FIERCE STORM AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 11

FIERCE STORM AT SEA

TWO HORSES TERRIFIED BOTH SAVED FROM INJURY During a terrific storm in mid-ocean the steamer Tongariro had to be lioveto for more than four hours while the crew poured oil overboard in an endeavour to keep down the seas. The Tongariro reached Melbourne on July 3 from Liverpool and her officers told a dramatic narrative. The steamer was steaming through the Indian Ocean when sho ran into the gale. Seas began to sweep aboard and one tremendous wave broke over the top of the loose boxes, in which "two valuable Clydesdale horses were housed on the after deck, smashing the planking at the back of the stalls to matchwood. The animals reared and kicked frantically against the sides of the stalls. A young seaman, ,'G. H. Richards, gave the

alarm, and then rushed back to tho damaged stalls. Climbing into the stalls among the terrified horses, he succeeded in calming them. Meanwhilo the commander of the Tongarirq (Captain P. B. Clarke) ordered the ship to be liove-to and mustered the crew. Other members of the crew assisted Richards to quieten the horses while tho ship's carpenter and his assistants temporarily repaired the damage to the stalls. Captain Clarke then ordered oil to be poiired overboard in an effort to save the animals from injury. Despite their terrifying experience, the horses, two fine stallions, arrived in Melbourne in perfect condition. Another strange incident occurred in mid-ocean during the Tongariro's voyage. While tho steamer was approaching the Africau coast about 50 quail alighted on tho deck and remained on board for many days, sheltering in deck houses. Gradually the quail left or died as a result of exposure on cold nights. One bird remained on board and became tame. It accepted food from the crew and allowed the chief officer to take it indoors out-of the cold at nights. When the Tongariro reached Dakar, on the West African coast, to take in fuel oil, the bird was put ashore.