WOMAN DIES IN GALE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 February 1928, Page 2

WOMAN DIES IN GALE

ROUGH HOBART-MELBOURNE "' ' VOYAGE SCIENTISTS PERTURBED ' TERRIFIC'BUFFETING SYDNEY', 27th Jan. The Congress of Scientists at Hobart, just completed, had a dramatic aftermath when the returning learned gentlemen, from all parts'of Australia, met a terrific storm between Hobart and Melbourne. They were passengers on the steamer Nairana, which reached Melbourne on Wednesday after the most gruelling experience she has been through sipe'e running on tfiat trip.

On the voyage across a woman passenger, who was sick when she boarded the vessel, died during the height of the gale, while all members of the crew characterised if as the worst storm they had ever experienced. So great was the tax on accommodation, in view of the return of most of the scientists, that beds were made tip on settees and lounges in various parts of the vessel. The Nairana was rolled, tossed and buffeted to such an extent in the storm that half-speed was called for.

Passengers sleeping on the lounges and settees were thrown off repeatedly. One woman had her nose broken by such a fall, while a huge wave made the ship list so violently that, a man was thrown off his lounge and flung down two flights of stairs. Mrs Susan A. Simpson, of Ararat, was the woman who died on the trip over, the gruelling the ship received being one of the main causes of her demise. There was general relief when Port Philip Heads were sighted on Wednesday morning, and a whole-hearted rush to get ashore when the vessel berthed.