TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 115, 7 February 1908, Page 6

TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY.

ARRIVAL OF THE MOERAKI. ;' ACCIDENT OX BOARD. Tha Union Company's steamer Moeraki, which arrived from/Sydney yesterday morning,: experienced exceptionally heavy weather in'crossing the 'Tasman Sea/.- Departure was taken from Sydney wharf'at 12.15' a.m. on Sunday, amidst heavy showers ■of ;rain. About 2 a.m. Port Jackson : Heads wera cleared, and it was then that the first of the storm was' encountered. The vessel steamed into a very heavy; gale, Accompanied' with mountainous/seas , and heavy rain squalls. Throughout Sunday the wind blew with cyclonic force,' and several seutj came aboard the Moeraki, which was travelling at reduced speed. The seas'did considerable'damage to the deck cargo,; and a ; . lot of deck fittings and steam pipes were carried ; away. Tha ship's railings; were also considerably, bent; On Sunday evening, a pausengerj Mr. Grant, met with an accidcnt. .The vessel gave a lurch,' and he was thrown' violently to the deck, and on arrival here yesterday was, conveyed to the hospital.'. It was found that, in addition to, sustaining injuries to his head, he had a fore-arm 1 broken,, and'two arteries were severed. 'Mr. lirant; was in a state of collapse on arrival in pc:A through loss of blood and shock; ' ! • On Monday further'seas, broke over thia vessel, and the'gale of wind still prevailed. The Mirama, which left here on Friday for Sydney, was passed at 9 a.m., Hying befora the gale. V . The officers and crew of: the Moeraki had a trying time while the-gale lasted. It is stated that several had narrow escapes from being swept overboard, and. on more than one' occasion' the •timely, assistance of one of the ship's company prevented a. fatality. The weather began to. moderate on Tuesday, and at noon on that doy a confused sea was running, accompanied by heavy "By Wednesday the vessel was making good headway in comparatively ,calm weather, and notwithstanding ■ the. boisterous passage completed the trip in 4 days 7 hours. The passengers and, in fact, aH on board, speak highly of '-the sea-going-qualities of the Moeraki, which ; so, successfully weathered what is considered by-"old hands'' to be one of the fiercest storms they have ; experienced. The Moeraki loft at a late hour , last night for Melbourne, via. Southern ports.