Absolute Karnival ~ El Caballo Blanco, continued. {Part 4- Final} El Caballo Blanco in the English tongue translates to The White Horse. It is a rock off the Dominican Republic. While I had my first horseback riding in La Ramona, Dominican Republic, I don’t know how the rock got its name. Just off of La Ramona and the tip of Hispaniola is a small island, Saona and it was here on the south western end of the island that Captain Smith of the Fancy Me took shelter, dropping anchor when he turned back. I asked the question earlier should he have continued east? I would like to revisit my answer. Peculiar things seem to occur during a full moon, and more so with the sea. So then it would be no surprise to learn after reading the horrific events of parts 2 & 3, that July 25 1926 was the full moon. It is one thing to have an encounter with a hurricane churning into category 4 strength on the seas; it is another thing to have an encounter with a hurricane churning into category 4 strength on the seas – during full moon. So what is this seemingly mysterious relationship with the sea and the full moon? What causes these heightened or lunar tides? Well first off, tides are created because the moon is attracted to the earth. Just like a magnet the moon tries to pull at anything on the earth to bring it closer. But, the earth is able to hold onto everything except the water, the sea. Since the sea is always moving, the earth cannot hold onto it, and the moon is able to pull at it. During full moon the tides heighten because, the moon and sun are on a line, with the earth in between. The moon is pulling water from one side of the earth, and the sun is pulling water from the other. Turbulent waters result. So coupled with full moon tides and having seen the track of the hurricane along with the sheer colossal stamp of the hurricane, I don’t think that it would have made a difference had captain Smith continued east. For the Fancy Me it seemed that things were set in motion that could not be undone. The relentless unforgiving onslaught of the hurricane and waves, broke the vessel away from its anchor and while the schooner was fitted with two anchors, the other, the heavier of the two was trapped beneath the huge shipment of sugar. With dark tumultuous seas about them they began drifting. The Fancy Me drifted until Saturday morning and then there was a crash, and then another. The schooner wrecked on El Caballo Blanco and the prized Tortolian vessel began to take in water, her beauty to be looked upon no more. Those who were in the cabin panicked and rushed on deck. There was one life boat onboard. There were over 89 Tortolian and Anegadian men onboard when the Fancy Me sank. Thirty five survived. The survivors who made it to Saona, some using broken parts of the boat, were eventually rescued and taken to the town of La Ramona. The indescribable screams and the harrowing deaths of the drowning men would disturb the memories of the survivors for time to come. Some were feared to be eaten by sharks. In the Bahamas this monster storm is known as the 1926 Nassau Hurricane, in Puerto Rico it is known as Hurricane San Liborio, and in the Virgin Islands we know it as the Gale of 1926 that sank the Fancy Me. The impact from the hurricane, Wikipedia records was that more than 287 people were killed in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, and Florida. Wikipedia goes on to say, prior to the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, this was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in July (with 140 mph winds) until Hurricane Emily of 2005. When the devastating news was received in Tortola, relatives and friends went into shell shock, some to the point of fainting. There would be an ominous cloud of deep mourning, unbearable grief, and so many un-answered questions for a long time to come. Did the crew launch the lifeboat and leave the passengers to fend for themselves? Was it true what was purported that some of the survivors who were taken to La Ramona outdid themselves spending monies stolen from the dead? Selah. So we started off talking about a schooner commissioned to be built in Tortola. By the names ascribed to the schooners built in Tortola each strived to be built to perfection and The Pride of Tortola was aptly named. With a black manicured hull, her sophisticated masts were a thing of beauty and no expense was spared in her building. None had to be for remember her owner was an extremely wealthy man having kept all the money found for himself. But, also remember the caution of the spirit, that a curse would follow, if anyone deviated from the instructions of the endowment. Well, no matter its astounding beauty, it seemed that The Pride of Tortola, did not escape this curse. The boat that once transported passengers and cargo between St Thomas and Tortola sank. Its sinking was believed to be tied to the deed that the brother did in keeping all the money found for himself. If this be true, we know why the Pride of Tortola sank, but who is to know why the fate that befell the Fancy Me in that July of 1926, befall it, like it did? ©
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:09:19 +0000
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