150 



Notice of the Storms, ^^c. 



[No. S2, 



before named vessels, and on a sudden shift of %Yind was nearly sunk 

 by the shifting of her cargo in a heavy lurch. At this time at 

 Madras the wind was merely a fresh breeze from North to N. E. 

 We were about West of the centre which was travelling W. by S. 

 gradually placing us in the N. W. Quadrant of the hurricane. 



The Barometer showing, on the morning of the 2oth, still further 

 indication of approaching foul weather, the remaining ships ^the- 

 7iian, Edward Bilton, ^ugmta, and Jane Catherine left between 

 11 A. M. and 2 P. M. on that day: and the three last having run 

 to the Eastward encountered a lull between 7 and 8 P. M. A lit- 

 tle discrepancy occurs in the times at which this is said to have 

 happened, but some allowance must be made for people under such 

 fearful circumstances. Previous to the lull the wind had been 

 N. E. to N, N. E. vrith all three; the sky still remaining as dense 

 as ever, and the Barometers showing no indication of a rise. It re- 

 mained calm for about half an hour when the blast returned in all 

 its fury from West to S. W. throwing all three vessels on their beam 

 ends. The Edward Bilton and Augusta were dismasted — the 

 latter water-logged ^vas abandoned — but the Jane Catherine ^vox'i- 

 dentially escaped without any very serious damage. The centre of 

 the storm may therefore %vith safety be placed as passing a little to 

 the Xorth of these vessels (had it passed to the South of them the 

 wind would have veered round to the S. E. as it did at Madras) 

 and their positions may be assumed at between 30 and 40 miles 

 off shore. This was .between 7 and 8 P. M. At about .9-45 P. M. 

 the greatest depression of the Barometer took place at Madras, 

 being 29 03 inches. The centre had then reached its nearest proxi- 

 mity to Madras which lay due North of it, shown by the wind being 

 East, drawing round to S. E. as the body of the storm passed to the 

 Westward : and it may be inferred that the track of the nucleus was 

 not at any very great distance to the Southward from the fact of the 

 gale not having been felt at Pondicherry, although it Avas at Sadras, 

 where however the trees were all blown down from the Westward di- 

 rectly contrary to the strength of the hurricane at Madras. 



Unfortunately no register of the force of the wind was obtained 

 after 8 P. M. of the 25th, owing to the connecting link between the 

 registering pencil and the plate on which the wind acts having given 

 Avay at this time, and there being no possibility of then replacing it. 

 The force of the wind was however computed by a talented Engineer 



f 



1 



