ATLANTIC GALES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 17

ATLANTIC GALES.

— • DISASTERS TO SHIPPING. TRYING EXPERIENCES RELATED. Stories of disaster caused by the great gale in the middle of January continue to pour in (says "Lloyd's Weekly") of j January 26, aud it is feared that they will be greatly supplemented before the end le . reached. ! The Blue Star Line steamer Brodland I went ashore during a fierce gale just after leaving Aberavon on Monday night. Soou after the vessel struck wreckage began to come ashore, and it was feared she was breaklug up, as she was constantly swept by heavy seas. The rocket crew had to wait some time for the time to recede, but wheu they got to work the first rocket took a line right over the ship, and by this means the whole of the crew, numbering forty-four, were brought ashore. The rescue work, which occupied three hours, was watched by thousands of spectators. It Is feared that the London steamer Sola, belonging to the Buenos Ayres and Great Southern Railway Company, has been lost with all hands off the Lizard. She left Newport for Buenos Ayres on December 23. A few days afterwards one of her boats came ashore at the Lizard. Then a body in oilskins, with a lifebelt attached, was washed ashore at Kunoch Sands. A second body, that of a powerfully-built man, wearing a three-stone diamond ring on the left hand, also came ashore, aud soon after a portion of a boat, painted white, and marked s.s. Sola, was picked up at Gunwalloe. The Sola is a steamer of 3,103 tons, built in 1897, as the Port Philip. The value of the ship and cargo runs into £45,000. The vessel was mainly a cargo boat, but had on board, In addition to a crew of eighteen, several passengers—employees of the company and their relatives going out to .South America. The Furness liner Malvern Bange, which left Baltimore on January 1 for Copenhagen, with a cargo of maize, put into Queenstown on January 21 badly battered by a four days' gale which she encountered In the Atlantic on January 12. The vessel's rudder head was 60 badly damaged that for twenty-eight hours had to lay to. Tarpaulins were swept off the hatches, the hatches were smashed, and volumes of water poured into the hold, damaging the cargo. The forecastle head was smashed, and the steam pipes of the winch aud windlass were broken. Wheel chains and other steering gear were also broken. Terrific weather in the Atlantic was reported by the s.s. Eokeby, belonging to the Pyman Steamship Company, of West Hartlepool, which arrived at Liverpool. A gale sprang up two days after the vessel left Newport News on December 31, and continued for over a week, the wind blowing with terrible force. The Hamburg-Ameri-can liner Abessinia was sighted on January 7 off Newfoundland flying signals of distress. The Rokeby immediately altered her course, and went to the assistance of the Abessinia, which was about ten miles away. A dense fog came down, and the liner was lost sight of, but when it cleared the Rokeby was quite close to her. The Abessinia signalled: "Damaged rudder; cannot steer." and the Rokeby offered to take her In tow. A tremendous sea was running, making it impossible to get a rope aboard, so the Rokeby stood- by until next day, when the gale moderated slightly. After considerable difficulty, the liner was taken in tow, but after about an hour the rope broke. The Eokeby stood by all night, but the gale increased in violence, and the captain was reluctantly compelled to leave the Abessinia. The weather was so rough that the Rokeby was hardly under control, and the discomfort of the crew was Increased by a blinding snowstorm. By running before the windj the vessel escaped serious damage. The Carmania, of the Cunard line, -which left New York on January 11, reached Liverpool on Monday, January 20, after an eventful voyage. Early on January 16 the Mauretania was sighted In mid*-Atlantic, many hours behind her time, ploughing through the leavy sea. As the day advanced the conditions grew worse. The

most exciting experience occurred during luncheon hour on that day, when passengers had their equilibrium disturbed by huge seas which broke against the sides of the ship. More than once was heard the crash of crockery, and the floor of the dining saloon became littered with table utenslis. As the coast of Ireland was approached ,on Sunday morning it became apparent that the wind and sea would render it Impossible to enter Queenstown. The CarI mania made her >vay to Fishguard, anchored lln the bay,'and a tender caane'alongside. I Passengers with tons of baggage had pre- ' pared . themselves for a night journey to 1 London, and they stood on the deck anxious to land. Many attempts were made to . link the tender to the liner, but the turbu- ] lent sea made the task impossible, and I eventually the Carmanla left for Liverpool. ! ; 1