STORMY WEATHER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 26 February 1935, Page 5

STORMY WEATHER

HIGH SEAS OFF BRITAIN Lightship Crews in Trouble DAMAGE BY LIGHTNING 'British Official Wireless.) (Received 26, 12-30 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 25. Stormy weather continues throughout the British Isles. Heavy snowfalls have occurred in South Wales and other parts. In southern England the storms huve been accompanied by lightning and hail, and considerable damage has been caused. Mountainous seas broke over Chesil beach, isolating Portland Bill from the mainland. Vessels round the coast encountered extremely heavy weather and several distress calls were answered by lifeboats. After waiting for 12 days for relief which was overdue because of the almost continuous south-westerly gales, the crews of four lightships off the Irish coast at Wexford were brought ashore at liosslare during the weekend. For 26 days the men had been isolated, and their supplies of fresh food ran out, while the water supplyhad to be rationed. The crews were relieved only at considerable ritfk. Heavy seas are still running. Despite the density of the storm, not one of the occupants of the bombers which were forced down in Northumberland w-as hurt seriously, although one machine, on striking the rough ground, turned over and the pilot ami observer were badly shaken. (Earlier cable appears on page 7).