TREMENDOUS SEAS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 122, 8 February 1923, Page 6

TREMENDOUS SEAS

STEAMER IN ATLANTIC STORM LAMP TRIMMER FATALLY INJURED BY TBLEGBAPH.—PBBSS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, February 7. Details of a severe buffeting experienced by the steamer Kaikoura in an Atlantic storm in December were supplied by officers of the vessel today. Tho vessel, after leaving Liverpool on December 18. was soon in a howling gale, and the decks were flooded fore and aft by heavy seas. The gale grew, to hurricane force, and mountainous seas threatened to overwhelm the vessel, which was compelled to lay hove-to for three days. On December 22 a huge sea swept on board. It broke steam pipes and casings, tore ventilators from their sockets, broke in doors, and burst in the upper and ’tween deck hatches of No. 1 hold. On the following day whilst an effort was being made to repair tho damage, a group of men were struck by a tremendous sea. A. Brownett. a lamp trimmer, was fatally injured. Tho chief officer, C. Pilcher, had a thigh broken, and three other men were injured. The weather improved on the following day. Tho body of Brownett was buried at sea, and Pilcher was landed at Porta del Gada, in the Azores. The steamer was unable to anchor there as tho windlass was disabled, and she proceeded to Colon, arriving on January 8. The cargo in No. 1 hold was unloaded and restowed, and temporary repairs were effected, tho work occupying three days.