WILD WEATHER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 212, 21 August 1931, Page 8

WILD WEATHER

MOUNTAINOUS WAVES BATHERS CAUGHT UNAWARES. THRILLING RESCUE WORK. Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright, New York, Aug. 19. Atlantic City, New Jersey, reports state that one is known to be drowned and two others are missing and nearly 150 bathers were rescued when a series of mountainous waves suddenly swept the beaches of that watering place, the most popular in America. The waves, believed to have boon caused by a storm area, struck the most congested section of the beach, lifting surprised bathers on their crest and sweeping them seaward. Thousands of others ashore stood by horrified.

Lifeguards, undaunted by the raging sea, rowed to rescue the struggling bathers. One boat loaded with eighteen rescued was capsized by the heavy sea. The guards succeeded in righting the craft and drawing the bathers aboard again. ENGLAND’S WET SEASON. THAMES FLOODS INCREASING. British Official Wireless Service. Rugby, Aug. 19. The army manoeuvres of the first division at Aidershot, which were planned to continue till Friday, had to be cancelled to-day on account of the bad weather conditions. Troops who were in action last night were drenched by torrential rain and the country was waterlogged. The floods in the Thams Valley increased to-day, and the river is 14 inches above the summer level. The present month has been the wettest of the year so far, and last night’s rain in the south was exceptionally heavy. An inch and three quarters was recorded at Petersfield, Hampshire. No immediate improvement is expected.