R. J. MCGUIRE _Lieutenant (J.G.), U.S.N.R.F._ Commences and until 4 A.M.: Hove to with head to wind, speed about 2 knots, whole gale with frequent hurricane squalls from N. At 3.00 a heavy sea came on board and stove the forward deck-house. Seas also carried two French mines overboard and both mines exploded astern. Changed course to South and ran before gale at 5 knots. Manhole plate to lazarette washed off and large quantity of water entered, flooding engine-room. Water waist-deep in crew quarters and six feet deep in No. 1 hold. W. B. PORTER _Lieutenant Commander, U.S.N.R.F._ 4 to 8 A.M.: Running before heavy Northerly gale on South course, speed 6 knots. Very heavy following seas which broke on board very frequently. At 7.30 motor sailer broke loose but was secured with some injuries. Very heavy rain and hail squalls. Ship’s decks continually flooded. R. J. MCGUIRE _Lieutenant (J.G.), U.S.N.R.F._ 8 A.M. to Meridian: Steaming on course S. by W.—112 W. Speed 7 knots. Sea very rough. Hurricane blowing from North. Frequent heavy rain and hail squalls. Ship taking considerable water over the stern. Continued running before storm. A. K. SCHANZE _Ensign, U.S.N.R.F._ Meridian to 4 P.M.: Steaming on course S. by W.—112 W. Speed 7 knots. At 12.42 changed course S. 31 W. Hurricane blowing from North. Seas very large and coming over quarter-deck and both sides. J. F. W. GRAY _Ensign, U.S.N.R.F._ The war diary compiled by Commander Kittinger for the Navy Department is somewhat more explicit, but displays no signs of emotion. One begins to catch glimpses of the situation, however, and even to conclude that this intrepid naval officer would have felt much safer ashore. He also commits himself to the statement that the wind blew with hurricane force. A sailor will seldom go as far as this. When he does, you may be sure that old Boreas is giving the ship about everything he has in stock. What the agitated land-lubber calls a storm, and refers to it as a narrow escape, the skipper jots down as “a strong breeze”; or if it blows hard enough to snatch the hair from a cat’s back he may stretch a point and log it as a “moderate gale.” There seems to have been no disagreement among the experts that the _Corsair_ poked her nose into a _bona-fide_ hurricane, to be certified as such.