GREAT STORM AT NAPIER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11181, 1 February 1897, Page 5

GREAT STORM AT NAPIER.

VESSELS IN DANGER. NARROW ESCAPE OP THE EANGITIKEI. . HER CAPTAIN KILLED. [Per Press Association. 1 NAPIER, Jan. 81. Early on Saturday morning the most terrific south-east gale ever experienced in Napier set in. Trees were uprooted in every direction, fences and chimneys wera blown down, and orchards and gardens were devastated. A tropical rain fell, and the sea was running mountains high. _ The ships Auckland and Eangitikei had a terrible time of it, lying in the open roadstead. The Eangitikei began to drag her anchors in the morning and hoisted signals of distress, but the nature of them could not be made out owing to the blindr ing rain. At times she was literally buried in the seas, and it was more than once thought that sh« had .foundered. In the afternoon she was close in shore at the Petone Beach at the spot where the Northumberland was wrecked, and it appeared that nothing could save her. The rocket apparatus was

Carried around to. the beach, and every preparation was made to save life. Just at the critical moment, when she had already bumped on the bottom, there was a change of wind ’to the northeast, and her anchors held. When ifc became possible to communicate with henit was found that one huge sea which broke oyer her had thrown Captain 3?ottinger against the mast, killing him instantly. It. also broke one of the first mate’s legs and seriously injured three of the . crew.; .This morning the ship was .towed to a safer position, but the wind and sea are rising .again, and her position is still, critical. The Auckland’s anchors held better, and though she dragged somewhat, she wals never in a dangerous position. Tfie breakwater was invisible under the heavy seas,- and it -yas. reported.that it had When the sea moderated it was. found that the portion of the structure above high-water level’had suffered severely, hut the receding waves - showed the work below it intact. It iff,y impossible to ascertain the real damage, but the structure appears in much the' Sato© condition as after the great storm, of 1894. It _is a curious ! coincidence ■ that the Rangitikei was, .then at the anchorage and dragged to the .same place where she lay yesterday.