DAMAGE BY CYCLONE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16074, 10 March 1923, Page 3

DAMAGE BY CYCLONE.

RONA HAS ANOTHER NARROW j ESCAPE. |

SYDNEY, March 2.—Misfortune continues to dog the steamer Rona, Only recently she grounded M’ithin a stone’s throw of a lighthouse, and (was refloated with difficulty. Her latest excitement was‘the encountering of violent cyclonic weather.

It was reported when she had berthed at the Colonial Sugar Co.’s wharf, Pyrmont, from Fiji, to-day that the vessel had a narrow escape from destruction. For two days she was boveto Huge waves burst over her decks, menancing the safety of the men on duty.

The crew’s quarters were flooded, and even the officers’ cabins were affected. The seas burst doM-n several cabin doors. Rut for the skilful navigation of the master, Cantai»| Wallis, there is little doubt that the vessel would now be in Davy Jones’s locker. j The master headed for. the southern outskirts of the disturbance until the violence of the cyclone compelled him to stop Irk engines. >. „ In making towards the southern edge he had the wind behind the ehiip. When compelled to abandon her course the ship was brought head-on to the wind. Her buffetings were terrific. Cautain Walks ordered that oil bagsjbe used. The steamer nevertheless did not again get under weigh until two days had passed. When the Rona arrived to-day she bore scars from the battle fM’ith the. elements- Steam pipes on the deck and other fittings all suffered.