SHIP IN. A GALE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 145, 16 December 1927, Page 5

SHIP IN. A GALE

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

CAPTAIN BLINDED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post"?

AUCKLAND, This Day. While hove-to in a hard nor'-west gale, the Norwegian motor-ship Gisla, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, was struck by lightning. The second officer and three seamen were rendered

unconscious, and the captain waa temporarily blinded, but all recovered shortly afterwards.

The Gisla, which is now on her fourth visit to Auckland, was passing through

the gulf stream on her way from St. John'(New.Brunswick) to Montreal to continue loading her present general cargo. About thirty minutes before midnight on 14th September the Gisla, which had been hove-to owing to the stormy weather conditions, was struck | by lightning, there being a blinding flash followed immediately by a crash of thunder. On. the bridge at the time were the second officer and three sea. men. All were thrown to the deck unconscious. The captain, who was sitting in the chart room, was struck blind, but soon got back his sight. The men on the bridge recovered consciousness after a few seconds and suffered no ill effects. Other members of .the. crew below deck were not affected.

An examination showed that the I lightning had broken several insulators on the wireless aerial and had also put the ship's compass many points out. At the time it was thought that the | vessel had suffered no other damage, but a week later the fore topmast snapped off, and it is believed that this was also the result of lightning. The vessel's other topmasts also showed signs of having been struck."

"I never want another experience like it," declared the second officer with emphasis. ,"We saw the flash and then found ourselves on the deck."

On board with the captain are Ms wife and two daughters.