58 DEEP-SEA SOUNDINGo 



"EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES. 

 " STRANGE MISHAPS WHICH BEFELL THE BARK W. H. BESSE, 



" Nestling since Thursday afternoon in her cosey 

 land-locked quarters at the yard of the Standard Sugar 

 Refinery, South Boston, the bark W. H. Besse, from 

 Manila, the first that has reached us with vivid realiza- 

 tion of the volcanic eruptions in Asia, gives little indi- 

 cation of the extraordinary perils through which she has 

 passed. . . . Having sailed toward the Straits of Sunda, 

 on the 26th of August light airs and calms were met. 

 Throughout the afternoon and night heavy reports were 

 heard, like the discharge of monstrous artillery, the 

 sounds seeming to come from the direction of Kraka- 

 toa Island, which is situated in the Straits of Sunda, 

 lat. 6° 9' S., long. 105" 29' E., and is about seven miles 

 long and five miles broad. It became very dark and 

 cloudy through the night, with continuous and countless 

 flashes of lightning in every direction. The barometer 

 was 30.15. Monday, August 27th, opened with strong 

 breezes and thick, cloudy weather. At 9.30 a.m. the 

 pilot left the vessel. Ever since daybreak a dark heavy 

 bank had been noticed to the westward, which continuing 

 to rise, the sun became obscured and the whole heavens 

 grew black. All hands were called on deck, every bit 

 of canvas was furled, the port anchor was let go, and 

 Captain Baker, with the fortitude of one resolved to die 

 at his post if necessary, calmly awaited the catastrophe. 



