TERRIFIC GALE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 278, 22 October 1935, Page 7

TERRIFIC GALE

TRAGEDIES AT HOME. SHIPS’ CREAVS MISSING. CLOSE CALLS ON LAND. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Oct. 21. The gale, which reached its height over the week-end in Britain, spread tragedy on land and sea, 10 deaths, including a child who was incinerated when a chimney crashed, a youth and a man blown from cycles, and a youth buried beneath 20 yards of brick wall. A woman, aged 48, collapsed after a buffeting by the winds. A workman was crushed against a wall when an iron box was blown against him. A Hull city councillor had a narrow escape when a 12-foot chimney pierced the ceiling and landed on the desk at -which he was working. A car was cut in halves by a falling tree in A’orfish ire ; the driver was uninjured. At Sunderland a father was severely injured when he flung himself over his children to protect them from a collapsing roof. Forty telephone exchanges are completely isolated. All day seven ships systematically searched 100 miles of turbulent ocean fruitlessly seeking the Amrdulla’s crew, which took to the boats 600 miles north-west of the Hebrides. One vessel reported that it ivould have been impossible to launch boats jn such a sea, and in view of this, little hope survives for the crew of 37. The Newcastle steamer Pendennis sank off the Dutch coast. The crew of 22 were saved by a Norwegian steamer. The Hull steamer Magrix went aground off Yorkshire, the crew walking off at low tide. Four steamers sheltering in the Elbe estuary collided, and were seriously damaged. The Italian steamer Pilsna, and the French steamer Auvergne, have signalled that they are in distress. The German steamer Erfurt is feared to have been lost, with a. crew of 25. because she has not been located since Saturday, when she lost her propellers near Horsrev. The French steamer Adrar is stranded on a sandbank off AVesterland. A German battleship is steaming to her assistance. An earlier British official wireless message dated October 19 stated that the whole of Great Britain was swept by gales or, Friday night, gusts of 73 and 69 miles an hour being registered at Pembroke and Holyhead respectively. On Saturday morning a terrific storm was raging over Scotland. The wind reached a velocity of close on 100 miles an hour in the early hours.

A great deal of damage has been caused to property and shipping in the Glasgow area where the full force of the gale was experienced. Traffic on the Clyde was completely held up. The 16,923-ton Anchor liner Transylvania, which was due to leave Glasgow for New York on Friday night with 240 passengers, was unable to leave owing to the inability of the tugs to manoeuvre the vessel out of harbour. Many districts in Scotland are isolated through trees having been blown across roaris or by the wrecking of telephone lines. THRILLING RESCUES. BY LIFEBOAT CREAVS. (British Official AVireless.) Received October 22, 11.35 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 21. A great gale swept the British Isles during the week-end and caused widespread damage on land and sea. AVben the storm was at its height gusts exceeding 90 miles au hour were registered. The most serious disasters occurred at sea. The cargo vessel Vardulla, of the Uotialdson Line, developed a severe list when 400 miles west of the Hebrides and the crew to the number of 37 were forced to abandon the sinking vessel and take to the boats. Seven steamers are reported to be searching lor the survivors. So far they have found no trace of the vessel or the crew. During the heavy weather in the North Sea the small British steamer Pendennis (2001 tons) of South Shields, sank about fifty miles north of the Friesian Islands, off the Netherlands coast. A wireless appeal from the Pendennis brought the Norwegian steamer Aris tp her assistance and 22 members of the crew were saved. Thrilling rescues were made on the Cumberland coast when the Finnish vessel Esbo (3128 tons) went aground. Hie Esbo's crew, including women, wore saved by lifeboat and breeches buoy.