Sea Mirage.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1922, Page 4

Sea Mirage.

SHIPS IN TilE SKY. SYDNEY, Hoc. 8. A wonderful son mirage has just boon witnessed jin Spencer's Gutf, South Australia, hv the offioors of the steamer Trevithick, bound to Fremantle. The first that was soon of the display was the appearance of a ship ahead. The smoke and the funnels were plainly seen, but at the time tin? vessel must have boon far over the horipon, because she could not be picked up with the glasses. A little later, between the sky and the surface of the sea, there appeared a, distorted, vessel that looked like Ih:i creation of a mad shipbuilder. She possessed neither lines nor any distinct type of construction. Her hull was high, in some places, and in others touched the ‘ water’s edge. She was upside down in. the sky. and her extravagantly shapnat propellers wore churning the skies. The sea was calm, but there was a mist that rose and fell in an extraordinary manner. At one time the display took Am form of an inverted picture of dozens of vessels of all sizes moving in different directous, them suddenly the ships merged into one and dropped from their positions into their more natural placo in tho sea. Although tho officers of the Trevithick had seen many previous mirages, they declared that the Spencer’s Gulf phenomenon was tlni most extraordinary display in their experiences.