81
I have confined myself so far to data and figures, absolutely necessary for the explanation of my diagrams, and will not tire you with a recital of the computations by which I have arrived at the above conclusions, and upon which I base my assertions; but should any person here present desire to investigate the subject more fully, I shall be most happy to show the computations, and render such explanation as may be desired to clear up any little point imperfectly understood.
CAPTAIN QUAYLE’S LETTER.
“Left Saddles at 1 a.m. on the 4th October; with fresh northerly gale and high sea, wind veering to N.E., found it impossible to pass through the straits of Van Dieman. On the 7th passed close to Ingersoll Rocks, but weather so bad did not go through the claws, having indications of a typhoon to the south’d and east’d. On the 8th October glass rose 2.10, thought I was clear of typhoon; wind E. S. E., thought it would pass on my quarter; went through the Monturose pass with strong gale; stood to the north’d for eight hours, then tacked to the N. E., barometer 29.50. As I stood to the north glass rose to 29.70, thought I was all clear. Lee shore distant 30 miles made me very anxious. At 11 p.m. glass began to full rapidly, and wind came out steady at S. E. by S., the typhoon having evidently struck the Loo Choo Islands and recurved coming right down on the ship. Stood north as long as possible under heavy press of sail. At midnight on the 8th barometer 28.65, blowing terrific gusts, sea resembling church steeples. At 3 a.m. 9th October, barometer 28.21, took in main top-sail, and put ship on starboard tack, being in the right hand semicircle; at 4.30 the scene was fearful; gust upon gust, and sea running high but not breaking owing to the wind. At 6 a.m. barometer 27.50, men lashed on deck, nothing visible of ship but a portion of her weather deck, on her beam-ends, yard-arms in the water. At 7 a.m. barometer 27.29, when suddenly it lulled and the centre passed. Drift, up to this time, 512 knots per hour, N.W.,
