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CHAPTER VII CUTTING FROM “ THE DAILYGRAPH , ” 8 AUGUST ( Pasted in Mina Murray’s Journal . ) From a Correspondent . Whitby . ONE of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been experienced here , with results both strange and unique . The weather had been somewhat sultry , but not to any degree uncommon in the month of August . Saturday evening was as fine as was ever known , and the great body of holiday - makers laid out yesterday for visits to Mulgrave Woods , Robin Hood’s Bay , Rig Mill , Runswick , Staithes , and the various trips in the neighbourhood of Whitby . The steamers Emma and Scarborough made trips up and down the coast , and there was an unusual amount of “ tripping ” both to and from Whitby . The day was unusually fine till the afternoon , when some of the gossips who frequent the East Cliff churchyard , and from that commanding eminence watch the wide sweep of sea visible to the north and east , called attention to a sudden show of “ mares ’ - tails ” high in the sky to the north - west . The wind was then blowing from the south - west in the mild degree which in barometrical language is ranked “ No . 2 : light breeze . ” The coastguard on duty at once made report , and one old fisherman , who for more than half a century has kept watch on weather signs from the East Cliff , foretold in an emphatic manner the coming of a sudden storm . The approach of sunset was so very beautiful , so grand in its masses of splendidly - coloured clouds , that there was quite an assemblage on the walk along the cliff in the old churchyard to enjoy the beauty . Before the sun dipped below the black mass of Kettleness , standing boldly athwart the western sky , its downward way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset - colour — flame , purple , pink , green , violet , and all the tints of gold ; with here and there masses not large , but of seemingly absolute blackness , in all sorts of shapes , as well outlined as colossal silhouettes . The experience was not lost on the painters , and doubtless some of the sketches of the “ Prelude to the Great Storm ” will grace the R . A . and R . I . walls in May next . More than one captain made up his mind then and there that his “ cobble ” or his “ mule , ” as they term the different classes of boats , would remain in the harbour till the storm had passed . The wind fell away entirely during the evening , and at midnight there was a dead calm , a sultry heat , and that prevailing intensity which , on the approach of thunder , affects persons of a sensitive nature . There were but few lights in sight at sea , for even the coasting steamers , which usually “ hug ” the shore so closely , kept well to seaward , and but few fishing - boats were in sight . The only sail noticeable was a foreign schooner with all sails set , which was seemingly going westwards . The foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained in sight , and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in face of her danger . Before the night shut down she was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of the sea ,
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