WATEESPOUTS. 269 



altered to East, in hopes of letting it pass astern. Its approach, however, 

 was so rapid, that we were obliged to resort to the usual expedient of a 

 broadside, for the purpose of averting any danger that might be appre- 

 hended ; when, after firing several shots, and one, in particular, having 

 passed right through it, at the distance of one-third from its base, it 

 appeared for a minute as if cut horizontally in two parts, the divisions 

 waving to and fro in different directions, as agitated by opposite winds, 

 till they again joined for a time, and at last dissipated in an immense dark 

 cloud or shower of rain. The near edge showered in large heavy drops on 

 the ship's deck, until the cloud was quite exhausted. 



" At the time of its being separated by the effect of the shot, or more 

 probably by the agitation occasioned in the air by the discharge of several 

 guns, its base was considerably within half a mile of the ship, covering a 

 portion of the surface of the water at least half a furlong, or 300 feet in 

 diameter, from one extreme circumference of ebullition to the other ; and 

 the neck of the cloud into which it discharged itself appeared to have an 

 altitude of 40° of the quadrant, while the cloud itself extended overhead, 

 and all around, to a very considerable distance. 



" Allowing, then, from the ship, a base of little more than one-third of 

 a nautic mile, say 2,050 feet, and an angle of 40° to the top of the neck, 

 we shall then have, for the perpendicular height of the spout, about 1,720 

 feet, or very nearly one-third of a statute mile. A little before it burst, 

 two other "Waterspouts, of an inferior size, were observed to the South- 

 ward, but their continuance was of short duration. 



" When danger was no longer to be apprehended, I observed the baro- 

 meter, and found it at 30'1 inches, with the surface of the mercury very 

 convex ; an appearance which it had not assumed when at the same height 

 at noon, about two hours before ; the thermometer stood at 82°, having 

 risen 1° since that time. 



" During the continuance of the Waterspout, and the subsequent rain, 

 which might be a little more than half an hour, the wind blew from all 

 points of the compass at different times, generally shifting at opposite 

 points, never longer than a fresh breeze for a moment, but in most in- 

 stances quite light. It was unattended with any thunder or lightning, 

 and the water that fell from the cloud was perfectly /res/i. 



" Although this phenomenon was rather terrific in appearance, yet I am 

 not inclined to think it would have been attended with any serious calamity 

 to the ship, had even the whole quantity fallen on board, allowing the 

 loftier sails to have been taken in, the hatches battened down, and scup- 

 pers open. The cylinder or spout, coming in contact with the masts and 

 rigging, would naturally be destroyed ; and the air rushing in, instanta- 

 taneously, to restore the equilibrium, the torrent would thus be checked 

 in its fall by the mere weight or force of a tropical descent. I have heard 

 many reports of ravages committed by these aqueous meteors, but never 

 yet met a person who had actually witnessed or experienced any such 

 distressing effects." 



(216.) Numerous instances of vessels meeting with Waterspouts, are 

 recorded on the United States Monthly Pilot Charts of the North Atlantic 

 Ocean, from which the following accounts are taken. 



