THE CHIMBORAZO IN A STORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5953, 25 March 1880, Page 5

THE CHIMBORAZO IN A STORM.

[Br Telegraph.]

The Chimborazo encountered a fearful hurricane on Feb. 9, south-west of Ushant. She had quitted Plymouth with 362 passengers, a iralnable cargo; and the. largest mail ever carried; hytbe Orient. Company. The wind was blowmghard, and shortly befere 9 in' the morning, a gigantic wave was" noticed coming in the direction of the ship. Onward it came, towering high above the vessel and threatening to engiuph everything. With a terrible crash it dashed bh to the starboard side from the funnel abaft the bridge, pouring oyer the ship with resistless power. The spar deck Was completely swept, and the wave carried overboard evaiy obstacle. The steam launch was tom 'fiswh boats from t their davits. The galley skylights, smoking room,, sheep companion, Ventilators, and the whole of the general fittings of the centre deck were carried away. - i The shock was fearfuh There was terrible consternation; and for the moment : it ‘ was ■ feared that all standing on that part of the vessel; watching the wave; had been carried away; but it was scon ascertained that, whilst nearly all these were more or less injured, only four had been swept overboard;— a cabin paseenger, Mr J. Bozer, C.E., and three seamen. ’ Mr" J. E. Jones, a second-class passenger, had his“ skull' fractured and. died alihost immediately ffflxteenotherpassengers; were injured. The purser had seen that the wave must sweep over the vessel, so just before she was struck he shouted to all to lay hold' of anything, otherwise' everyone there must have -been- swept overboard. Foftu- ' nately, the sea did not put the.fires put. The poly resource was to put the ship’s head about for Plymouth, as soon as it could possibly be done with safety. The saloon ; was ! much damaged, but the hull and engines were uninjured. .A,few minutes before the wave, broke, the Captain requested the passengers to leave the smoking-room, as he desired to put the sheep there, several having been already washedoverboard. The- passengers left accordingly; and a few: minutes later the room was carried away with the deck-houses. The Chimborazo returned to Plymouth without aeristauce,;and lauded her passengers: Several of the daily papers had leaders commenting on the accident, and all cononr in awarding Kt praise to the Captain, officers, and crew. Standard sajs ;--“ The wave was so huge as to suggest the idea that it was due to some volcanic or subterranean disturbance other than the- ordinary forces of the tempest.Kbne.of the Australian passengers returning by the Chimborazo were injured in any way.