ascent to a vast height, carrying it to a great distance, going off across the adjoining fidds. In about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour another great tornado was seen to approach out of the same quarter, proceeding in the same route as the other ; but it took across a fallow piece, about 60 yards from Prestwood*s house. It made a turn to the rig^t, and then along the fallow field; there then occurred a sight most wonderful, for it tore up the earth, and raised it to a great height in a black mass that seemed to be full of fire, with thun- der and lightning out of the midst of it; the noise and cradding were hideous and appalling. It missed the house by a lew yards -, and Prestwood believes that if it had passed over it the whole would have been carried away. The comer of an ooi- house, and nearly a ton weight of newly-cut thorns, were taken along with it and scattered in all directions. It did not go ftstcr than a horse could keep up with it. Its course then went whirling and curving towards Canwick. The cattle that beheld it fled about in order to avoid the danger ; and such was its force, that anything that lay in its way must have been destro3red.*' — Limeolm Gmsette, ''Extraordinary Whirlwind. — About 12 o'clock at noon, on Wednesday, a very extraordinary whirlwind took place at Hopwood, about one mile from Middleton, in a field at Hig^ber- fold, belonging to Mr. Joseph Howarth, a feurmer. A large oak tree was torn up by the roots, another was blown down in Hop- wood Clough, and boughs torn from off trees were seen Hying in the air for nearly ^ve minutes. The spouts from two in Blomerly Clough, and the slating from an engine-honae were torn off. The men in Hopwood Clough Colliery, upwaids of 300 yards under ground, were seriously alarmed, deacrihing the noise to be the same as if an engine had burst : people far the distance of a mile and upwards could hear it. What makes the affair more strange is, that the breadth the whirlwind took was only about ^0 yards. A man*s pair of breeches were carried off the coal-hill at Hopwood Colliery, and found in a sheep pas- ture about 400 yards off. There was not much rain, but there were many brilliant flashes of lightning and heavy claps of thunder during the afternoon.*' — Manchester GnardiaH,

(Fn)m the Times of July II, 1838.)

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 473

Mr. Prestwood having: carried the letter he received chap.

XI,

from me to the editor of the " Lincoln Ghtzette,'* the '- —

following is the additional declaration taken down by the editor ; and in recording which, he stated he was desirous of being exact.

. " Lincoln, 12th Jnly, 1838. " According to John Prestwood*8 declaration, and that of his wife, and Dennis Brodwell, their man-servant, the fint colomn was not seen to revolve on its own centre. It might do so -, hut that escaped their observation. It went something like ' a rush- ing wind, a tearing wind;* but would not say it turned round as a top does when it is set spinning. The second was seen dis- tinctly to whirl round in that manner, and in the direction that the hands of a watch go.

''The first was seen ^ before 3 in the afternoon. It came from out of the east, inclined southward in curves, following the sun then to westward, and must have been inclining towards the northward afterwards. Canwick is four miles north-west from Branston. Both places are south-east from the city of Lincoln a few miles. — (See Ordnance map.) The first column, after passing Prestwood's, was (according to hearsay) seen at Canwick fields (still inclining to iiorM-west), and went over a farmer's yard near the spot called Sweepwash in the map. In the two fields off this point, a ball of fire was seen to fall by three men, and it made a great hole, the stony soil being scattered around as if a large cart-load had been cast out in all directions. This was caused, it is supposed, by the first column. This column then made a detour more northward across the river Witham, which it momentarily dried for 50 to 100 yards, and made great devastation on the opposite side to where Prestwood first saw it, at Greetwell especially.

'' There was much lightning in all directions at the time this was occurring, and heavy rain followed, with much hail of large size } but no water was seen in the columns, and he does not suppose they contained any. ' They seemed to be full of thunder, lightning, and earth, all mixed together.*

(Signed) "E. B. DRURY.

''Gazette Office, Lincoln."

k

THE SMALLER WHIRLWINDS. 475

A record of the state of the weather, and of meteoro- chap.

XI.

logical phenomeDa, is now ordered to be kept at the '• —

central signal station in the Bermuda Islands ; and weekly reports from this record are to be published in the " Bermuda Royal Gazette." The following is an extract from one of these reports.

Report relative to a Waterspout, seen from Fort George, Bermuda,

May 13tb, 1839. I observed on the morning of the 17th alt., aboat six a.m., a waterspout, bearing from Fort George south-west. When first seen it appeared very small, and travelled in aa easterly direction 3 when bearing south-east it vanished for a minute or two : when it was again seen it gradually became larger, and was of a pale red colour, although the sun was not shining. It was about twelve miles distant from the land, and it lasted for fifteen minutes. I am unable to state which direction it turned round.

(Signed) " LUKE HEDDERLEY,

" Sergeant 30th Regiment, S. Director.'*

(Bermuda Royal Gazette,)

On the 15th of August, 1839, I had an oppor- ^^^^ tunity of observins: the mode of revolvinc: of a water- voMng in

^ ^ ° different

spout. It formed under Government-House at Ber- ways. muda, which stands about 130 feet above the level of the sea.

A heavy cloud, from which rain was falling, and from which the waterspout projected, moved slowly towards the shore, and to within 1000 yards of the spectators, who were to the southward of it. The mode of revolving could not be ascertained by the naked eye ; but on looking down through a telescope upon the lower part of the phenomenon, it appeared like a cylinder formed of spray from the sea. The height

476 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, seemed about fifteen feet. On the south side, nearest

"VT

_ ' J the spectators, the spray was seen distinctly to fly

from the right hand towards the left with somewhat of a spiral motion : whilst over the top of it a small portion of the opposite side was seen returning from the left hand towards the right, completing the revo- lution in the same manner as the hands of a watch revolve. The upper part was alternately condensed into visible vapour, and re-dissolved in a remarkably sudden manner several times. Whibt contemplating this phenomenon, it was not easy to refuse belief that it owed its origin to some fixed cause.

I am indebted to Mr. Walker, the Queen's Harbour Master at Plymouth, for an account of a waterspout he sailed through in the Bay of Naples ; which, by his statement, revolved in a contrary way to the one just described. Mr. Walker says, '^ I have been tlirough a waterspout in the Bay of Naples, and can safely state that its rotations were not in aocoidinoe with the law we have been discussing — namely, on its south side the wind was westerly ^ and on its north side easterly J^

On the 28tli of August, 1839, 1 witnessed another at Bermuda, which likewise seemed to revolve in the contrary direction to the hands of a watch ; but it was not sufiiciently developed, and was too distant to be certain of the fact, though attentively watched with a telescoj)C.

On the Fall of Fishes upon Land.

Minute The description of waterspouts carrying up the

to tail water of the sea iuto the air, together with the re- rain, ported rains of salt water during hurricanes, led me

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 477

to inquire into the singular accounts of minute fish chap. being seen in India on the land, both alive and dead, '

after heavy rain, and which are there believed by most persons to fall from the clouds. I thought it possible, since whirlwinds on land carry up branches of trees, and whirlwinds at sea carry up the water of the ocean, such phenomena might have the power of raising pools of water, and all small bodies floating in them. This inquiry led to a very curious paper being written on the subject by Captain W. C. Grant, of the Bombay Engineers, and which will be found subjmned ; and it will be found that Captain Grant also alludes to the moving pillars of sand.

He had never, however, observed which way these small whirlwinds revolved.

This singular fact of fish being found on the land in India after rain, which is discredited only by those who have not inquired, deserves more close investi- gation than it has yet received.

I annex the reports I have met with ; and if they do not altogether confirm the opinion alluded to above — that fish are carried into the air by the smaller whirlwinds — they will at least, I trust, awaken a desire for further and more attentive inquiry.

I am indebted to Mr. Murray, of Albemarle Street, London, for the following notes by Mr. Yarrell.

Descent of Fishes frmn the Clouds.

Extracts from a Letter to William Peete, Esq., F.L.S., giving an account of a shower of Fishes in India 5 with some additional remarks by Mr. Peete.

'' The fish (a species of Cjrprinus, 2\ inches long) was copied from a drawing taken by Mrs. Smith, at Monadabad, July 2^h, 1899> who speaks of this fish as being one amongst a number

k

478 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, that came from the doads in a shower of rain» and was pretented ^- to her with many others.

" (The drawing was made hy that lady immediately, and coloured from life in every respect, with the exact size of the fish in length and breadth.

''The drawing represents a small species of Cypruras^ 9| inches in length, green above, silvery white below, with a broad lateral line of bright red.)

" Mrs. Smith, in a letter from Silpot, in Bengal, when re- siding there, July dOth, 1836, thus speaks of a similar eztnor- dinary event : — ' Have you not heard of its raining fish in India ? I can assure you that our men went out and picked them up, during a tremendous storm, on the gprass. I saw tliem myself from the window, leaping about, and the men taking them np. Is it possible the violence of the storm may Ibroe them oat of the river, or may they be drawn up by the ascent of the loam or vapour, and fall down in the rain ? but that many were springing about on the grass, is most true. They were small ; the largest I saw was about the size of a small gudgeon.*

" The following lately appeared in a newspaper.

" ' Shower of Young Herrings. — On the 9th of llarch, 1830, the inhabitants of the Island of Ula, Argyleshire, after a day of heavy rain, were surprised to find numbers of small herrings strewed over their fields, perfectly fresh, and some of them exhibiting signs of life. Similar instances of showers of small fish are well authenticated.*

" In ' Hasted's History of Kent,* vol. v., page 3, 8vo edition, is the following. 'About Easter, in the year 1666, a pasture fidd in the parish of Stansted, which is a considerable distance Iran the sea or any branch of it, and a place where there are no fish ponds, in quantity about a bushel, supposed to have been rained down from a cloud, there having been at that time a great tern* pest of thunder, hail, wind, &c. These fish were about the si» of a man*s little finger, some were small whitings, others like sprats, and some smaller like smelts. Several of these fish were shown publicly at Maidstone and Dartford.*

" In a letter from Dr. Latham, he observed, that the circum- stance of the shower of fishes is no doubt a fact as recorded ia Hasted. I referred, too, to the ' Philosophical Transactions^' vol. XX., page ^89, where it is said to have happened at Stansted' I find in this volume of mine a MS. note, dated 1720, by the Rev. Mr. Barrel, which says, that an old sen^ant of his, named

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 479

William Martin, mentioned to him, that, when a boy, he lived CHAP, with his father near where the fish fell, and saw the storm of ^' hail and rain which preceded, and took up several of the fishes.

'' Colonel Sykes tells me, that in ' Harriot's Struggles through Life,* there is an account of a shower of fishes that fell in India : the storm overtook some troops on their march, and the living fish fell on the hats of the men.

(Signed) "WILLIAM YARRELL.

" Forwarded with a note."

The next statement was given me by Mr. Buckley, with whom I made a voyage : —

''On March 30th, 1836, at 4 a.m., heing in the brig Matilda, of St. John, N.B., off the Bay of Naples, the Island of Ischia bearing east, distant ten leagues. It blowing hard north-west, and thick weather, I observed a very curious appearance in the north-west. It appeared columnar, and -like a lighthouse enveloped in a white blaze of fire, and continued so for fifteen or twenty minutes, and then disappeared. Immediately after the wind fell to a moderate breeze, and cleared up, when we had a fine pleasant day.

(Signed) "JAS. BUCKLEY,

" Mate of the barque Barlow.**

For the following I am indebted to Mr. Redfield: —

Phenomena. — "Recently we have seen accounts of a shower of mud at Buenos Ayres; a shower of chalk at Bennington, Vt. ; \ ..w^ cv^- and a shower offish at Baton Rouge, La.'* — American Newspaper, Xt ^/ ^o^^^ 1833.

u

Louisville, Kentucky. Yesterday morning a great number of small fish were found swimming in the gutters on Jefferson-street. During the night previous a heavy rain fell, and the fish of course descended with the water. We saw a number of them — they were from two to three inches long, and mostly sun perch.** — Louisville Newspaper, Nov. 1835.

The Staunton, Va., Spectator, of the 24th ult. says, " During a storm last week (June, 1833), a gentleman of this place, who was

K

480 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, on one of the roads a few miles from town, diatinctly saw a Urgv ^' snake fall from the clouds into the roads, a short diatance before him. There was no tree near the spot, and the snake was at t considerable height when he first noticed it. The snake wu supposed to be of the water species, and was alive. It was doubtless taken up in a waterspout or whirlwind.**

Shower of Eels. — ^'A friend of ours, 3resterdajr, presented to us a small paper of eels, from one to two inches in length, which he gathered after the heavy rain on Sunday, May 20, 1839, in the neighbourhood of Lafayette-place. They are perfect in form, and attracted the attention of thousands who yeateidaj called at our office.** — American Newspaper,

Hail-Storm. — ^''A most tremendous and destmctive hsQ- storm passed over the country, about five miles above TVenUn. yesterday afternoon, Sunday, May 20, 1832. Windows, poaltxy, &c, was extensively destroyed.** — Ibid.

Waterspout, 1832. — ''On Thursday, 11th inst., seversl of the inhabitants of Cancer, about eight miles from this place, htd an opportunity of witnessing this truly wonderful phenomenon, though, indeed, on not a very extensive scale. We have kamed upon inquiry that a whirl in the air was perceived at a little distance from Sampson*8 Pond. This whirlwind took the direc- tion of the pond ; and, at the moment of passing over it, t column of water ascended in one unbroken mass, and to such a height as to be seen at the distance of ^ye miles. A dood charged with electric fluid was suspended over the pond at the time. In this doud the top of the column was appaientlf merged, but in a few moments the whole mass descended mio the neighbouring woods, with such force as to break off the limbs of some of the trees with which it came in contact. Bf this sudden freak of the elements, several frogs became, nnintcn- tionally, aeronauts ; and, like Vincent Lemanli, paid for their excursion with their lives.*' — Plymouth Democrat,

A Shower of Fishes. — " Wc have received from a resi>cctablc and credible authority the following narrative:-' ' There is a farm bordering on Lake Gwynant, in this county, of which Mr. John Rowlands is the tenant, called Hafod Glwyfof.

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 481

On last Wednesday fortnight a servant woman was engaged in CHAP, washing a pail at the edge of the lake, and a numher of children ^* were with her. While she was thus employed (the time was about eight o'clock in the evening) she was astonished by a shower of small fishes, which fell upon her and about her, partly into the lake and partly upon the land. They resembled her- rings, but were much smaller. The children picked many of them up, and threw them into the lake. A heavy shower of rain had preceded the descent of these fishes, and the day following there was much thunder and very heavy rain indeed.* Our cor- respondent has preserved the remains of some of these fish in spirits of wine." — Carnarvon Herald (English Paper, 1833.)

I was informed by Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot that he himself saw a fish fall upon the deck of the Princess Charlotte, in Toulon harbour, when he was on board that ship. A waterspout struck her, and covered her decks with water. No one in the ship doubted but that this fish had been carried up out of the sea by the waterspout, and then fell on the deck. It was some- what longer than a man's hand.

An account of salmon-fry being found on land at Jedburgh, in Scotland, after very heavy rain, having appeared in the ** Scotsman" newspaper, I wrote to the minister of the parish to ascertain the truth of the re- port, and the following is the answer I received : —

" Jedburgh, 19th Sept. 1838. ** Report said that many salmon-fry were found. I have been able to find only two, and these are still alive. They were found in a pitcher — quite empty and dry — which a woman had set out to receive some of the rain which was falling in torrents. The pitcher was placed beneath a water-conductor, leading down from the roof of a slated house, and the fish must have come down through it. There can be no doubt of the fact of their being found in this, as the woman to whom the pitcher belonged assured me there was not a drop of water in it when set out, and

2i

482 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, nobody approached it to pat any thing in. I aoa sorry that I ^^* have been able to get no precise information aboat the weather on that day^ except that it was an absolute deluge of rain. About the period in question a decided waterspout fell in tbr neighbourhood of the town, and much damaged the fields } bot whether it was the same as that in which the fish were found I have not been able to ascertain. I may add, that this placf stands on the brink of a small river ; in whicb, however, there are no salmon, and is about two miles distant from a still larger one in which there are many.

(Signed) " JOHN PURVES,

'' Minister of Jedburgh."

Having written a second time to Mr. Purves, to

know what size the small fishes were, the answer I

received is as follows : —

'' Jedburgh, 10th Oct., 1838.

" I have waited for some time in replying to your Gommnni- cation of the 29th ultimo, in consequence of some reports in the place of other fishes being found near this on the same day. In so far as my inquiries have gone, they seem mere reports. I have, however, examined the two of which I wrote to yoa They urc still alive, and quite lively. As near as I can, they are each about an inch in length ; a head somewhat large in proportion to the body, which tapers much towards the taiL with clear transparent fins, and a tail very elegantly formed. I have renewed my inquiries about the vessel, which was perfectly dry when set out -, as was also the vessel into which the water was subsequently poured, and where they were discovered. Oo recalling every thing, I can distinctly remember that the day oa which they were found was not only very rainy, but rain acoom- panicd every now and then with swirls of wind of terrible power, as often in a thunderstorm — in short, it was quite like a water- spout. (Signed) " JOHN PURVES.

" Lieut.-CoIonel Reid."

For the next account I am indebted to Mrs. Kenrick, of Bounie-place, near Canterbury. Lord Eastnor thus writes to her : —

" I have much pleasure in complying with your request, wad

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 483

stating, to the best of my recollection^ the circumstances of the CHAP, crabs being found near Reigate. ^'

** Soon after a most violent storm of rain and wind,* in the " svmmer of 1829, three small crabs, weighing from 1 j^ to 1| oz., were found in the area of the workhouse at Reigate ; and a fourth WHS afterwards found at a little distance, I think the following moming. One of them appeared to be still living. In the mom- mg of the day previous to the storm the area of the workhouse had been thoroughly swept and cleaned ; consequently they must have been seen had they been there then. They were found by a boy, who told the governor that he had found a comical sort of a frog. I went myself to the workhouse as soon as I heard of the circumstance, and saw the frogs. I know that Mr. Turner had one of them, for the purpose of preserving it ; and you will, probably, hear from him whether he has it still.

" Believe me, &c.,

(Signed) " EASTNOR.

" Tyttenhanger, 5th Aug., 1836.

** To Mn. Kenrick, Bourne-place, near Canterbury."

Mr. Turner, veterinary surgeon, of Reigate, thus writes on the subject to Mr. Fairholme : —

Sir, " Reigate, 8th Aug. 1836.

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and shall be most happy to give you the particulars of the crabs, one of which is now in my possession. On the 19th July, 1829> there was a very violent storm, attended with a very heavy rain and hail, the wind being due south.f

** Within the walls of the House of Industry, at Redhill, about one mile and a half from hence, the fall of water was so great as to appear like an inundation. After it had in some degree sub- sided, the inmates of the house went to open the drains in the yard, to relieve the water, and found four crabs alive and moving, one of which lived several days, and was preserved by me. The others, I fear, were not properly considered, and were ultimately destroyed and lost. The species appears to me to be the cancer psgarus, or common crab, though of small size. It is of a dull

* *'Thxa was described to me as haying been more like a West Indian hurricane than a European shower."

t Reigate is distant from Brighton, which lies to the south of it, about thirty-five miles.

2i2

HUjA ^i

484 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP, brown colour, has two claws and eight legs, four on emch itde. ^^- I have given beneath a rough outline of its size.* A nmilar dr* cumstance to this occurred seven or eight years ago ncmr thii town, and was witnessed by many highly respectable persons. After a severe downfal of rain, the road, and some little space, was positively covered with thousands of toads and frogs, though extremely small, nor larger than a walnut ; and many were lodged on the roofs of some of the houses. I shall be hi^ypy to show you the crab, as it is in a very perfect state.

(Signed) " EDWARD TURNER. '

The next statement is that written by Captain C. W. Grant, Bombay Engineers, before alluded to r-^—

Off the Fact of Small Fish Falling during Ratm m InSm.

" That such is the case is certainly the generally receifed opinion ; and I have met with many officers who profess to have themselves witnessed the fact ; that is, that after a heavy fall of rain they have seen small fish jumping about on the terraoed roofs of houses, and in other places wholly inaccessible to then, unless they had fallen from the clouds ; but I never knew any one who had either caught them in a water-tub or otlier reMr- voir, or had known them to fall on his person, as we have a right to expect would have sometimes occurred, if such were the case ; or that, in fact, would affirm that he had actually seen them falling.

*' I have myself frequently noticed little fish flapping aboat ia puddles on the top of a high table land during and afler heavy rains -, but think their presence in such places, as well as on ter* races, may be accounted for without resorting to so improbabk an hypothesis as that of falling from the clouds.

" In most parts of India the beds of small rivers, as well as those of the tanks or natural ponds, which are so nomenMis ia the rainy reason, become dry during the hot months, so that the small fish with which they abound must all perish, either firoiB this cause, or by means of the numerous water-fowl and other enemies to which they become an easy prey; so that, onlesi their spawn had the power of retaining its vitality onder very untoward circumstances, it would be difficult to account for their

* llie Bkotcli is omitted. Tlie body of the crab in it meaHured exactly two

irR-lipfl and a half.

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 485

reappearance every season in such numbers 5 and that the CHAP, spawn has this power there are many reasons for believing : ^« among others^ it is even said that some water-fowl^ who subsist on this substance during their migrations, void the spawn two or three days afterwards, the eggs retaining their vital functions imimpaired. — (See Lyell's 'Principles of Geology.*) It is, there- fore, very probable that this spawn may adhere to pieces of stick or grass floating in the tanks or rivers, which on their becoming dry are borne aloft by the small whirlwinds, or devils as they are called in India, and thus carried through the air for a considerable distance, and lodged either on the terraces of houses, or on any other apparently inaccessible places (or the spawn may in itself be drifted along, mixed with the sand of the dried-up river-beds) : here they are swept by the eddy into the comers, gutters, or other protected spots, where they remain until washed out by the first fall of rain, which frequently lasts for many days. And when we consider how rapidly generation takes place in tropical latitudes, it is easy to suppose these Httle fish or fry might appear in such unlikely places. The constant heat of the atmosphere, from the time of the drying up of the tanks, &c. (that is during the hot months of April and May), till the first fall of rain, may perhaps account for the spawn or eggs retaining their vitality under such apparently unfavourable circumstances.

" The small whirlwind, or devil, above alluded to, has such power that it frequently unroofs a house, carrying the thatch a great height into the air, as well as pieces of paper, matting, or any light substance ; and frequently assumes the appearance of a large and lofty pillar of sand, moving at a steady pace across the , plains, sucking every thing of small weight into its vortex, and thus sweeping along for miles, being evidently acted upon by two distinct forces, a spiral motion round its own axis, and a pro- gressive or linear impulse -, and might, therefore, possibly draw up these small fish into the air (as has been suggested by some), whence they would fall with the rain : but as these devils occur chiefly, solely I believe, in the hot winds or dry season, and never .during a fall of rain, such a mode of accounting for their ap- pearance loses its weighty though I admit that these peculiar currents of air may pass over the sea as well as the land, having myself seen the ocean affected in a manner that could only be occasioned by some such cause, namely, the surface drawn up in an irregular conical form to a considerable height, the clouds

486 ON WATEBSPOUTS AHD

CHAP, bellying down as it were to meet it, and tbe idiole advandnf in ^^' a given direction.

" The space between the donds and the water being to^ strongly marked^ so that it is jnst possible that a aboal of amiD fish swimming near the surfiEu:e might be lifted oat of the water by such a cause ; but as they have been said to lUl in the interior of Hindostan, in places immensely distant from tbe wet, and at a time when the tanks, &c., are mostly dried op, each an explanation of the fact is beset with difficnltiefl.

" The late Major Hawkins, of the Bombay Engineen, who built and put up the machinery of the Mint at that preaidacy, told roe that he had paid much attention to this siibject« bat that he had never met with any person who bdievcd in the idea of these fish falling from the clouds who did not, on tetlMr inquiry, admit facts that enabled him (Major H.) to acooaat fv their presence in a more probable manner ; his idea being, thil the fish generally contrived to work themselves np to these w^ parently inaccessible places, such as the terraces of bonaeSv kc^ by means of the pipes or gutters by which the water ii let off them, or by the angles or corners of the buildinga ; it being wcD known that fish have an extraordinary power of eannounliag obstacles to their progressive movements, as ia evinced by the salmon and other species, particularly the jronng of eela arc said to be enabled to climb over the gates of a lod^ when dry, by means of the slime on their bodies.

" Be this as it may, I still think that either this or that which I have here suggested, is more conaiatent knowledge of nature and her laws, than that these should actually fall from the clouds $ though, I believe^ we sr ill a minority on the subject, the fiact of their actnally fidiig with the rain being the more generally received opinion*

** Since writing the above, my attention has been called to a )mi>er in the ' Journal of the Asiatic Society ' of Bengal, Ibr Dl^ ix'mbcr* 1833. which bears so directly upon this subjectj tbe! I nni induced to transcribe it, from an idea that it may not ooiuo under the notice of many of the readers of this work. is written by James Prinsep, Esq., tbe editor of the joomal ipiostion, and is headed, ' Fall of Fish from the Sky.*

** * The phenomenon of fish falling from the sky in the season, however incredible it may appear, has been attested ky such circumstantial evidence, that no reasonable doubt can be

J

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 487

entertained of the fact. I was as incFedulous as my neighbours^ CHAP, until I once found a small fish^ which had apparently been alive ^* when it fell, in the brass funnel of my pluviameter, at Benares, which stood on an insulated stone pillar, raised five feet above the ground in my garden. I have now before me a note of a similar phenomenon, on a considerable scale, which happened at Nakulhatty Factory, Zillah Decca Jelalpoor, in 1830.

'"Mr. Cameron, who communicated the fact, todL the pre- caution of having a regular deposition of the evidence of several matives, who had witnessed the fail, made in Bengalee, and attested before a magistrate : the statement is well worthy of preservation in a journal of science, I therefore make no apology for introducing a translation at length. The shower of fish took place on the 9th February, 1830, in the neighbourhood of the Surbnndy Factory, Feridpoor.

'James Prinsep.*

''The depositions of eight or ten people here follow, of which I shall merely give extracts.

" Shekh Chandhari Ahmed relates in his deposition, ' I had been doing my work at a meadow, when I perceived at the hour of IS o'clock the sky gather clouds, and it began to rain slightly, then a large fish, touching my back by its head, fell to the ground. Being surprised, I looked about, and behold a number of fish likewise fell from heaven ! They were saui, sale, yvgal, mtngal, and haduL I took ten or eleven fish in number, and I saw many other persons take many. I looked at heaven, and I saw like a flock of birds flying up, but there my perceptions were not clear enough : amongst these fish many were found rotten, without heads, and others fresh and perfect 3 and amongst the number which I had got, five were firesh, and the rest stinking and headless.*

** Shekh Punikulloh, twelve years of age, declared, ' While I was sitting in my own house, I perceived a number of fish hXL from the sky, some of them on the roof of my own cottage, one of them was large, about one cubit, and three seer (lb,) in weight,*

** Another man says, ' I perceived a baduli fish, large, about one cubit, fall before me from the sky, after which I went further and found another.'

" Another says, ' I observed a mingal, and some other fish, badulis, &c. of different sizes, fall from the sky^ I picked up about five or six of them to satify my curiosity, but did not eat them at all.*

488 ON WATERSPOUTS AND

CHAP. "Another man deposed, 'I foond every |Murt of my bvC ^- scattered with fish; they were bodMli, muM^, and mameii^ and amounted to twenty-five in number.'

"Again, 'some were fresh, but others rotten and' without heads.'

"AU accounts agree as to the time, 12 o'clock, and as to the description of fish.

^' With regard to the small fish that Mr. Pdnsep found in his pluviameter, I think its presence is as likely to have been occa- sioned by either of the causes before mentioned, as that it fell from the clouds ; but with respect to the drcnmstantial acooont of the fall of fish in the neighbourhood of Feridpoor, I have nothing to say. When we read of fish, a cMi m hmftk and three pounds im weight, fisdling from the sky, some Iresh, oChen putrid, and without their heads, our reason is at fault, unless we suppose them to have been thrown up by some volcanic or gaseous eruption, such as is, I believe, mentioned by Humboldt as having occurred in South America : but it is quite evident that such a phenomenon can have no connexion with the foci of small fish commonly falling during rain in India; tlum^ I beg to state, that my suggestions as to the cause of their in apparently inaccessible spots are offered with the diffidence, having been induced to give them solely with the hope of exciting discussion and information on thia eestainly interesting fact 5 as, before we can arrive at a proper undcntand- ing of the subject, it would be necessary to kam from rtpfaff^ observations, whether the fish that fall are of fresh water or marine species, and whether they are full grown spedmcna of a small class, or the fry of larger kinds ; what the directioa of the wind was at the time of their falling, as well as any peculiarity of the atmosphere as denoted by the barometer or thermometer, and other minutiae that will naturally occur— my aim in writing these few remarks being chiefly to detail the effecta of those small whirlwinds called devils, that sweep across the Indiaa plains, and to show that they may be considered as models of those mighty hurricanes, that it has been the object of the fbie- going paper* to describe.

" C. W. GRANT, "March, 1838." Captain, Bombay Engineers.

* This alludcb to the original article on Hurricane*, printed ia thi

rrofcf sional Tapers of the Corps cl" Royal Engineers.

FALL OF FISHES ON LAND. 489

The next account of the fall of fish in India, is chap.

XI

copied from the "Asiatic Journal" of January, 1839, 1—

page 78, and taken by that journal from the " Calcutta Courier" of the 24th Sept., without naming the year.

" We have the following account of an extraordinary fall of fish^ from a correspondent of undoubted veracity^ who witnessed the occurrence himself at a place not more than twenty miles south of Calcutta, in the Sunderbunds, by way of the Salt Water Lakes: — 'About 2 o'clock, p.m., of the 20th instant (probably 80th September, 1838), we had a very smart shower of rain, and with it there descended a quantity of live fish, about three inches in length, and all of one kind only. They fell in a straight line on the road from my house to the tank, which is about forty or fifty yards distant. Those which fell on the hard ground, were as a matter of course, killed from the fall, but those which fell where there was grass growing, sustained no injury, and I picked up a large quantity of them ' alive and kicking,' and let them go into my tank. Some people suppose phenomena of this nature take place through the agency of waterspouts, which draw up the fish« &c., from rivers and tanks, and afterwards return them to the earth again in showers of rain; and there appears to me no other way of accounting for the occurrence of the phenomena, or that fish should be found so far out of their element. The most strange thing that struck me, in connexion with this event was, that the fish did not fall helter skelter, everywhere, or ' here and there;* but they fell in a straight line, not more than a cubit in breadth. The natives living in and about the place gave to the fish the name of uka; but whether this be the right word or not, I cannot tell from my own knowledge."

When such a phenomenon as this occurs a few fishes should be preserved ; which is easily done by putting them into any common spirit, so that they may be sent to persons competent to determine their genus and species.

490

CHAPTER XII.

THE CONCLUDING CHAPTEB.

CHAP. The vast quantity of electricity rendered active during ! hurricanes, and the appearances accompanying water- spouts, lead insensibly to the consideration whether this can be the agent which causes great storms. It was impossible, while arranging the matter here de- tailed, to avoid speculations on the subject ; and these speculations assumed a character of great interest, when satisfactory proof was obtained that great storms in the southern hemisphere revolve in the opposite direction to those of the northern ; and the two poles of the magnet, when in conjunction with a voltaic batteiy, were seen to exhibit a similar phenomenon. But being desirous, throughout this investigation into storms, of avoiding mere hypothesis, I state this only as a re- markable coincidence.

With the view of trying if rotations could be ex- hibited off the poles, a 10-inch hollow shot was obtained from the Board of Ordnance, and converted into one of Barlow's magnetic globes, and placed b the hands of Mr. Clarke, of the Lowther Arcade, London. It was left to his ability to prepare it for experiments as he might judge best.

A broad belt was turned on this 84 lbs. shot^ in the lathe for turning cannon at Woolwich, equal to the relative width between the tropics ; and this space was

CONNEXION OF STORMS WITH ELECTRICITY.

491

covered with coils of copper wire, as in Mr. Barlow's c ha p, globes. A small iron cylinder was then inserted in - that part of the globe which corresponds to the latitude of Great Britain ; and a small coil of another wire passed round this cylinder to create a disturbance in the electric currents of this artificial globe. Then, when both coils were placed in communication with the exciting battery, and another voltaic current was passed through the wire which was designed to move in circles, and was put in proper connection with it, a rotation immediately commenced, changing its mode of revolving as the upper wire was changed from the copper to the zinc.

There are squalls within the limits of the trade- winds which evidently are not of the nature of rotatory storms. From explanations received from naval officers, as well as from some log-books, I should be convinced that the tornadoes on the west coast of Africa, as well as the pamperos on the coast of South America, and also arched squalls, are phe- nomena altogether different from the whirlwind ; but the evidence has not proved reconcileable. Thus, in the log-book of H.M.S. Tartar, is to be found that which follows : —

Extract from Log of H.M.S. Tartar, on the West Coast of Africa.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
Noon P.M. 4	*••*••*•	(Light (breezes	AprU 3, 1821. At single anchor in the north-west bay of Fernando Po. Noon. Light breezes. P.M. Ditto weather. At 4, completed watering 110 tuns; in launch.

493

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP. XU.

Extract from Log of H. M. S. Tartar— concAuM.

8 12

Bemmrks.

A.M.

4

P.M.

7.35

10 11

P.M.

3

P.M.

1.30

P.M.

2.30

Light breezet

Calm

At 8, light breent ; threatening in the ; north'Sast, indicating a tornado. |

Midnight. Came on a tornado; cwirW round tM compau,

^% ,

April 4, 1821.

A.M. Tornado still continnei.

At 4, calm, with thunder and li^

sent a boat to haul the seine, fte.

NE

SE

ENE Eastward

April 30, 1821.

P.M. At 7.35, came- to, with small ' bower ; Cape Coast Castle N { E ; node- j rate and cloudy.

At 10, heavy rain.

At 11, a tornado from the nowfk §m»t

May 1, 1821. P.M. At 3, came on a heavy tornado from the 90uth-€tut.

May 7, 1821. P.M. At 1.80, came on a heavr tonado i from east-north-east ; split the jib.

June 2, 1821. P.M. At 2.80, a heavy tornado from the eattward.

I

The four last examples accord with what I have been told by naval men, viz., that during the violence of the tornadoes the wind blows always from the east- ward. This part of the subject, therefore, requires more attentive observation. If seamen would make their log-books records of the weather, noting remark- able meteorological phenomena as they occur, thqf could funiish hourly observations over a vast extent This is the advantage offered by the present inquiry ; for, by means of the log-books of ships, hourly ol^ servations over extended tracks have really been obtained.

ON CHANGES DURING HURRICANES. 493

Depth of Water in Anchorages during Hurricanes.

An anchorage, which would be of sufficient depth chap.

in ordinary gales, might prove too shallow during a ! —

hurricane, in consequence of the depth of the trough of the sea from the unusual undulations created by such storms. Instances have been here given, when the effect of hurricanes, blowing into a bay, has been to heap up the water within it for a time; so that vessels which have dragged their anchors during such a crisis, have been carried into places whence they could not float after the storm had passed over.

The opposite consequelice may also occur : such as happened to the Lark surveying schooner, when at anchor off the west coast of Andros Island, in the Bahamas. " Owing to the receding water, that vessel struck-^ heavily from 6 to 8 p.m. on the 6th of Sept., 1838; but floated again on her being raised by the south-east gale; whilst the wrecking schooner Favourite, 68 miles north of the Lark, was left com- pletely dry."*

The Barometer.

To Mr. Redfield (as far as I know) we are indebted for the first true explanation of the cause of the rise and fall of the barometer. In a communication, lately received from him, he has informed me, that the barometer stands somewhat higher than ordinary just beyond the verge of a storm. Thus, when the hurri- cane of the middle of August 1837 (Chart VIL), was passing, he observed that the barometer at New York

* Lieut. Smith's Report, Nautical Magazine for January, 1839, p. 30.

494

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, was considerably above 30 inches. Captain Leith's

position in the Bahama Channel, in the Seringapatam

frigate, will be found engraved on the same Chart; and I here add an extract from her log-booky which appears to confirm Mr. Redfield's remark. The baro- meter of the Seringapatam stood above thirty inches on* the day the Calypso was upset, not very fer from her ; and it fell to 29.6 as the ship stood to the south- ward, and the storm went off towards the north.

Extract from the Log of H.M.S. Seringapatam^ on her Voyage between Nassau^ New Providence^ and Havannah^ in Aug. 1837.

Hour.	Wind.	Bar.	Remarks.
A.X. A.M. A.M. A.M.	North and N by £ NWbyN WNW	30.2 30.0 30.2 29.6	Augoat 15, 1837. A.M. Moderate and fine weather. Lat. 26** 26' N, long. 7r 28' W.
Ausnst 16, 1837. A.M. Freah meeses and dimdy; aoit top-gallant-maata on deck, &c.
August 17, 1837. A.M. ^rstpart; fiteshbreeneaadliasy; latter part, moderate and fine.
AuguBt 18, 1887. 1

Unfortunately, the barometer is supposed to foretell bad weather, whereas it only indicates that a physical change in the atmosphere has actually occurred ; but this may be the beginning of a storm : from what has just been stated, it will be understood that to mark the words " set fair ^'^ usually marked on barometers, is to bring this valuable instrument into disrepute, and instrument-makers should leave off the practice.*

* Whateyor Mr. Redfiield has written on Meteorology desenres to be with attention. The following list of what he has published is taken pnper of his own in the English Nautical Magaiine for JinuMi,

THE BAROMETER.

495

The gusts and squalls in the midst of the stonns are chap.

features of great interest, towards which attention was 1—

suggested in the first chapter of this inquiry. These phenomena explain Mr. Daniell's observations, in the paper published in the " Philosophical Transactions of 1832/' on the Water Barometer of the Royal Society, constructed by himself. Mr. Daniell says, —

''It is extremely curious to watch its action in Water windy weather; the column of water appears to be in of the perpetual motion, resembling the slow action of respi- society. ration. During a gale of wind, on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1830, I made the following observations : —

Time.	Thermometer.	Water Barometer in Inches.	Mercurial Barometer in Inches.
Internal.	External.
h. m. 2 30 2 45 3 0 3 15 4 0 4 15	o 56	0 66.6 . • . •	387.87 • 387. 59 387. 44 387. 28 387. 64 387. 85	29. 092 29. 090 29. 090 29. 090 • 29.090 29.090

" About half-past two, the maximum range of the oscillations was about 0.28 of an inch ; about half an hour later, one gust of wind caused an oscillation of 0.43 of an inch ; and the minor oscillations were gene- rally nearer the lower than the higher extreme. At

«' SQBman's Journal for April, 1831, Vol. xx. p. 17—51. See also Vol. zx. p. 191—193; Blunt's Am. Coast Pilot, 12th Edition, July, 1833, p. 626—629; SiUiman's Journal, toI. xxt. p. 114 — 135 ; yol. xxyiii. p. 310 — 318 ; xxxi. p. 115—130; xxxiii. p. 50—65 and 261—265; Jour. Franklin Inst. yol. xix. Feb. 1837, p. 112— 127; Am. Coast Pilot, 13th Edition ; Jamieson's Edin- borgh Journal, Feb.—April, 1838."

496 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, four o'clock the movement became sensibly less id

xn. . . '- — extent, and the mean point of the oscillation b^an to

rise, and, as I ventured to predict, the wind very soon

began to abate. It became very suddenly calm, and

the next day was very fine."

Mr. Daniell next states, that the water baFometer precedes the mercurial barometer, in its indications, by one hour. The fact probably is, that the water baro- meter being more than thirty feet high, ahows us those small changes which the mercurial barometer, only about three feet high, does not record. The true value of the sympiesometer is its approach to the deli- cacy of the water barometer. The latter instrument is now out of order ; but Mr. Daniell concludes his paper by stating, that should the Council of the Royal Society hereafter come to the conclusion that there is enough of interest in the subject to induce them to prosecute it further, he is of opinion that the instrument may be reboiled and resealed, without much risk. If it were only for the purpose of showing us something more of the nature of gusts and squalls, it would be veiy desirable to restore this fine instrument to its efficient state.

If further reasons still were wanting to show the importance of frequently observing and recording the variations of the barometer and sympiesometer whilst at sea, they might be supplied from a statement re* ceived from Mr. George Hepburn, master of the barque Felicity, of Greenock. (See the first part of the hurricane on Chart YII.) On the morning of the 13th of August, 1837, he found the sympiesometer down at 28.50 inches, with the ship at the time under sky-saik and studding-sails. Flurrying on deck he furled all

THE BAROMETER. 497

small sails, and close-reefed the topsails and foresail, chap.

At the commencement of the storm, the sky was black —

in the north-west. By two p.m. all sails were furled, and the royal and top-gallant-yards and masts on deck, for the gale had increased to a hurricane ; the wind then south-west, and the ship frequently lurching the lee-rail under water. At 7.30 p.m., there was less wind, and it was veering to the southward, having commenced about north-west.

It has frequently been observed that the barometer begins to rise a little before the most violent part of a hurricane takes place. It will probably be found that the upper part of this phenomenon moves onward before the portion nearest the earth's surface, and that this is the cause of the effect here observed.

This may have been the case on the 13th August, 1837, since the sympiesometer had sunk as low as 28.50, and the black appearance was to the westward of the ship before the wind blew hard.

A progressive whirlwind, of great extent, might have the effect of arresting the usual atmospheric current, and of heaping it up to a sufficient extent on one side of the storm, so as to affect the barometer, by increasing the atmospheric pressure ; whilst on the opposite side of the same whirlwind, the atmospheric pressure, beyond the limit of the storm, might be found to be somewhat less than ordinary.

The following diagram is intended to render this explanation more easy. The circle is intended to re- present an extended storm in high latitudes; and the parallel lines the prevailing westerly atmospheric current.

The same figure may also serve to explain why

2 K

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, progressive revolving storms are ofteD preceded by _. J2L- calms ; and why a rise in the barometer may some- times precede the setting io of a storm.

Every policy of insurance should bind the ownen or masters of a ship insured to provide a barometer: and the protest should show that the barometer wa> registered at least once during every watch. Bat it ought to be registered ofiener ; and, within the tropics during the hurricane season, every time the log is heaved.

Many of the sympiesometers are made too short; for which reason this sensitive and valuable instrument may fail at tiie moment it is most wanted. Thus, the oil of the sympiesometer of H. M. brig Racer, com- manded by Captain James Hope, on the 29th of Sep- tfmbt-r, IS37, retired ult(^tlier from the column into

THE SYMPIESOMETER. 499

the well ; and then a bubbling was observed through chap.

the oil, which was no doubt the escape of the hydrogen

gas, owing to the high temperature and diminished atmospheric pressure acting conjointly. The number 12 had been entered on the log-board to denote the wind's force. Soon after this, though under bare poles at the time, the Racer upset, and was only saved by her masts giving way in about two minutes. She was running at the time, with the wind two points abaft the beam on the starboard side, and she went over until her tops struck the waves. It is supposed to have been the sea, rather than the wind, which upset the Racer, for she was struck by a second wave before she recovered the lurch caused by the first. Her ballast had also been diminished as her water was nearly out, having at the time only eleven tons in- stead of forty-four. This shows the value of the precaution some naval officers adopt, of filling the iron water-tanks with salt water as the fresh is ex- pended.

The barometer will enable us to distinguish that deceitful calm, which is only a lull in the midst of a storm, from a calm arising from other causes ; since the barometer stands lowest near the centre of a storm. On the contrary, when the barometer stands unusually high, and a calm ensues, such a calm may be the prelude to a gale ; but a ship would then be upon the verge of a storm, instead of in its centre.

Calms,

Calms will probably be found to be intimately con- nected with gales; for a rotatory storm must no doubt

2k2

500 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, influence the atmosphere around it Thus if a sbi o ^^' in high northern latitudes were on the east or north i east side of a storm coming from the west, we might expect the prevailing westerly wind to be suspended. and a calm to ensue, until a southerly breeze should give the next indication of an appro;iching gale, which a fall of the barometer would confirm.

If, however (being still on the east side), a ship should happen to be opposite to, and first fall into that portion of a gale which is nearest to the equator, and in which the wind blows westerly, tlien instead of a calm, the westerly breeze (if such preyiously pre- vailed) would probably increase ; the appearance of the weather might threaten a storm ; the barometer sink a little, and the wind even blow hard from the westward ; but if such a breeze should be found to veer, then the barometer might be expected to rise after the wind became due west, and soon afterwards to abate to its former force.

In south latitude this order would be reversed.

The calms which are so frequent on the boiderB of the trade winds, and those light and fluctuating winds, about the 30th degree of latitude, termed " The Vari- ables" seem to be owing to such causes as those just mentioned. The trade winds might there prevail, were it not that rotatory gales, moving eastward be- tween the 30th and 40th degrees of latitude, extend their influence within the limits usually assigned to these variable winds, and, balancing the easterly breeze, first cause calms, and then reverse the wind.

501

Diminished Atmospheric Pressure. It has been stated, at page 42, Chap. IV., that the chap.

XII

diminished atmospheric pressure in hurricanes may L_

be one of the causes of great inundations during storms ; and I regard this as a very curious field of inquiry.

In most detailed accounts of great hurricanes near the sea, statements are found of extraordinary high tides occurring at the time. We read instances of great disaster from inundation, which lead to the belief such occurrences could not take place without the agency of some very powerful cause yet unex- plained. Thus, on the 2l8t of October, 1831, three hundred villages, with ten thousand inhabitants, were swept away by an inundation at the mouth of the Hooghly. And, on the 21st of May, 1833, near the same place, when the sea rose several feet higher than is reported in the gale of 1831, it is stated, in the " Asiatic Journal " of November, 1833, that fifty thou- sand people were drowned.

We have the authority of the learned secretary of the Bengal Asiatic Society, Mr. James Prinsep, for observations that, at this time, the barometer fell upwards of two inches ; and that the oil in the sym- piesometer retired entirely from the tube.

The Intendant of Martinique, in making his report upon that island to the French government, in 1780, says, " the sea was more destructive than the wind ; in the suburb of St. Pierre the surf rose twenty-five feet." And in the same report, speaking of St. Vin- cent, which then belonged to the French, he says,

i.

502 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP. ^' In Kingston, out of six hundred houses, only fourteeD

XII •

'- — were left." The Jamaica reports state, that in that

year Savanna-la-Mar was entirely submerged.

At St. Vincent, in 1833, various marks on the shore, showing that the sea had risen twelye feet during the hurricane of 1831, and oyerflowed the roads below that level, remained distinctly visible. From the narratives of Mr. Williams, it is seen that similar effects occur in the South Sea Islands. He states that, after having moved his vessel forty or fifty yards from the sea, to what he thought a place of security, the sea notwithstanding reached it, and lifted the vessel several feet.

During the Bermuda hurricane in 1839, the set was observed to rise more than two feet higher than usual at a spot which was not only on the leeward side of the island, but within the camber of the dock-yard ; neither did the tide at this place ebb as usual.

I was told by Sir Thomas Hastings, that he had observed the ebbing tide in Portsmouth harbour sus- pended during a rapid fall of the barometer, and bq;in again to flow ; which he ascribed to the influence of diminished atmospheric pressure. A fall of two inches in the barometer indicates a diminution of a fifteenth part of the atmospheric pressure, which would cause water to rise a little more than two feet.

If a revolving power, like a whirlwind, were the only one exerted, it might be expected that the level of the water would be diminished at the centre of the vortex, though heaped up towards the verge of the storm. But it may be possible, that a wave of a round or oval form, moving onward h'ke a tidal wave, but at tlic rate of the storm's progress, may accompany

DIMINISHED ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. 503

the storm in i& course, and that its height may depend chap.

on the degree of atmospheric pressure, modified by —

the revolving power of the wind. The impulse in the direction of the storm's course being given, and main- tained for a few hundred miles, currents, very similar to the ordinary currents of the tidal wave, might be created : so that if the effect produced by such a wave is added to the spring-tides, it might assist in causing those inundations in flat lands which often occur in violent storms. It will, therefore, be very desirable to note the height to which the tides rise on the lee- ward side of islands, particularly those lying at a distance from and uninfluenced by continents.

After the storm of September, 1839, Mr. Hurst, of the brigantine Queen Victoria (whose place is marked in the chart), found the current of the Gulf Stream neutralized : and the same commander, on another occasion, found the current running to the westward ; a fact corroborated by other printed statements at the time.

The storm of 1839, when crossing the Gulf Stream, was probably five hundred miles in diameter ; and a diminished pressure, amounting to a fifteenth part of the atmosphere, at the centre of a moving circle of this extent, seems adequate either to arrest or to accelerate existing currents, or create new ones.

The width of the Bay of Bengal, contracting gra- dually, does not much exceed half the circumference of the greatest storms on the 20th degree of north latitude, so that an attendant wave, during a great hurricane coming from the south, might be expected to deluge the low countries at the mouths of the Gauges.

L

504 ROLLERS AT ST. HELENA AND A8CBN8ION.

CHAP. This part of the subject deserves the attention of '— engineers, whilst constructing breakwaters in the sea.

Hollers at St. Helena and Ascension.

At the island of Ascension, as well as St. Helena, there are no storms ; but at both these places a yery heavy swell occasionally sets in, which the inhabitants call " rollers."

These rollers are said to come from leeward, which is there the north-westward. There has been much speculation as to what can cause this sudden swell of the sea; some believing it to be owing to volcanic action, and others supposing it to be the ground swell occasioned by distant storms. It is said that the rollers not unfrequently continue for a whole day.

In the narrative of Mr. Williams (a missionary in the South Seas), a similar swell of the sea is described. Speaking of Tahiti, he says, — " Mostly once, and fre- quently twice in the year, a very heavy sea rolls over the reef, and bursts with great violence on the shore : but the most remarkable feature, in the periodical high sea, is, that it invariably comes from west, or south- west, which is the opposite direction to that from whidi the trade-wind blows. The eastern sides of these islands are, I believe, uninjured by these inundations/'

When the swell, proceeding from a hurricane, roUs against the east side of an island, within the tropics, some part of the storm which causes it will usually pass over that island : but a distant storm may pass on either side, sending only its swell upon the shore.

It should be observed whether these rollers, by

RIPPLES. 505

setting in during the season of hurricanes, are con- chap.

nected with them ; for if connected with the seasons,

they cannot be volcanic. The exact direction from whence the swell comes at its beginning, as well as at its end, should be noted; for if the swell be caused by passing storms, it will assist us in approximating to the direction in which the storms pass, and be a guide in searching for vessels which may have en- countered them.

Yy^4^ Mipplings in the Straits of Malacca*

A disturbance of the surface of the sea of a diflPerent kind has been observed in the Straits of Malacca, which is not easily accounted for; and I shall here insert Horsburgh's description of it, in the hope that it may create inquiry and observation.

''In the entrance of Malacca Strait^ near the Nicobar and Achen Islands^ and betwixt them and Jonkseylon^ there are often very strong ripplings^ particularly in the sonth-west mon- soon 3 these are alarming to persons unacquainted with them^ for the broken water makes a great noise when a ship is passing through the ripplings in the night. In most places^ ripplings are thought to be produced by strong currents^ but here they are frequently seen when there is no perceptible current. Although there is often no perceptible current experienced^ so as to produce an error in the course and distance sailed^ yet the surface of the water is impelled forward by some undiscovered cause. The ripplings are seen^ in calm weather^ approaching from a distance, and in the night their noise is heard a con- siderable time before they come near; they beat against the sides of a ship with great violence, and pass on, the spray some- times coming on deck ^ and a small boat could not always resist the turbulence of these remarkable ripplings."

* See page 7 " Progress of the Development of the Law of Storms/' for further observations on this curious subject.

k

506 CONCLUDIiNO CHAPTER.

CHAP. The following is an account of the ripples in the

~ - Straits of Malacca, which were met with by Captain

Basil Hall, R.N, :—

" In H.M.S. Minden, in September^ 18M^ we jost noticed the ripples, when about half-way between Poolo-Penang and the Nicobar Islands 5 and they continued from that place to the passage between Nicobar and Poolo-Way^ off the north end of Sumatra.

'* They were always of several miles in lengthy and in general from two to three and four hundred yards across; they stretched from the northward to the southward ; and they all proceeded towards the east and north-east. The ripple has much the appearance of a flat sandy shore, just covered by the water, and breaking to a considerable distance from the beach. Tlie waves curl and break uniformly towards the east or north-east, that it towards the point of the compass to which the whole ripple is advancing. There is this difference between the ripple and the breaking on the flat shore, alluded to above^ viz,, that the ripple has not such long equal waves, but breaks shorter, and splashes the water up, in a manner different from that produced by the regular curl and dash of the beach wave. It has more the appearance of a ' race.'

"They differ very much in the magnitude of their waves. Some are quite gentle, and scarcely whiten the surface, and create only a low noise ; others foam and dash, so as to shake the ship very sensibly, and even to throw the water up many feet. The noise of these is considerable, and is heard at ni^t from some distance. As we approached the line joining the Achen and Nicobar Islands, the ripples became more freqnent and violent. On the 5th of September, one passed ns every quarter of an hour, on an average. The wind during the days on which these phenomena were most remarkable, was east and north-east, very light, and shifting about. By of chronometers and good latitudes, the ship appeared to have been set to the north-west, somewhat less than one mile an hour (O.79 miles N.W. by W.). There was no bottom at eighty fathoms.

"The following attendant circumstance is curious. On the evening of the 3rd of Sept., the wind was very light from north* east by north. The ship*s head west-south-west, and the rale of isailing U miles an hour. It was remarked, that whaie%*er

' RIPPLINOS IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA. 507

the ripple touched the ship^ or rather when the ship was com- CHAP, pletely in it, the wind uniformly freshened. Upon watching this ^^' phenomenon, it was distinctly made out, that, at the same time with the wind's freshening, a change occurred in its direction. Before entering the ripple, the wind was north-east by north. 'On entering it, it appeared to blow from about north. The exact difference in the angle could not be ascertained, though a considerable difference was manifest.' *'

Captain Basil Hall is of opiDion that this might only have been an apparent shift of wind, caused by the ship drifting in the current.

For the following I am indebted to an officer of the Royal Navy : —

"Between the years of 1829 and 1833, I was attached to Mauritius and its dependencies, in two brigs (the Jaseur and Badger), and whilst cruising amongst the various coral islands between Madagascar, about 72^ east longitude, within the tropics, I have more than once passed through a complete circle of breakers, having the appearance of a reef of rocks, generaUy in a moderate breeze, and the spray was thrown over, so as slightly to wet the deck -, the centre of this circle was perfectly smooth and free from the least swell even, giving one the idea of a boiling cauldron or a whirlpool, such as is formed by water being forced from under the gate of a mill-pond, having a diameter of from one to two miles : as far as I can remember, no one attempted to account for these at the time, but all appeared to look upon it as a most extraordinary and inex- plicable wonder.

(Signed) " F. L. BARNARD.'

Naval officers, who have often seen these ripplings, represent them as being met with out of soundings, and in other localities besides the Straits of Malacca.

These ripples are said to be obliterated by such a breeze as would carry a ship two knots an hour, with sky-sails set.

The great height to which the salt water of the sea is sometimes carried up into the air, whether by the

608

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, mere force of the wind driving it as spray, or by some ! — lifting motion, as in the waterspouts, deserves atten- tion. That which follows is an extract from the April report from Barra Lighthouse for the present year (1838), sent me by Mr. Robert Stevenson, the engineer to the northern lighthouses.

^^On the 16th, it rained spray and snow all day; so that for a week after we had no fresh water on the island." And Mr. Stevenson adds this note to the report : — " The top of the island, or base of the light- house, is 600 feet above the level of the sea."

It had blown a storm, and the height of the baro- meter was, according to the same report, as follows : —

Apnl, 1838.	Barometer.	Wind.
Saturday 14	9 A.M. 29. 30 9 P.M. 28. 93	SWand Wbreese
Sunday 1*3	9 A.M. 28. 80	NW
	9 r M. 28. 93	Ditto
Monduy 16	9 a.m. 28.94	Ditto
1	9 P.M. 28. 9G	Ditto
Tuesday 17	a.m. 29.20	NNW
	P.M. 29.34	North

When the tracks are examined which storms follow within the tropics, we perceive that they do not take tlie direction of the trade winds ; but, moving obliquely across tliese winds, tliey seem to be carried along in liigher currents of air. The study of storm tracks may, therefore, help to some knowledge of the upper citniospheric currents. In this part of the investigation aeronauts may assist : through tlieir means it may, possibly, be learned at what altitudes above the earth storms travel. The upper currents of the air have ah'eady interested Mr. Green, who has expressed his readiness to {jive any aid in his power to this inquir>\

RULE FOR LAYING SHIPS TO IN HURRICANES. 509

During a gale in the North Atlantic, about lat. 40°, chap.

in a ship hove-to, on the clouds breaking sufficiently —

to see through the lower ones, I observed the upper light clouds in a quiescent state, as if the storm was confined to an altitude little above the surface of the globe.

Rule for Laying Ships to in Hurricanes*

That tack on which a ship should be laid-to in a hurricane has hitherto been a problem to be solved ; and is one which seamen have long considered im- portant to have explained.

In these tempests, when a vessel is lying-to, and the wind veers by the ship's head, she is in danger of getting stemway, even when no sail is set ; for in a hurricane the wind's force upon the masts and yards alone will produce this effect, should the wind veer ahead ; and it is supposed that vessels have often foundered from this cause.

When the wind veers aft, as it is called, or by the stem, this danger is avoided; and a ship then comes up to the wind, instead of having to break off from it.

If great storms obey fixed laws, and the explanation given of them in this work be the true one, then the rule for laying a ship to follows like the corollary to a problem already solved.

In order to define the two sides of a storm, that side will be here called the right-hand semicircle which is on the right of the storm's course, as we look in the

* In ** The Progress of the Development of the Law of Storms*' this rule is carried out further. It is there shown that the port tack leads a ship when north of the equator towards the storm's vortex ; and that the star- board tack leads a ship when south of the equator towards the storm's Tortez.

k

510 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, direction iu which it is moving ; just as we speak of

L_ the right bank of a river.

The rule for laying a ship to will be, when in the right-hand semicircle, to heave-to on the starboard tack; and when in the left-hand semicircle, on the larboard tack, in both hemispheres.

The first of two figures inserted here is intended to represent one of the West Indian hurricanes, moving towards the north-west by north, in the direction of the spear drawn obliquely. The commander of a ship can ascertain what part of a circular storm he is falling into by observing how the wind begins to veer. Thus, ,^ in the first figure, the ship which falls into the yj^ -^ hand semicircle would receive the wind at first about east by north ; but it would soon veer to east, as the storm passes onwards. The ship which falls into the left-hand semicircle would at first receive the wind at north-east ; but with this latter ship, instead of veering towards east, it would veer towards north.

The explanation of the rule will best be made oat by attentively inspecting the two figures. In both, the black ships are on the proper tacks; the white ships being on the wrong ones.

The second figure is intended to represent one of those hurricanes in south latitude which pass near Mauritius, proceeding to the south-westward. The whirlwind is supposed to be passing over the vessels in the direction of the spear head. It will be seen that the black ships are always coming up, and the white ships always breaking off*; and that they are on oppo- site tacks on opposite sides of the circles. Thus, the Astrea, commanded by the late Sir C. Schomberg, was on the proper tack on the 20th of March, 1811;

RULES FOR LAYING SHIPS TO IN HUERICANES.

512 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, and an inspection of the log of that ship, at page 24<i, !_ will show how gradually she came up ; but the Buc-

cleugh, on the 22nd of January, 1834, having had the wind from east-south-east, veering to south, and then to south-south-west, thereby proving her to be in the right-hand semicircle of a storm moving southerly, was in the wrong position when laid-to on the lar- board tack. Had she been on the other tack, the wind in veering would have drawn aft ; then, perhaps, she would not have laiE so long ** with her broadside in the trough of the sea, and with her lee-waist full of water." This will frequently be found to bring a ship's head to the sea; for the wind veers round faster than the swell changes its direction.

If hurricanes were to move in the opposite course to that which they have hitherto been found to follow, then would the rule be reversed ; for the white ships would come up, and the black ships break off. Practical It cau require no comments to point out, that if the tions. wind in storms follows a fixed law, much advants^ may be gained by the knowledge of that law.

In following the tracts of storms here detailed, we find that the hurricane drawn on Chart VI. passed over the Island of Antigua in six hours. Yet the ship Judith and Esther, not far from that island, was twenty-four hours in the same storm; for that ship ran along with it; and many other instances of the same nature occur in this inquiry.

If one side of a storm be to a ship in her voyage a foul wind, the opposite side of the same storm would be a fair one. Thus, within the tropics in the Indian Ocean, the left-hand semicircle is a fair wind for ships in tlieir voyages from India to the Cape of Good Hope,

RULE FOR LAYING SHIPS TO IN HURRICANES. 613

whilst the right-hand side will assist the voyages of chap. outward-hound ships : but there is this important dif- '

ference, that in the first case ships would carry the fair wind with them ; whereas in the other semicircle, owing to the ship sailing in the contrary direction to the pro- gression of the gale, she would have the benefit of it during a short time only. Thus, if a hurricane coming from the eastward were passing over Mauritius, moving at the rate of ten miles an hour, and a ship sailing eastward were to fall into the side of the storm next the equator, and to run at the rate of ten knots an hour, the ship and storm would pass each other in half the time in which the hurricane would pass over the island, since they would be travelling at the same rates, but in opposite directions.

In the 12th edition of the "American Coast Pilot" will be found some practical rules, by Mr. Redfield, ap- plicable to ships meeting storms in the North Atlantic ; and all I have collected proves that these rules are cor- rect. That a seaman may be able to apply them, how- ever, requires that he should study the subject, and understand the principle.

The annexed note, written in 1842, when at Ber- muda, is inserted as an instance to show how the theory of storms may be applied in aid of navigation.

Note on the Winds, as influencing the Courses sailed by Bermuda

Vessels.

In high latitudes the atmospheric currents, when undisturbed, are westerly, particularly in the winter season. If storms and gales revolve by a fixed law, and we are able, by studying these disturbing causes of the usual atmospheric currents, to dis- tinguish revolving gales, it is likely that voyages may be shortened.

2 L

ii._

.>14 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

C li :V P. The indications of a revolving gale are, a descending baro- X^I- meter, with a regularly veering wind.

In a voyage from Bermuda to New York, in the winter, strong westerly winds, together with the Gulf-stream, would carry vessels attempting to sail direct to New York to the east- ward of their course. No douht all seamen are aware of this, and do in consequence make some allowance by keeping to the westward. But according to the usual practice, on an east wind overtaking them, they would steer in a direct coarse for their destined port, making allowance only for the current, as the wind would be considered a fair one. If, however, the gale were a revolving one, the wind, at first easterly, would veer until it became westerly ; and would probably blow from the westward with increased force, when the vessel would be carried off her course. It is, therefore, a subject deserving considen- tion, whether advantage should not be taken of the temporary east wind in order to run to the westward, nearly as far as the meridian of Cape Hatteras ; so that, in the rest of the voyage to New York, the chance of reaching that port would be the same as that of coasting vessels in their voyage from the Carolinas.

But should a dry easterly wind set in, and the barometer maintain its mean height, or rise above it, the case would be altogether different; for these would be indications of a steady wind and not of a revolving gale. Tlie ship may then be steered direct for the intended port; and this shows that the hygro- meter might prove a useful instrument at sea, though not hitherto used, that I am aware of, in aid of navigation.

Since vessels sailing from Bermuda, and bound to New Yoik« or the Chesapeake, must necessarily cross the Gulf-stream, they will have the advantage in doing so before that stream begins to set strongly to the eastward. For this reason, as well as to have a better chance of getting to the westward, it would seem advisable on first leaving Bermuda to make no northing; but if the wind should at the time blow, for example, from the north-west, to sail free upon the starboard tack, and to keep on this tack untfl the vessel be so far advanced as to fall into the northerly current of the Gulf-stream ; and this might prove to be the best coune to pursue, even should the ship for a time make ttmthimg. Thtt more southerly the port to be gained, as for example Baltimore, the more does it appear advisable that this should be persevered in. The same principle of sailing for Boston, and even far Halifax (though in a much less degree), might be found to be

NOTES ON THE WINDS. 515

that by which the most certain course would be secured. It CHAP, may appear unreasonable to propose, that a ship bound to a ^^• port to the northward should, on leaving Bermuda, steer souther fy ; yet, when we shall be better acquainted with the causes of the variable winds and their changes, this may really not appear to be so unreasonable.

For example, towards the end of a revolving gale passing over Bermuda, the wind may still be west, and blowing hard. Since the courses of such gales are northerly, a ship by steering north would only continue the longer in the same westerly gale, whereas by steering southerly a ship and the storm would be moving in opposite directions, and the vessel would the sooner have the chance of falling into a new variation of the wind. Sailing southerly, on the starboard tack, the latter end of such revolving gales as the one supposed above might (as frequently happens) veer to the west-north-west and even to north-west y which would enable a ship to come up and make a better course towards the west.

These suggestions are offered to practical seamen, in the hope that some persons will be induced to consider this subject ; and, if gales really revolve, that advantage may be taken of their mode of action.

In sailing from the West Indies to Bermuda, in the winter season, the trade wind will generally enable vessels to gain a meridian sufficiently to the westward, before they leave the lati- tudes where it usually blows ^ and in winter it would seem desirable to make the 68th or 70th degrees of west longitude, before leaving the ^5th of latitude.

In voyages between Bermuda and Halifax, in the winter season^ the same reasons hold good for keeping to the west- ward as have been recommended for the passage from the West Indies to Bermuda, but in a much greater degree -, for in this latter case there is not the easterly trade wind to carry ships to the westward. On the contrary, the west wind may blow throughout, whilst the Gulf-stream also would tend to set vessels to the eastward. The degree of westing to be made in this passage in the different seasons does not seem to be agreed upon

The chief object, however, of this Note is to point out the benefit which may be derived from profiting by the east winds, which blow on the north side of a revolving gale in north latitude, before the gale shall veer to the westward.

2 l2

k

518 CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

CHAP, ship would be most likely to avoid the storm by

XII . "

'__ putting her head towards the equator: but they would

be on opposite tacks. The ship in north latitude would be on the starboard tack, the ship in south latitude on the larboard. In both cases the wind would veer towards west, and both ships would come up until the storms passed by them, in their progress towards their proper poles; after which the wind might be variable.

It is a point which has been often discussed, whether a ship should scud or not in a hurricane.

In a revolving storm there will be one quadrant in which it will be more dangerous for a ship to scud than in the other three ; that being the one in which a vessel driven by the wind would be led in advance of the centre of the storm's track ; whilst to scud in the opposite quadrant would tend to lead a ship out of the hurricane.

The preceding diagram, in which the quadrants of greatest danger are shaded, will serve to explain for both hemispheres what is here meant Within the tropics, whilst the course of storms tends towards the west, the quadrants of greatest danger will be on the sides of the storm next the poles ; but these quadrants will gradually change their position as the storms recurve; and in high latitudes, after tlie courses of storms become easterly, these quadrants will be on the sides next the equator.

The four East India Company's ships which foun- dered ill the Culloden's storm were, from the accounts, scudding in the most dangerous ({uadrant of the storm wlicii hibt seen.

1'h(* ^l(Hiii tr;irk> liuit! traced aiv far from sufficient

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

The late Secretary of State for the Culonies, Lord

. Glenelg, sent instructions on the suhject to all the

British colonies; and extracts from the information

obtained will be deposited in the Colonial Office for

reference.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty hare drawn the attention of the officers of the British navy to the subject ; and have caused a new form of log- book to be adopted, with a view of recording all mete- orological phenomena at the moment it ia obBerved. The log-books of ships of war are lodged at Somerset House, in chaise of the Accountant-General of the Navy : and 1 have always found' every facility given towards consulting them.

Steps have also been taken, which I trust will be successful, to induce foreign nations to interest them- selves in this inquiry. A more perfect knowledge of the subject will facilitate international communication, which it is to be hoped is for the good of mankind.

^Uh himiatim.

521

APPENDIX.

POPULAR EXPLANATION OF THE BAROMETER AND

SYBIPIESOMBTER.

The barometer is a measure for the weight of the atmosphere^ or its pressure on the surface of the globe. It is well known that it is owing to the atmospheric pressure that water rises in a common pump, after the air has been drawn from the barrel; but that the height to which it can be raised by this means is limited, and not much exceeds thirty feet. A little more than thirty feet of water, therefore, balances the atmosphere. Mercury being about twelve times heavier than water, about thirty inches of mercury will also counterpoise the atmosphere. The principle of the barometer is simple. If a tube, about three feet long, closed at one end and open at the other, be filled with mercury, and, with the open end stopped by a finger, this tube be reversed, and placed upright in a cup partly filled with the same liquid, the mercury in the tube, in ordinary states of the weather, will descend to thirty inches, measured from the surface of the fluid in the cup, and not much lower. The mercury is sustained in the tube by the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the fluid in the cup. Such a tube and cup, so filled, would in fact be a barometer; and if a moveable index were added to it, this simple instrument would indicate the changes which take place in the atmospheric pressure. The sympieso- meter is a more delicate instrument for measuring the atmo- spheric pressure -, but it is also a more complicated one than the mercurial barometer, and it would be best understood by in- spection. The upper part of the tube contains hydrogen-gas, which is elastic ; and the lower part, including the well, contains oil. By this compound construction, whilst the length of the tube is less than that of the mercurial barometer, the index, or scale, for measuring the pressure is increased. Hydrogen-gas being very sensibly affected by all changes of temperature, the index, by which the atmospheric pressure is read, requires to be set according to the actual temperature, before the atmospheric pressure can be read off.

Since mercury expands hy beat, k correction fov t is also required for the mercniial b&rometer, when exact nkv- lations are to be made; and for this reason barometera nmallj have a thermometer attached to theio, in order that the tem- perature may be read off, and recorded at the same time that the barometer is registered.

The following table of the correction to be applied to the ob- served height of the mercury, to reduce it to the Crceang point, at 3S° Fahrenheit, or zero of the ctutigradt; scale, has beat ei- tracted from Galbraith's " Barometric Tables," pnbliabed in 1IIS3.

Redaction of the English Barometer to the Freezing Pi»nt, or to

32° on Fahrenheit's Scale. — Sabtraclm.

B.O«B4 0.076f U 06880.0711 a.0;3S0.O7«3 13 n7380.l}7eA*^07»i:O.OeiB M 07880.0817 kOBMg.W;3 t» 0838 0. OSn ». OBSS'O. Mtfj M 0888O.O»WkOBO)!(t.MM » 09718.1006:0. lOM U 09SHa.lOUIkI05S.0.10Mi ■

l0370.1W«B.Uir'

10870.1126 0.1 ' 1137 0.11780. 12180. iU>' a 11870. 12390. l]720.iai| u 12370. 12Rl'q.l32ftO.IM9 U< 1288 n. 133!'0. 1378 0. 1414 47 I 13380.13840.14320.1479 tt< 13fla[),U3.ia.U8<0.1S34 dl

14.1 jn. 1486 0. issa'o. ism sa

UtSO. 15380. IMln. I«t4 M IS36 0.I5S0O.164tO.l(

nai«.'uM|ir

APPENDIX 523

The atmosphere is supposed to extend to about the height of fifty miles ; and its density to diminish firom the surface of the globe upwards, in a geometrical ratio.

Thus when observations are made on land, above the level of the sea, a correction is required for latitude, since the weight of the atmosphere diminishes as we ascend. It is owing to this that we are enabled to determine the height of mountains by barometers -, and that aeronauts compute the altitude to which they ascend in balloons.

If any fluid in a cup be put into rapid circular motion, we should have a representation of the form that portion of the atmosphere assumes which is within the limits of a storm ; the most depressed part of the fluid would represent the centre of the gale where the atmospheric pressure is the least.

The principle of the barometer should be explained in all works on navigation, and in all schools where navigation is taught.

^

>:

•*

■J,

t

GENERAL INDEX.

A.

AoEL^iDB (steamer), 483.

Ains worth, Mr., biB memoranda on the

storm of the Euphrates, 470. Alax, 291, 297, 336 ; extract from log, 354. Albemarle, 291, 337 ; extract from log, 347. Albion, hurricane of the, describeo, 173,

233; extract from log, 237. Alcmene, 291, 337 ; extract from log, 352. Alfred Taylor, 447. Amazon, 291, 297, 337; extract from log,

363. Andromache, 447 ; extract from log, 448. Andromeda, 291. Anemometers, Professor Whewell's and

Mr. Osier's, described, 453. Angola, 447.

Ann and Mmerva (brig), 66. Anna, 408. Anne, 233, 234. Antigua, hurricane at, on Aug. 2, 1837,

60. Apolachicola, storm at, 124. Archer, Lieut., his letter on the wreck of

the Phoenix, 299. Arp;us, 84. Ariel, 445.

Astrsea, 241, 510 ; extract from log, 246. Athol, 66, 414.

Atmospheric currents effected by a pro- gressive wind, with a diagram, 497.

B. Badffer, 292 ; extract from log, 294. BalcluUia, 57. Baltimore, 55. Barbados, 293, 296, 297. , hurricane at, in 1831, 24; in

Sept. 1835, 35 ; in 1837, 48. Barlow, 104. Barnard, Mr. (K.N.), on circles of water

near the Mauritius, 507. Barometer, fall of, at Barbados, in 1831, 33.

at Porto Rico, 1837, 63.

, striking results of, in storms,

161.

at Macao and Canton, 277.

, cause of its falling in northern

and southern hemispheres explained, 405. -, true explanation of the rise

and fall of the, 493 ; importance of its indications, 496.

Barometers, state of^ during a hurricane at

the Mauritius, 169, 171. Beaver's prize, 291. Beaufort, Capt., his mode of registering

the wind and weather, 458. Beechey, Capt., his detail of a waterspout,

462. BeU, 66.

Bellerophon, 414. Bengal, 173.

, hurricanes in the Bay of, 284. Bermuda, great storm there, of 1780, 341. , hurricane at, in 1839, 438;

course of, and detail, 441.

-, indications of a coming storm

at, 441. Berwick, 291, 296, 341 ; extracts from log,

322, 390. Blanche, extracts from log, 19, 128, 291. Blane, Sir Gilbert, his letter to Dr.

Hunter, 347. Blenheim, 255. Bonne Aim6e, 53. Bourbon, Isle of, description of a hurricane

at, in 1824, 163. Boyne, the gale of the, 177 ; extract from

log, 231. Bridgewater, hurricane encountered by

the, 260, 271 ; extract from los, 272. Brighton chain-pier, effect of a gale on, 428. BriUiant, 83. Bristol, 291, 296, 408 ; extract from log,

381. Britannia, 13, 282. Brook, 56. Bruce, his description of moving piUars of

sand in Nubia, 468. Buccleuch, 512. Buckley, Mr. J., remarkable phenomena

seen by, 479. Burgess, Mr., his observations on whirl-

•wmds or waterspouts, 467.

C.

Calcutta, 173.

Caledon,174.

Calms, their connection with gales, 499.

Calypso, 77, 124. 177, 494.

Camelion, 291, 413.

Capper, Col. James, his work on winds

and monsoons, 1 ; whirlwinds described

by, 280.

k

52G

INDEX.

Carlisle Bay, Barbados, storm in 1835, 37. Castries, 44, 75, 113; extract from log,

115. Ceres, 297. Ceylon, 233.

Chain bridges, effect of storms on, 428. Champion, 35 ; extract from log, 38. Charles Grant, 271 ; extract from log, 273. Chart I., data for forming, 13.

II 15.

Ill 29.

IV 37.

v., VI., VII 47.

VIII 173.

IX 290.

Chief, 85.

Chinese seas, typhoons in the, 271.

Christiana, 340.

Cleopatra, 446.

Clydesdale, 52, 122.

Cochrane, Capt., his remarks on water- spouts, 446.

Cceur-de-Lion, 274.

Columbia, 85.

Compass, the mariner's, 9.

Constantc, 297.

Convert, 337, 340; extract from log, 374.

Cosmo, 447.

Cossack, 56.

Crocodile, extract from log, 279, 446.

CuUoden, Uie storm of the, 173; extract from log, 178.

Cumberland, 81.

Cyclops, 332.

D. Davy, Dr., his account of sand falling in

the Mediterranean, 436. Deal Castle, 291, 337. Delos, 86.

Depth of water in anchorages during hur- ricanes, 493. ''Devils" in India, whurlwinds so called,

469. Diagram to show the veering of a storm

over Great Britain, 420. Diamond, 29G, 340 ; extract from log, 311. Diana, 233, 236. Diminished atmospheric pressure the cause

of high tides, &c., 501. Donegal, meteorolo^cal journal of, 426. Dove, Professor, his theory of storms in

the two hemispheres, 145, 409. Drury, Mr., on a whirlwind near Lincoln,

473. Duke of Buccleuch, 164 ; extract from log,

166. Manchester, 82 ; extract from log,

105.

Earthquake, not felt during a horrieane, 3 1 .

East India Company, their ahipa in the storms of 1808 and 1809, 178.

Eastnor, Lord, on some small crabs being found after rain near Reigate, 482.

Echo, 447.

Eclipse, 241 ; extract from log, 247, 254.

Egmont, 291, 297, 337 ; extract from log, 356.

Electricity, its effecu at Su Vincent, 30 ; at Barbados, 31.

and magnetiam, apparent con- nection of storma with, 490.

Eleonora, 60.

Ellen Mar, 85.

Emerald, 82, 447.

Emma Eugenia, 164.

Endeavour, 291.

Endymion, 291, 297, 337; aztract from log, 366.

Erie, 69.

Etna, 432.

Euphrates, 175 ; extract from log, S06.

(river), the storm on the, 499.

Euterpe, 439.

Expenment (H.C.S.), 173, 233, 236.

F.

FeUcity, 496.

Ferret, 436.

Fieldinff, Mr., his report on a whirlwind near Manoheater, 474.

Finch, Hon. Capt., his narratiTe, 365.

Fish, on the fall of, on land, 476.

Florence, 125.

Franklin, Benjamin, hia opinion of north- east storma, 3 ; hia letter to Mr. SmalL 283.

Franklin (brig), 69.

Fyers, Lieut., on the "devils" in Lidia. 469.

G.

Gales of 1811 at Mauritius, 241.

February, 1838, attempt to tmee

them over Ireland and Scotland, 412 ; off

Portugal, 413; Gibraltar, 414; Xorthof

Spain, 414. Ganges, the storm of the, and extract from

log, 266.

hurricane at the month of the

river, 285.

(schooner), 447.

York. 30, 286.

E.

Earl St. Vincent, 223 ; extract from log, oor

Georgia, 57.

Glory, 173, 233.

Governor Finlav (brig), 273.

Reid (brig), 443.

Grafton, 296 ; extracU from log, 320, 379. Grant, 445.

Captain, on the fall of fiah dniing

rain in India, 484. Great Western (steamer), 434. Ground swells explained, 35.

INDEX.

527

H.

Hall, Captain Basil, on the ripplings in the Straits of Malacca, 605.

Harmonie, 82.

Harrier, 173 ; extract from log, 257.

Harriet, 175 ; extract from log, 201.

Hebe, 41.

Hector, 296 ; extract from log, 326, 384.

Hedderley, Sergeant, his report of a water- spout at Bermuda, 475.

Height of waves in storms, 41.

Hemispheres, storms rerolve differently in northern and southern, 490.

Henry, 292.

Hester, 446.

Hindley, 82.

Hoogley, hurricane at the mouth of the river, 287.

Horsburgh, Captain, on the barometer in different winds, 408.

Hotham, Admiral, his squadron in a hur- ricane, 337.

Howard, Mr. Luke, his theory of the op- posing currents of the atmosphere, 418.

• , his views on tornadoes, whirl- winds, and waterspouts, 471.

Howarth, Mr., his description of a whirl- wind near Manchester, 472.

HoweU (brig), 57.

Hnddart, 175 ; extract from log, 194.

Hurricane at Massachusetts and Connec- ticut in 1821, 11.

, indications of a, 24.

of middle of August; 1837, 74.

of 1837 described, 47.

at the Mauritius, 152.

of 1780, 289.

, the great, of 1780, 337.

I. Iberia, 414.

Ida, 57 ; extract from log, 98. Illinois, 1 1 ; extract frt>m master's letter, 18. Independence, 148. India, on the hurricanes in, 271. Indus, 175 ; extract from log, 215. Inglis, 176. Instruments for measuring the wind's

force described, 454. Inundation by the sea at Darien, 67; at

Savannah, 69.

J. James Busick, 77.

Ray, 84.

Jane Duchess of Gordon, 173.

(schooner), 439.

Jason, 152. Java, 256. Jennett, 82. Josephine, 56. Joseph Porter, 445.

Judith and Esther, 60 ; narrative of master, 70.

K. Kensington, extract from log of, 131. Kent, 274.

King, Captain, on the barometer in dif- ferent winds, 405.

L. La Blayaise, 439. Lady Hayes, 278.

Jane Dundas, 173, 177.

Katharine Barham, 83.

Laidmans, 72. Lancashire, 447.

Lark, 467, 493.

Laurel, 291, 338.

Leith (steamer), 435.

L'Esle, 297.

Levant, 278.

Lighthouse reports of the gales of Feb., 1838— Ireland, 420; Scotland, 422; England, 424.

Liverpool (steamer), 434.

Log-book, new form of, ordered by the Admiralty, 520.

Logs ought to be kept in civU time, 9.

London, note from the log of, 286.

Lord Nelson (HC.S.). 175, 233.

" Los Nortes," of the winds so called, 394.

Lottery, 443.

Lowestoffe, 296, 308, 338; extract from log, 318.

Lucretia, 447.

Lynch, Capt., on the storm in the Eu- phrates, 470.

Lyons, Capt., on moving pillars of sand in South America, 469.

M.

Mablehead, 56.

Madagascar, 486.

Madonna, 447.

Magicienne, 155, 414.

Magnetic pole, experiment on the, 490.

-^— intensity of the globe, and con- nection with storms, 491.

Malabar, storm on the coast of, 288.

Malcolm, Rear- Admiral, on watenpouti, 466.

Margaret, 75.

(mail boat), 445.

Maria, 84, 125.

Maria Jane, 60.

Marquis de Brancas, 297.

, Capt., his ship in a whirlwind

off Malabar, 461.

Martial, 30.

Martinique, French account of the atonn there in 1780, 340.

Mary, 92 ; extract from log, 93.

(Sharp), 81.

Matilda, 479.

Mauritius, storms at, in 1824, 161 ; in 1834, 163; in 1836, 169; and in ISUt 241.

528

INDEX.

Mecklenburgh, 84.

Mediator, 104.

MelyiUe, 242.

Merdumt-ships' logs, value of, and propo- sal to presenre them, 417.

Meteorological observations taken at Port Louis, Mauritius, in 1836, 171.

journal of H. M. S. Donegal

at Lisbon, in Feb. 1838, 426. Meteorology, necessity for studying, and

means of doing so, 518. Minden, 504.

Montagu, 291, 297 ; extract from log, 360. Montreal, 437. Monument, 56. Moses, 56.

N. Napier, 84. Neptune, 81 ; hurricane encountered by

the, 261. Nereide, 174, 176 ; copy of log of, 187. Newcastle, 281, 466. Nightingale, 37 ; extract from log of, 40. Nile, 64.

Nisus, 241 ; extract from log of; 245, 252. Norfolk, 281.

North Star, extract from log of, 416. Northumberland, 175; extract from log

of, 208. Notes on the winds as influencing the

courses sailed by Bermuda vessels,

513.

O. Oglethorpe. 85. Opulence, 67. Orontes, 466.

Osier, Mr. FoUet, his instrument for measuring the wind's force, 457.

P.

Palambam, 104.

Pallas, 296, 337; extract from lo^ of, 315.

Parker, Sir Hyde, capt. of the Phcsnix on her wreck, 296.

. Rear-Admiral Sir Peter, his des- patches, 295, 297.

Pelican, 337 ; extract from log, 308.

Penelope, 76 ; extract from log, 95.

Pensaoola, 85.

Phcebe, extract from log, 244, 253.

Phoenix, 233, 236, 295, 299.

Policy of insurance, right to bind owners of ships to provide and register a baro- meter, 496.

Pomeroy, 67.

Pomona, 291, 296, 337 ; extract from log, 378. ^

Porcupine, 296.

Powhatan, 85.

Preston, 234.

Prestwood, Mr., his description of a whirl- wind near Lincoln, 471.

Princep, Mr. James, his aceomit of the storm of 21st of May, 1833, 286.

Princess Charlotte, 481.

Louise, 409.

Boyal, 298.

Protector, 281.

Providence, 56.

Purves, Rcrv. Mr., on the fiUl of salmon fry during rain in Sootland, 481.

Q. • Quadrant of greatest danser dufhig stocBi, how to be avoided, and diagrmm to ex- plain, 617. Queen, 408. Victoria (brig), 503.

R. Racehorse, 174; extracts from Umt, IM,

242, 254. Racer, 133, 177, 402, 496; eoctnet from

log, 135. Raleigh, 177 ; the hurricmia of the, 273 ;

extract from log, 275. Rarotonga, hurricane at, 149. Rawlins, 75 ; narrative of master ot^ 90. Recurving of storms in either liemiqihen^

complication on the, 516. Red-band-fish cast ashore by tlie uadnlik

tions of the sea, 415. Redfield, Mr., of New Toik, his opfaion

on hurricanes, 2 ; storms traeed by, 10;

on storms in the southem liemiq>liae^

145; his data of the Bermuda hnrrieaBS

of 1839, 452 ; on the revdving of whiri-

winds, &c., 474. Resolution, 342. RcTolving of a waterspout at Bennnda

described, 475. Ringdove, 48 ; extract from log, 138. Ripplings in the Straits of M^^^i^^ ^06, Rodney, Adm., his letters to theAdnomlty,

332 ; his report of the hnrriesne at Bar^

bados, 345. Rollers at 8t. Helena, Aseenaum. nd

Tahiti, 504. Rosebud, 83.

Roseway (mail-boat), 446. Rotatory winds not always storms, 43. Rowley, Adm., a storm overtakes the sh^

under his command, 320. Ruby, 291, 296 ; extracts from log, 331, S89l Rule for laying ships to in hurricsBes, 509 ; diagrams to explain, 511.

S. Sailing directions. East India, quoted, 270. Salamander, extract from log, 371. Salisbury, 281.

Salt water carried to a great height, 607. , rain of, during a storm, 608.

Sand, moving pillars of, in Nubia, by Bruce, 468 ; by Capt. Lyona, in Sooik America, 469.

i

INDEX.

629

Sand found on board ships in the Medi-

temnean during storms, 436. Sayanna-la-Mar hurricane, 292. Sandwich, 291.

Scarborough, 291, 293, 296, 308. 8cq>io, 75, 114. Bcott, 440. Seajgull, 65.

Seringapatam, extract from log, 494. Seymour, Mr., on the storm of Aug. 1837,

Sheffield, 437.

Sheridan, 82 ; extract from log, 103.

Shrewsbury, 332, 342.

Sir William Bensley, 175 ; extract from

log, 228. Sketch of the Egmont after the hurricane

in 1780, 357. Snake, 52. Solano's storm, 1780, and the winds called

*' Los Nortes," 394. Sophia, 75 ; account of yoyage, 86. Southern hemisphere, on storms in the,

144. SoTereign, 175 ; extract from log, 219. Spanish fleet (Solano's), in storm of 1780,

397. — — detail of the hurricane of 1780,

897. Spey (packet), extract from log, 58. Spitfire, 30 ; extract from log, 39. St. Helena, 84. St. Lucia, hurricane at, 29. St. Vincent, 175.

, hurricane at, 29. Star, extract from log, 370. Standard (brigantine), 444. Steam-ships, Great Western and Liyer-

pool, in the gales of Oct. 28, 1838, 434. Sturling CasUe, 296, 297. 320, 337. Storm of 28th Oct. 1838, in its course

OTer England, 431. Storms traced by Kedfield, 10. — ^— originate eastward of West India

Islands, 43.

in the southern hemisphere, 144.

— may be overtaken by ships, 146. — ^- of 1780, three different ones, 394. in high latitudes, remarks on the.

403 ; theory and illustrations of, 405. of 1838, their courses traced on the

Atlantic side, 437; and on the Euro- pean, 427.

Storm- tracks in the tropics, 508.

Stran^^er, 126.

Surprise, 337.

Suspension-bridge at Montrose destroyed by a hurricane, 428.

Swan, 414.

Swell, the set of the, a sure test of the coming wind, 445.

Swift, 413.

Sympiesometer, its yalue in indications of storms, 497.

2

r.

Tartar, extract from log, 491. Terpsichore, 173, 175; extract from logr

183. Terrible, extract from log, 333. Thalia, 266.

<* The Tariables " of the ao"" latitude, 500. Thunder, 487. Thunderer, 291, 338.

Tiger, 281. «

Tigris (H.C.S.), 233.

(steamer), 469.

Tornadoes described, 280.

— on the west coast of Africa,

491; wind always from eastward during,

492. Trident, 291, 296 ; extracts from log, 325,

387 Trinidad, 45.

Triumph, extract from log, 334. Troubridge, Rear-Admirtd, founders in the

Blenheim, 256. Turner, Mr., on some crabs being found

after rain at Reigate, 483. Typhoons in the Chinese sea, 271. , tracks of the, 278.

U. Ulrica, 66. Ulysses, 291, 296, 337; extract from log,

376. Undulations of the sea, effect of, 415.

of waves, progress of esti-

mated, 42.

V.

Variable winds, the cause of, 3, 47, 119. Vaughan, Lieut.- General, account sent by

him of the hurricane at Barbados of

1780, 343. Vengeance, 291, 337; extract from log,

350. Venus, 291, 337 ; extract from log, 373. Victor, 293, 296. Victoria, 122.

Vigilant, extract from log, 372. Vincennes, 85.

W.

Walker, Mr., on a waterspout in the Bay of Naples, 476.

Walsingham, Commodore, his ship foun- ders, 338.

Wanstead, 82, 121.

Water barometer of the Royal Society, 495 ; compared with the mercurial ba- rometer, 495.

Waterspouts and the smaller whirlwinds, on, 46t.

Water Witch (brig), extract from log, 62.

Weather, register of, kept at Bermuda, 123 ; weekly reports of, 442.

registers of, ought to be kept, 418.

Westbrooke, 101.

M

530

INDEX.

Westchester, 84.

West Indian (barque), extract from log, 97.

(Turner), 76 ; extract from

log, 91.

Weymouth, 281.

Whcwell, Rev. Mr., his instrument for measuring the wind's force, 4'33.

Whirlwinds, caused by waterspouts, 463.

■^Vilkinson, Mr., his narrative of the storm of Aug. 15,1837,77.

WUliam (brig), 67.

IV., 64.

Pitt, extract from log, 198.

Williams, Mr. (London Missionary So- ciety), narrative of, 149.

William Thompson, 83.

Wind backing, cause of, 411.

Wind, iti preMure on one square foot, 4?^.

Wind and weather, Capt. fieanfor.'i mode of registering* 468.

Winds and moonsoona, deacription of, tv Colonel Capper, 280.

Winds, fair and foul, in aailing from Ame- rica, and from England, 515.

Wind's force, on meaanring the, 4o3.

Wreckers, ships called, in the Golf of Florida, 142.

*, neceaaity for controlling ihen.

142.

Y.

Yankee, 82.

Yarrell, Mr., notes by him, on the fsU of

fish from ihe clouds, 477. York, 282.

THE END.

J

Pslatr aad Claytoa, Piiot«n, Crmn««coart. FlMt-ttrcct.

DIRECTIONS FOB THE BINDER.

Tike Plates to be cut close to the margin.

To face the Title page

To face page 1 page 15 page 25 page 35 page 47 page 57 page 75 page 177 page 289 page 416 page 441 page 453

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Circles to assist Seamen in the practical application of the Law of Storms.

Chart I.

Chart II.

Chart III.

Chart IV.

Chart V.

Chart VI.

Chart VII.

Chart VIII.

Chart IX.

Chart of the British Islands.

Course of the Bermuda Hurricane.

Meteorological Diagram.

Three spare copies of the Circles to be placed at the end.

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