STRANGE OCCURRENCE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 32, 1 November 1928, Page 10

STRANGE OCCURRENCE

STEAMER AND ELECTRIC STORM Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October 30. When the steamer King Edgar arrived from Tampico, Mexico, the officers stated that their course across the Pacific had perhaps been rather more erratic than is usual. Off the Yucatan coast on September 21, when the King Edgar was en route from Naples to Tampico to load her present cargo of asphalt she ran into a phenomenal electric storm. Vivid lightning played all over the sky and struck downward to the water. The ship itself became surcharged with electricity, and sparks crackled on every projecting point. St. Elmo's Fire, those weird balls of light that sometimes descend on to ships on such occasions, ran up and down spars and the whole ship was bathed in vivid light. Naturally the magnetic compasses were much affected by the storm and ever since have been • practically useless. When the vessel arrived at Tampico the captain asked an American vessel which was in port to guide him in by wireless, but she did not answer the signals, and he had to feel his way in unaided. The King Edgar left Tampico on September 29 and cleared Balboa on October 2. On the voyage across the Pacific the officers made frequent attempts to readjust the compasses, for although the vessel is one of the most modern motor ships afloat she is not equipped with a gyroscopic compass. Their efforts were not very successful. however, and for the greater part of the voyage they relied on the stars and the sun to check the accuracy of their course. Last night when the vessel was nearing the coast the compasses went “raving mad” according to one of the officers and whirled round and round at a great rate. Consequently it was a delicate task to bring the vessel through the outlying islands to the spot where the pilot was picked up. Fortunately the night was clear and fine otherwise it would have been well nigh impossible to come in in the dark. While the vessel is discharging her compasses will be examined.