STIRRING TALES OP THE SEA

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 67, 19 March 1910, Page 17

STIRRING TALES OP THE SEA

WEIRD EXPERIENCE ON A CABDHTB , . STEAMER. MAGNETISED SHIP: HETEOEITB PLUNGE. "We have been struck by a comet or a thunderbolt, and our ship is disabled," was the report of Captain Davies, the master of the Cardiff steamship Trafalgar, when., she put into Fnlmonth. Captain Davies, who has navigated ships for thirty years, had a weird story to tolL According to the London "Daily Chronicle," he said: "We were bound from Port Talbot to B.istia with coals, leaving port on Wednesday, and we experienced boisterous weather with heavy snowstorms. About eight o'clock this morning we were about ten miles south-west of the Wolf Rock, when •the vessel trembled violently, and there was a loud, sharp report like the explosion of a cannon. The foremast seemed a mass of flame, and the whole ship became aglow. At that moment we saw a large fiery body, with a tail about 30ft or 40ft long, strike the Boa about 20ft from us. Its appearance was accompanied by a loud hissing noise, and as It disappeared a column of water rose In the air. Had it struck the ship I am sure it would have spelt disaster for us. "Directly after what I may term the seizure of the ship, the men came running out of the forecastle saying it was on fire. The whole of the Interior was. glowing with asbrflllant light. The EFFECT OF THE PHENOMENON IN , THE ENGINE BOOM was most owe-inspiring, the whole place glowing with a faint violet light, from the millions of sparks emanated. All the men rushed upon deck. The second mate happened to be sounding the well at th« time, and received a violent shock from the steel rod which he held in his hand. The phenomenon did not last many seconds. Wlten we had recovered from our surprise we looked at the compasses and found them all demagnetised and awry. In that predicament I decided to put back for the nearest port, but as we were experiencing blinding snowstorms and could get no assistance from our compasses, it was a difficult task. At last we picked up the Lizard, and by following coastal vessels sot into Falmouth, entering the port without assistance of a pilot." Strange to say, when the compasses were taken ashore they resumed their normal condition, and were strictly accurate. It is feared that the ship has become highly magnetised, and experts will go on board to decide how the problem can be solved.