On three several hurricanes of the Atlantic, and their relations to the northers of Mexico and Central America, with notices of other storms / by W.C. Redfield.

  • William C. Redfield
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On three several hurricanes of the Atlantic, and their relations to the northers of Mexico and Central America, with notices of other storms / by W.C. Redfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the Tortugas to within forty miles of the bar of the Mississippi, where he hove the ship to, under the main-topsail only, headed to the southward. His statement continues as follows. 10. At sunset on the 4th, the wind continued increasing, the sea running high, and the barometer still falling, I was led to expect a hurricane, and made every thing doubly secure. The wind had veered to about east, and continued increasing, sounding more like thunder than wind. I looked often at the barometer, which was lower than ever I had seen it. At 3 a. m. of the 5th the foresail got loose, and in spite of all efforts was soon destroyed. I made preparation, for the first time in my life, to cut away the masts; but after getting all prepared, I looked at the barometer again and saw it was rising, and discovering at the same time that the wind had veered northwardly, I ordered the men to turn in for sleep; telling the mates they would want close-reefed sail on the ship by 8 a. u., which was the case as it proved. Was about 80 miles from the Balize at the close of the gale.* Capt. Bunkkr states that the ships which were nearer the north shore did not have the wind so heavy ; and that the Deucalion of Boston carried double reefs till midnight, in order to weather the south point of the delta of the Mississippi. 11. Ship Norfolk for New Orleans took the gale about 200 miles from the Balize, [lat. 27°, Ion. 8G° 20' ?] On the 3d the ship was hove to under bare poles. At 4 a. M. of the 4th was hove on her beam ends, and cut away the mainmast. Lost all the sails but one, with most of the spars, and suffered other damage. 12. Barque Eliza Thornton, from New Orleans, experienced tremendous gales on the 4th, in lat. 27°, Ion. 8G°. Lost topmasts, bulwarks, &c. 13. Brig Horace, from New Orleans, took the gale on the 4th, about 100 miles west of the Tortugas; was thrown on beam ends, lost spars, sails, bulwarks, &c. 14. Ship Charlotte, in gale of 4th-5th, lat. 28° 30', Ion. 85°, laid to 18 hours under bare poles : lost spars and sails, and suffered other damage.—{Marine Reports.) The next report enables us to mark the access and progress of the right border of the storm, between the Tortugas and the west- ern part of Cuba. 15. Barque Mallory, for Campechy, Oct. 3d, off Key West, begins with light airs and variable ; a. m. strong breezes from S. S. E. and passing clouds: lat. at noon 24° 24'. p. m. commences with strong breezes from S. S. E. and passing clouds ; at 8 p. m. took in the light sails; ends with strong breezes and heavy squalls. Oct. 4th, at 2 a. m. wind South ; double reefed fore and main-topsail, took in jib and mainsail; 8 a.m. close reefed fore-topsail; forenoon strong gales and head sea; lat. obs. 24° 3', Ion. 82° 40'; p. m. com- mences with strong gale and cloudy ; at 2 p. m. close reefed main-topsail, blowing hard in squalls; at 4 p. m. took in fore-topsail: 6 p. m. wind S. IV.; wore ship, head to the southward, [which tended to carry the ship out of the gale ;] midnight, more moderate. Oct. 5th, at G a. m. wind W. S. W. ,• at 8 a. m. made sail by the wind; at noon lat. obs. 24° 36', Ion. 83° 20'; p. m. wind W. S. W., moderate breezes and pleasant weather. Oct. 6th, light airs, and passing clouds; lat. obs. 23° 33', Ion. 83° 20'.t—{Logbook.) ' When Capt. B. hove the ship to, he was uncertain of Iiis latitude, having had no observa- tions for two days. t It will have been seen that the successive changes of wind on the south side of the Antje's gale, in September, were by the west towards the south, the progress of the gale being icest- ward, and this the left side of the gale. In this October gale, however, Which advanced in an easterly direction, the southerly side of the gale becomes the right side, and the order of the s of wind is consequently reversed. Thus, with the Mallory the changes of wind wave by the south towards the west, successively, while in the other storm, with the Sohcay and Rover, the changes were from westward towards the south. These opposite results necessarily pertain t<> whirlwind gales which revolve from right to left around their axis, while severally pursuing opposite courses.