GALE ON THE ENGLISH COAST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1306, 8 December 1911, Page 6

GALE ON THE ENGLISH COAST.

EXCITING SCENES. A. tale of extraordinary violence occurred in the English Channel on October 22, and tho heavy seas caused mucl* destruction. At Dover Admiralty Vicr the i\o. 1 Western lumling stago was demolished, and masses ol wj-ectoffo from it swept out into the Channel. A stono building which was being erected for tho Harbour Board was razed to the ground. About IiOO Icet'of heavy iron parapet recently orectod was smashed and twisted in an extraordinary manner. Buildings on- tho.pier extension station were wrecked by big seas. A wavo which wrecked the buffet was running several foot abovo the railway platform'. In ono of the offioes a clock and a telephone were torn off the walls. I'ive inen were crushed' against tho station buildings by a violent sea, and one, named Larkins, was badly hurt. A fireman named Kinir, on the DoverCalais mail steamer Kivicra, was washed overboard, lioats were promptly lowered by his own ship and tho U&lend mail steamer Princess Clementine, and' happily . the Belgian sailors succeeded m saving' 'King. ■' Just' , as tho ressuo had been effected a wavo filled tho lifeboat, but fortunately her hands kept her afloat.

Tons of beach Vrcro washed across the railway in front of the Lord Warden Hotel, and although gangs of men'were engaged removing it they made little progress in clearing the lino, groat quantities being washed upas fast as it was removed..

Tho Channel 6ervico was interrupted, and some of the boats had to be diverted from Calais to Boulogne and from Dover to Folkestone. Very rough crossings were experienced, and the hotels were full of weather-bound passengers. Somo of the services did not run.