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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1074, 16 May 1882, Page 2

On Feb. 15, in Ist. 35. 8., loneituda 18. W., the barque Clynden, from Greenock, appears to have experienced an unusual shock from some submarine disturbayco. The sensation is described by Mr Forest, a passenger, us similar to an earthquake, and we append his description as it appears in his diary of the voyage. He says:—“ We experienced a shock of earthquake which shook the whole •hip. At first we were at a loss to account. for the shock, as many other things would cause a similar vibration. For instance, if a vessel had rubbed over a reef of rocks, or the heavy cable had suddenly run eut, which are very rare, if not unprecedented occurrences in the latitude above mentioned. The earthquake lasted two minutes, and during that time we made scarcely any headway whatever, although we had been going •ix knots an hour previously. The noise iu the saloon was something dreadful, the glass ef the skylight and everything else movable below shook and rattled, creating a dreadful din. No noise outside accompanied the tremour, though the vibration on board for about a minute and a half was very severe. On the morning of this day we sighted and signalled the Norwegian schooner Logsenn, bound from San Francisco to Cape Town, 80 days out. About the time of the shock she was bearing north-west, about 5 miles astern, and if we could get the exact time she first felt the shock we could then determine tho rate of speed at which the earthquake was travelling. I noted the suppositions of a few of the crew, and gave them sans souci, steward’s veinion : That the gunpowder had taken fire, and was causing tho vessel to tremble previously to sending us all aloft. “ Chips,” the carpenter's version : That a big log of timber had got under the vessel. Second mate declares lie was unable to keep his heels on deck, and that although he tried to keep them down they flew in the air. There can be no slight doubt that this astonishing sensation on board the Clynden was occasioned by a tidal ware, and such an occurrence is not altogether uncommon, although the period of time which this one is said to have lasted exceeds the ordinary tidal disturbances which are generally calculated as lasting a few seconds. Nevertheless, Mr Forest's assertion, corroborated as it is not only by steward, “chips.” and second mate, but also by the captain, as to a minute and a half, is worthy of the fullest credence.