A TIDAL WAVE.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THF

ALAMEDA,

THE CHIEF OFFICER HAS BOTH LEGS BROKEN.

Br arrival of the s.s. Upolu from Samoa, we learn of a sad and serious accident which has befallen Mr Thos. Dodwell, the popular chief officer of the R.M.s. Alameda, on her last voyage from this porb bo San Francisco, via Samoa.

The Alameda left Auckland ab 2 p.m. on December 3, and encountered a strong N.W. wind which hauled round to N.N.E., and conbinued in thab direction, with cloudy weather and passing showers, until December 5. On the afternoon of that day the wind increased to a strong breeze with heavy rain squalls, the sea increasing! Ab this time the vessel was going through the water at a speed of 13 knots, and shipping very little water, Ab 5.15 p.m. three heavy rollers struck bhe vessel, the first causing the ship to pitch heavily down into the sea, and the engineer on duty, to avoid racing, stopped the engines. The second sea came over the bows with terrific force. Jueb as the sea struck the vessel the chief officer unfortunately was leaving the bridge, and on the way to his cabin stopped to close bhe shutters of a stateroom, when the sea struck him and he was carried along the deck, together with the bridge steps and other wreckage, striking bhe bits and boat davits with such force as to break both his legs—the right leg below the knae and the left in two places above the knee, also inflicting a deep and dangerous gash on tho left leg jusfc above the knee. The injured officer was carried to No. 1 stateroom below, bhe largest one in bhe ship, so as bo give the surgeon plenty of room to attend to him. This stateroom is situated amidships, and consequently very libtle mobion from bhe rolling of bhe vessel is felb there. On examination by Dr. Funk and the two naval surgeons in harbour ib was found that the bone of the left leg was shattered in two places at the thigh. The righb leg was also badly fractured. The surgeons were several hours wibh the sufferer immediately after his arrival, and both limbs may possibly be saved, although on bhe bono of the left leg knitting it will very probably be about two inches shorter than before. The sufferer says that he was taken quite unawares. When caught by the sea coming on board he was closing one of the windows of the deck cabin.. There were no indications of severe weather but a libble spray was coming on board. Chief Officer Dodwell is a married man, and his wife is ab San Francisco.

From all accounts the presence of mind of bhe engineer on duty at the time of the accident would appear to have quite possibly saved the steamer from foundering, as, had he nob shub off sbeam she might nob have risen to the third sea, but have gone through it, and ib being one of immense size, it is quite on the cards that she mighb have gone down. The damage to bhe Bhip itself has been slight, principally connecbed wibh the pilot house which was partially demolished, and some nautical instruments injured. The Alameda's crew were engaged until an early hour on Thursday morning effecting repairs, after which she left ou her passage to San Francisco.