midnight
By midnight it blew a gale ; and by the morning watch , a tempest . Through what remained of darkness , the captains impatiently expected day , doubtful if they were dragging , steaming gingerly to their moorings , and afraid to steam too much . Day came about six , and presented to those on shore a seizing and terrific spectacle . In the pressure of the squalls the bay was obscured as if by midnight , but between them a great part of it was clearly if darkly visible amid driving mist and rain . The wind blew into the harbour mouth . Naval authorities describe it as of hurricane force . It had , however , few or none of the effects on shore suggested by that ominous word , and was successfully withstood by trees and buildings .