TERRIFIC CYCLONE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 10

TERRIFIC CYCLONE

RIMUTAKA BUFFETED" MUCH DAMAGE DONE MOUNTAINOUS SEAS A terrific cyclone was encountered by the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner lihnutaka on her voyage from London and Southampton to ton. The storm lasted for forty-eight hours. Mountainous seas dashed against the sides of the vessd and over 'the stern, doing v good deal of damage. Kailings and skylights were- smashed, cabins Hooded, and lifeboats torn from their lashings. The Uimutaka, which arrived at Wellington this morning, left London on 12th April and Southampton the next day. Pino weather was experienced across the Atlantic, and entering the Pacific conditions were still good, giving no indication of the mountainous seas which were to be encountered off Rapa Island. On the night of 14th May a long heavy swell set in from the' south-cast, and within twenty-four hours the barometer dropped from 30.11 to 28.90. The waves rose to 30 feet, gradually increasing in height until they towered' high above the ship, and broke with fury on the port quarter. A corresponding increase of wind force was registered until a velocity of over 73 miles an hour was reached, making the stays and rigging set up a highpitched howl. Daylight broko to the accompaniment, of a roaring gale seldom encountered in the equatorial latitudes of tho Pacific at this time of the year. The vessel shipped heavy seas from both port and 'starboard quarters, continually rolling th'o main deck rails under water. DECKS AWASH. The saloon galley suffered heavily a few minutes before.the gong summoned passengers^ for breakfast. "Water poured through the lee doorways," extinguishing the iires. Before noon on 15th not a dry spot could be found on deck. With waves rolling in all directions, tli.c deck was difficult to cross. Tho fury of tho cyclone had not yet reached its height. The most anxious period was from 2.30 to .4.30. At 4 p.m. tho climax was reached. Waves, dashing along the full length of the vessel, smashed the'gangway, lashed to the side rails of tho promenade deck, and stripped the rails like wire and lusitch"wood, twisting 3in pipes and stanchions, bursting the deck house vestibule door, and smashing skylights on the boat deck, throwing the lifeboats about like corks, and washing their equipment over tho side, at the same time-strip-ping the main deck of all movable objects. At 4.30 p.m. not a ladder, from tho saloon to tho main. deck, was1 left in position. Deck ladders were smashed, torn from their sockets and washed over tho side. Bafts on top of the officers' quarters were torn from their lashings, thrown against the rails and splintered into matchwood. CABINS FLOODED. The officers' quarters were badly strained, and the alleyway and cabins, filled with water. The wireless room was a confusion of . damaged . instruments, tangled wire, and sulphuric acid, and the receiving -apparatus was put out of action for three iliours. The saloon and passengers' cabins were awash. Water pouring through a smashed skylight flooded the music room, vestibule, and. alleyway, keeping the stewards busy for hours bailing water. With the dynamos under water, the ship was plunged.into total darkness. Water poured down into the engine-room on top of the sweating engineers, who .for hours, throughout the storm, stuck to their task of, repairing tho engine. At 5 o'clock heavy rain and spray were, beating upon the vessel from all directions, drenching the already soaking officers and the watch on dock. Iron doors, which -were wrenched from their fastenings, smashed the teakwood rail and screen round • the forepart of the promenade deck. . The. spray dashed against the funnel and continuously drenched the upper bridge, 40ft above tho water-line. During the hours of darkness the storm presented, a terrifying appearance, huge walls of water towering on either side of the vessel. Waves dashed across the decks fore and aft, and the engineers and firemen could Jiot walk back in safety, to their Cabins. The firemen slept in the bunkers, whilst the' engineers toiled with the disabled engine throughout the night. Food was' brought to them under difficult and dangerous conditions. By tho morning of the ICth the fury of the storm had decreased, but the seas still piled 30ft to 40ft into, tip air, soaking those whose duty it was to keep the ship in working order. By 8 p.m. the vessel was once more under way, after being liove-to for 10 hours. CREW'S GOOD WORK. Throughout the forty-eight hours- the commander, Captain Hemming, except for two short periods, remained on the .bridge drenched to the skin, and but for his excellent seamanship, the damage would 'undoubtedly have been greater. When the lifeboats wcrc;toru from their lashings Captwu Hemming personally assisted to make them secure. ■ The engineers, for thirty-six hours without sleep and under tho most trying conditions, kept the ship under wjiy, with'tho engines racing and the propellor cutting air every few revolutions. After twenty-eight hours battling with the big seas, tho starboard -engine became disabled, rendering the steering both difficult and dangei'ous. From 17th to 23rd, May the vessel ploughed against'a 20ft swell, but made good speed under tho conditions: The Eimutaka is a twenty-eight-year-old vessel, and Captain Hemming, whoso skill and expert knowledge of t'.ic ship were fully tested during the storm, has been in command of her for eighteen years. .