BAD WEATHER AT. NELSON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 7

BAD WEATHER AT. NELSON.

H.M.S. • ENCOUNTER SEEKS SHELTER. ROUGH EXPERIENCE OF A BOAT'S . 1 CREW. (BT TEtEGEAPH—PREBS ASSOCIATION.) ' ■. . Nelson, September 23. The warship Encounter put to sea at noon yesterday, owing to tho heavy sea running in-the bay consequent on the north-westerly gale, and sheltered last night under D'Urville Island. Yesterday afternoon a party of ' bluojackets landed at the French Pass to 6erid a telephone messago to Captain Fylcr, who was left ashore at Nelson with about fifty liberty men. Only open boats were available, 'as the pinnance' was „ left behind here to convey the men to tho ship' to-day. Tho shore was reached safely and a message sent. The party waited some time at tiie lighthouse in tho hope of a reply, and. darkness set in. Tho boat was urfablo to return to.the vessel owing to the heavy sea and gale preventing them making any headway against tho wind. The boat was blown a considerable distance out of her course, but the Encounter's searchlight kept her in view, anil aifother boat was despatched from tho vessel, and by, the aid or tho searchlight tho second boat picked up .the castaways, anil both, boats returned to the warship, after a long, hard struggle at 8 o'clock. Rumour magnified tho incident into a calamity, it being Freely stated to-day that fourteen "lives had been'lost, but tho facts ari) as given. The Encounter> returned to Blind Bay this morning. Owing to tho heavy rain, .'the rivers are fiop'lol. Yesterday the Jfotuelca coach, was surrounded by water at Appleby; Tho horses we're saved, but the mails did not arrive till to-ilnv. A landslip between C.mvastown and Havetoe': urevented the Blenheim coach reachin" Nelson. ." The weather 13 now lino. Later. .further particulars of the Appleb.v coach acci'' ':it show that tho passengers had an exciii:-:; "xperionce. The W.i.iroa River was in hij;)! flood, the water overflowing tho western approach to the bridge. The coach-driver mistook tho crossing and drovo between the foot-bridge and a fonco. Whon half way across the horsos became frightened and refused to procccd. Tliey were cut adrift and reached land safely. The passengers had considerable difficulty in getting ashore, tho jvatdr being over the high wheels of the coach. Tho mails were washed away, but with the exception of one bag were recovered to-day.