SWEPT BY GREAT SEAS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16425, 8 May 1924, Page 6

SWEPT BY GREAT SEAS.

HAVOC ON THE RAIIAWA

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONI

FIRST OFFICER INJURED

NEW PLYMOUTH. May 1

A thrilling experience marked the crossing of the Manukau Bar by the steamer Rarawa on Tuesday evening, heavy seas breaking on board the vessel and damaging the bridge, wrecking the engine room telegraph, and sweeping over the decks in an alarming manner. Damage was done in all directions.The most serious result was the carrying away of the rail and the wooden barricade along the front of the bridge and the breaking off close to the deck of the standards on "which the telegraphs giving communication with the engine room were mounted. Captain W. Bark, Mr W. Robertson (the first officer), and a steersman were on the bridge when the wave came on board and they had: a narrow escape from serious consequences. The captain received some bruises on the head and face while the first officer suffered rather more seriously. He was confined to his cabin to-day as the result of a blow on the head but was expected to be fit to resume duty to-morrow. AMPLE EVIDENCE OF ORDEAL. When the Rarawa arrived in port this morning orders were being communicated to the engine ljpom by word of mouth through a man stationed at the skylight. The appearance of the Rarawa as she lay at the wharf bore ample testimony to the severity of the trial she had survived. The overhead wooden protection that formerly fronted the master's cabin had disappeared, the whole forepart of the bridge had been completely carried away, the standard supporting the operating lever of Ihe engine telegraph reclined in an obscure corner, the starboard light was battered and broken, and steam pipes lying along the starboard deck were twisted and wrenched in the strangest fashion. According to the sailors thfc .-ast three trips have been comparatively rough, but the sea was not unusually restless when the ship left Onehunga'. The passengers were, however, ordered below and the companionwny doors were closed in the usual manner. STEERSMAN SENT FLYING. Just as the vessel made the shallow water near the bar a huge roller swept menacingly from the starboard quarter, and poising for an instance in the air, washed with tremendous force over the forepart, of the vessel. The ship did not heel, but shuddered "Convulsively from stem to stern and was about to rise on the next crest when a second sea follow ing. fast on the heels of the first came tumbling with all its might right -across the decks and bridge. Flying wreckage struck the man at. the wheel. He was knocked on to the bridge deck while, to. add a final touch to the scene of confusion, a piece of timber became entangled in the cord of the siren, setting up a shriek of distress that disturbed' its hearers for a period of about four minutes.

Fortunately a third sea did not follow when the ship lay broadside on and temporarily out of action. Once steerage way was established and the danger zone left behind the trip proceeded in an almost normal" manner. PASSENGERS PERTURBED.

At the time of the accident the passengers below became somewhat per turbed, partly on account of the water that poured in through the skylights and partly because of the sudden and prolonged screech of the siren. Confidence was soon restored, however, by the quiet assurance of the stewards and steward esses.

Besides the damage already mentioned several seats on the deck were swept from position and bent almost out of recognition. It was estimated that over a bun died passengers were travelling, a great many of whom were anxious to proceed South by the train, but port was not made until shortly after 8.30 o'clock, and to add to their troubles the mail train did not run further than Wanganui.