The progress of the development of the law of storms, and of the variable winds, with the practical application of the subject to navigation. / by Lieut-Colonel William Reid.

  • Reid, William, 1791-1858.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The progress of the development of the law of storms, and of the variable winds, with the practical application of the subject to navigation. / by Lieut-Colonel William Reid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    STORM PASSING OVER THE ARABIAN SEA. The Seaton, from Aden to Bombay, had the wind at first from north by west, with a head-sea and falling barometer, along with other indications of a gale. Under such circumstances to have altered her course to south, would have procured for her a fair wind for Bombay, and led her from the track of the storm’s centre. By steering in this manner, she most probably would have been saved from the necessity of returning to Aden. The following extract of an account of what befell this ship, published in the Bombay Times, is interesting. It seems probable that when the Seaton was nearly thrown on her beam ends, and had all her sails blown away, that she was drifting round the whirl- wind, and that this was the cause of the sudden changes of the wind she experienced from N. by W. to E.S.E. and to E.N.E. The Chieftain, in lat. lS0^ N., long. 57°.15' E., on the 2nd November, had the wind N. by W. veering to W.S.W. and S.W., with a heavy head swell which caused the ship to plunge deeply. By the latter part of the following extract it will be seen, that there appeared to have been indications of this storm at Aden, and that it caused great losses along the Arabian shore. “ After leaving Aden the Seaton had moderate breezes from the northward, with clear weather ; for two or three days btfore the gale was felt, they had a very uneasy, broken, and turbulent, head sea, with light northerly winds, which enabled them to carry royals and main-skysail. “ On Sunday, the 30th of October, p.m., the breeze gradually increased so much as to require the smaller sails to be stowed, topsails double-reefed, mainsail and jib also stowed, wind N. and by W. The atmosphere at this time had a streaky, hazy, troubled appearance. Barometer falling. When the vessel first felt the head sea, the barometer indicated atmospheric derange- CH AP. VI. Seaton.