270 WATEESPOUTS. 



In December, 1886, when in a position to the South of the Mississippi, 

 the sailing vessel Struan reported that the clouds suddenly dispersed, and 

 the vessel was surrounded by Waterspouts, no less than eighteen being 

 counted near the vessel. They were eventually dispersed by a squall. 



Casualties. — On January 14th, 1887, Captain Scott, of the barque 

 Autocrat, when in lat. 32° 13' N., long. 76° 9' W., had his vessel struck by 

 a Waterspout, which threw her on her beam ends, and did some damage 

 to the deck fittings. On February 9th, 1887, the barque Winomah, when 

 in lat. 22° N., long. 40° W., was struck by a Waterspout, and had all her 

 yards broken. On March 25th, 1887, the schooner Jose Olaverri, when in 

 lat. 36° N., long. 61° 20' W., was struck amidships by a large Waterspout, 

 which tore the fore and main sails, and flooded the decks. On February 

 11th, 1888, in lat. 32° 4' N., long. 76° 6' W., the h&rqne Beifideer, Captain 

 Strandt, was under full sail, when a heavy Waterspout passed over her, 

 completely dismasting her below the heads of the three lower masts. No 

 previous warning was received ; the weather was apparently clear at the 

 time, and the whole affair was over in a few minutes. 



Captain Cleary, of the steamer Biver Avon, states that on January 28th, 

 1888, in lat. 39° 30' N., long. 57° 20' W., he saw what he took to be a 

 heavy squall to the S.E. Upon looking at it with his glass, he saw that 

 it was a whirlwind, raising the water to a great height. It must have 

 been over a mile in diameter, but he hesitates to even estimate the height 

 to which the water was raised or the size of the spout, although it must 

 have had terrific power. Shortly afterwards a smaller one passed close to 

 the ship, whirling along the water and raising the spray to a height of 

 fully a hundred feet. 



On April 25th, 1891, when in about lat. 30° 30' N., longitude 76° W., 

 the schooner Baltic was suddenly struck by a Waterspout, and thrown on 

 her beam ends. A boat was carried away, and the mainmast had to be 

 cut away to right the vessel. On April 10th, 1888, in lat. 41° 59' N., 

 long. 47° 30' W., Captain McKay, of the steamer Pavonia, observed a 

 large Waterspout, accompanied by several smaller ones, travelling to the 

 N.E. at the rate of 30 miles an hour, and the vessel's course had to be 

 changed to avoid them. It was in shape like a huge hour-glass, accom- 

 panied by a terrific roaring, and the water at its base churned into such a 

 commotion that it shook the great steamer. The spout broke amid light- 

 ning, thunder, hail, and rain ; and pieces of ice, some 4 to 6 inches in 

 diameter, fell on deck. 



On April 29th, 1889, at about 6*^ 30™ a.m., when situated about 4 miles 

 to the North of Eoyal Island of the Bahamas, Mr. C. L. Calloway, chief 

 of&cer of the steamer Santiago, observed a Waterspout from off the star- 

 board bow, which broke about 30 yards from the ship, and salt water fell 

 in drops on the deck. The whirlpool appeared from 50 to 70 yards in 

 diameter, the water circling from West to East, or against the sun. The 

 water was whirling very rapidly for several minutes after the break, show- 

 ing what tremendous circular force there must have been. 



