Pounded by Tremendous Seas

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 6

Pounded by Tremendous Seas

AMERICAN MOTOR-SHIP’S ORDEAL Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Pounded by tremendous seas wliieh broke over tbe decks from stem to stern, causing the vessel to be hove to for 14 hours, the motor-ship fSaiamaua encountered a violent cyclonic storm on Saturday night and reached Auckland last night about Pi hours late. No damage was caused, as tho ship was well battened down and prepared for a storm when it broke, but it was welt buffeted and the 10 passengers and crew of about 40 had some alaxming ex periences. While still 260 miles from Auckland on the run from Lautoka and about 150 miles from tho New Zealand coast, the Salamaua ran into a westerly gale late on .Saturday afternoon. The wind soon reached cyclone force and huge seas be"an to striko the ship on the starboard quarter. Many seas wero shipped amidships and ouo experienced early on Sunday rose almost 20ft. and appeared to cross the middle deck to half the height of tbe funnel. “The solid wall of water resembled a cataract of the Niagara Falls," said the Chief Steward and Purser, Mr. T. Spurdens. “In all my experience I have never seen such a sea shipped, but the Salamaua is a staunch little ship and is wonderfully seaworthy. The only water to enter the quarters was a trickle that came down the ventilator and went’ down the back of one of the engineers. ’' Mr. Spurdens and the passengers paid a tribute to the master, Captain Andrew Smith, and his officers for their efforts while the Salamaua was riding out the storm. Half speed was ordered at about 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, but the storm did not moderate sufficiently for full speed until nearly 10 o'clock that night. Thereafter the seas calmed considerably and the final stage of the run to Auckland was accomplished in good time under pleasant conditions, except that the weather was showery.

The Salamaua, a chartered vessel of the Anlerican Trading and Shipping Company, brought a cargo of sulphur from Galveston, Texas, to be discharged at Auckland. When tho vCssei leaves about Thursday, she will tow the ltie.hardson Line steamer, Mako, to Sydney. No knowledgo of the tow reached Captain Smith until Saturday, and as yet he has mado no arrangements for the voyage to Sydney. .ie Mako is still lying at anchor in th> stream.