| Show SHIP WREATHED IN electricity Kc storm through which aej ocean vessel recently passed one of the most remarkable electric storms at sea which probably seemed intensified by reason of the fact that a cargo of spanish iron ore passed through it was experienced by byh steamship mercedes which arrived at this port the other day from bilbao says the philadelphia record on the grand banks of newfoundland during the nights of december 3 and 4 the ocean appeared like a mighty mass of flame or an endless stretch of prairie fires balls of electrical farea hissed and exploded in all directions and darted among the vessels masts and rigging the mercedes escape from going down on december 1 seemed little short of a miracle she was struck by a southwest gale which was accompanied by seas rolling high during the height of the storm a huge deck derrick weighing many tons was torn loose from its fastenings and swept overboard leaving a hole in the vessels through which the water ran into the cargo in its course it carried away the maintop nast which was also of iron part of the flying bridge the after winch and part of the deck fittings soon afterward the storm partly subsided when the electrical fire appeared in all diorec diony it hung in big balls for two nights from the masts and fore and aft stays and practically turned night into j day As the big fireballs came together they would burst with a loud report upon the vessel and disappear under this light at night such temporary repairs were made as were deemed necessary to reach port |
