WORST YET !

Grey River Argus, 7 May 1934, Page 5

WORST YET !

Steamer’s Ordeal IN ROUGH TASMAN CROSSING. (Per Press Association » AUCKLAND, May 6. Battered by mountainous seas that ■ hicatered to engulf her. the small 'teamer ‘‘Abel Tasman.” which arrived at Auckland this afternoon, two ‘lays late from Sydney, fought out the gale wMeh swept Auckland pro vinie on Thursday for 30 hours. The vessel was hove to in a welter of crashing waiter as it was the only thing to be done to save her from destruction. XX hen the vessel entered port the only visible signs of damage were o few cracked portholes. The only description which the Alas.er. Captain C. J. Turner, would give of the ordeal, was: “It was about the worst, passage I have made across the Ta.s D ,a. n . •> In spite of the Captain’s reticence, however, inquiries showed that at time s when the ship '•as battling with the gale it seemed she would lx> smashed to pieces with her bows plunging into rearir Of nater that lifted her high er tumbh’d in breaking cataracts across her decks. She was kept head on to the storm from early on Thursday mornmg until after mid-day on Friday. “Thank God that is over.” was the comment of a t least one man on the vessel when the w-ind abated and the normal course was resumed. The Abel Tasman•' with e general cargo of hardwood poles and sleepers left Sydney for Auckland on Saturday April 28.