HEAVY GALE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 283, 14 November 1929, Page 7

HEAVY GALE

FISHING FLEET ENDANGERED 3 LIVES LOST OFF ENGLISH COAST. HEAVY DAMAGE TO VALUABLE GEAR. (United Press Association—By CableCopyright./ (Received 14, 11.30 a.m.) Rugby, Nov. 13. The Hon. W. Adamson, Secretary for Scotland, announced that a disaster occurred to the Scottish fishing fleet off the east coast of England on Monday afternoon. The fleet left early in the morning before warning of a pending gale reached them and proceeded to the fishing grounds, where it should have arrived about one o’clock. In the afternoon a gale of great fury swept the fleet, with the result that two vessels drifted and were sunk and three lives lost. In addition some of the boats foundered. Vessels from Lowestoft lost 11,000 nets and 400 vessels from Yarmouth lost 20,000 nets. The present value of the nets was about £90,000 and the cost of replacement would be about £150,000. WIDESPREAD FLOODS

DRAMATIC RESCUE OF SHIP’S CREW,

(British Official Wireless.) Rugby, Nov. 12. The most severe gale of tho year swept Britain yesterday and heavy rainstorms caused widespread floods, particularly in Wales and the Lake district. Some roads were made impassable. Telegraph and telephone communication was interrupted, and many ships had to seek refuge m harbour.

The average velocity of the wind maintained over the British Isles for the whole day was approximately 42 miles an hour. In several parts a wind of over 60 miles an hour was recorded, and at Cardington a gust of 83 miles an hour was reported yesterday afternoon.

One of the most dramatic incidents of the storm was the rescue of the crew of the Italian steamer Niiubo. Distress signals were sent up and a rocket apparatus was brought into use. The first shot was unsuccessful, but the second put a line over the ship’s wireless aerial and it was made fast to thg rigging. The crew clambered up the rigging and one by one 20 of them were taken ashore in a breeches buoy. The captain and nine of the crew refused to leave the ship and stayed on board at the pumps. This afternoon wireless reports of more bad weather in the Channel led to an order to abandon the ship and the remainder of the crew, with the captain. were brought ashore by means of the lifeline.