GALE IN BRITAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17108, 14 November 1929, Page 7

GALE IN BRITAIN

• WIDESPREAD FLOODS ITALIAN SHIP WRECKED (British Official Wireless.) Kec. 10 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 12. The most severe gale of the® year swept Britain yesterday, and heavy rainstorms caused widespread lloods, particularly in Wales and the Lake District. Some roads were made impassable. Telegraph and telephone communication was interrupted, and many ships had to seek refuge in harbor. The average velocity of the wind maintained over the British Isles for the whole day was approximately 42 miles an hour. In several parts winds of over 60 miles an hour were recorded, and at Cardragton a gust of 83 miles an hour was reported yesterday afternoon. One of the most dramatic incidents of the storm was the rescue of the crew of the Italian steamer Nimbo. Distress signals were sent up and rocket apparatus was brought into use. The first shot was unsuccessful, but the second put a line over the ship’s ’ wireless aerial, and it was made fast to the rigging. The crew clambered up the rigging and one by one 20 of them were taken ashore in a breeches buoy. The captain arid nine of the crew refused to leave the ship, and stayed on boat'd at the pumps. This afternoon wireless reports of more bad weather in the Channel led to an order to abandon the ship, and the remainder of the crew, with the captain, were brought ashore by means of a life-line.