'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎49] (66/258)

THE CYCLONE AT BOMBAY, 1854.
xlis
on; land breeze N. E. to East, soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. 52 fathoms; found the stern galley washed away,
Lat’. by Obs. 17° 27' N., Long chr. 72°15 E., current in 2 days 56' E. f S, Barometer 29.3o,
Tber. 8L
Extract from the Log of the Ship Eliza.
Tuesday, 31st October.—A. M. Moderate winds and cloudy, the people employed about the
rigging altering new main top sail and painting ship, the coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. taking in cargo, the pumps
regularly attended to, and squally with heavy rain.—Midnight. Strong S. 35. winds and
squally.
Wednesday, Nov. 1st—7. Strong winds and squally with rain, people employed about the
rigging and repairing main topsail, coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. clearing up the betwixt decks Noon. Strong
winds with heavy squalls. The pumps regularly attended to—Midnight. Strong gales with
very heavy squalls, accompanied with heavy rain.
Thursday, Nov. 2nd.—1 a. m. Strong gales with very heavy squall.—1*30. The ship began
to drive, veered away on both chains to 100 fathoms on the larboard anchor, and 70 fathoms
on the starboard anchor—2. Got in contact with the ship James Turcan, and carried away
the iron yoke on the rudder head, the larboard quarter galley, mizen channels, mizen boom,
poop rail, stern and quarter davits and stove the quarter boats all to pieces.—2'30 Blowing a
perfect hurricane with heavy rain, ship on her beam ends, struck a large Bugalow which
immediately sunk, and struck under the counter and against the rudder, and kept so nearly for
one hour.—3. The wind veered round to theN. W., still blowing a complete hurricane.—4.
The wind inclining to ease.—Day light. Strong gales with very heavy squalls; found that the
ship had drifted close to the shore, and that we had only 3 fathoms water; the pumps sounded
every half hour during the night, but the ship made no extra water, made a signal for a pilot
to shift the ship.—S. The Captain went on shore to send a pilot off.—10 30. Received a pilot
from the shore.—11. The weather more moderate, unmoored ship, and dropped out into
deeper water.—Noon. Light winds and cloudy.—6 p. m. Came to with the larboard anchor
in fathoms and veered cable to 30 fathoms; the pumps regularly attended to.—Midnight.
Light winds and fine.
Extract from the Log of the Ship Norwood.
October 25th. Commenced dark unsettled squally weather with much rain, and at inter
vals calm. Lat. at noon by reduction to mer. 11° 17’ N., Long by equal alt. 69°42, and latter
part wind flying about from all quarters, calms, &c.
October 26th. The finest day I had for ten days, wind moving about from N. N. W. to N.
E. light and calms, Lat. by mer. altitude at noon 11 ° 48’ N. Long, by chro. 69° 8’ E, latter
part also fine with light airs of yuikI f ro n N. N. W., Bar 29|.
October 27tli. Fine with light air from N. W.—Noon lat. by obs. 12° 42’, long, by chro.
69 ° 43’ E., latter part also fine, barometer standing at 29?.
October 28th. Thunder and lightning with calms, squalls, and heavy rain, continued so
for the whole of the day, Noon.—Lat. by act 13 ° 21’ N., Long. 70 ° 29’ £•, latter part the
same, barometer at 29j.
October 29th. Thunder and lightning with much rain, wind north.—Noon. Squalls, by Lat
by act. 13 ° 57’, Long. 70 0 42’, latter part strong squalls N. W.
October 30th. Commenced with thunder and much lightning, wind flying about from all
quarters. Noon. Lat. 14.32 N, Lon. 70° 57’. Latter part threatening—Midnight. Blew a
whole gale of wind from N- W. to S- W• for about 4 hours, and died away calm.
October 3lst. At daylight calm, at 8 blew a whole gale from S. E., and continued with
increasing fury. Noon. Barometer ran down fast, wind hauling East. Noon Lat. by acct.
17 ° 0 N. Long. 72 ° 0’ E. Latter part gale continued with a full force, Ship under bare poles
could not suffer any canvass about. From 6 till 8 more moderate. Barometer going down
fast, prepared for more wind; wore ship, and secured every thing against the approaching
storm. During the whole of the night it blew an ordinary gale, ship under three close reef
topsails. ...
November tst—Commencing at daylight, I found I had not been disappointed in my expecting
ahurricane, it blew with awful violence, every seaman can better fancy the appearance of a ship
in a hurricane or C' clone than I could describe the scene on board the ship Norwood during
the whole of this day, no canvass could stand the force of the gale, and very fortunately been
prepared, I had all sail handed, the ship managed herself beautifully during the whole gale.—