THE SEA'S FURY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12242, 11 April 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SEA'S FURY.

GERMANIC'S PASSENGERS SEIZED WITH PANIC. New York, February 15.—The White Star liner Gcrnianic arrived in New York yesterday two days late, after experiencing what her commander, Captain Smith, describes as " the very worst crossing I have ever experienced in the Atlantic." When less than twenty-four hours out of Quenstown, on February 5, the Germanic ran into the teeth of a terrific gale. The waves reached above the ship's funnels, and constantly deluged her decks with .water. Captain Smith slowed his vessel down to between three and four miles an hour, just enough to give her steerage way. Lifelines were run about the ship, and the crew worked with ropes about them. For a time the passengers thought the vessel was going to founder, and in the steerage there was a panic, the passengers running about crying and raving. While the storm was at its worst, the first-class passenger* held a prayer meeting in the saloon. The Germanic rolled and tossed, going almost on her beam ends. Finally. Captain Smith adopted the unusual expedient, for Atlantic liners, of pouring oil on the water. Between twenty-five and thirty barrels were emptied at first, and this was"continued until the sea about the vessel was comparatively calm, while elsewhere the waves rolled and tossed in an alarming manner. The storm continued until well into Friday, February 6, but, owing to the liberal use of oil, the" Germanic was not so violently treated toward the end as she was at the beginning. The strain on the machinery of the Germanic was very severe, but the engines withstood it remarkably well, and emerged from the fray with the tempest in good condition, though they are to be inspected here before the vessel starts on liar return voyage.