ELECTRIC STORMS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1928, Page 7

ELECTRIC STORMS

SI IJP'S COMPASSES DISABLED

STEERING BY STARS AND SUN

AUCKLAND, Oct. 30.

When tlio steamer King lullin' arrivcd from Tampico. .Mexico, the officers stated that the course across the Pacific had perhaps hcen rather more erratic than is usual. Off the Yucatan (toast on September 21st, when the Kinp; 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 lire, those weird balls of light that sometimes descend on to ships on such occasions, ran up and down the 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 wa.s 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 Kdgar left Tampico on September 29th and cleared dial boa on October 2nd. 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 motorships afloat she is not equipped with the gyroscopic compass. Their efforts were not very successful, however, and for the greater part of the voyage they relied on the stars and sun to check the accuracy of their course. Last night, when the vessel was Hearing 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 wa.s clear and line, otherwise it would have been wel-night impossible to come in in the dark. While the vessel is discharging her compasses will be examined and they will be adjusted to the dolphin in the harbour ibefore she sails for the south.