LINER SHAKEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 12

LINER SHAKEN

UNCANNY EXPERIENCE

SLUM ARINE DISTURBANCE

(Pur Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last uiglit,

A submarine disturbance thought to be connected with the earthquake m South .America violently shook the New Zealand Shipping Company’s motor liner Rangitata the day after she cleared the Panama ('anal, en route from London to Auckland. Tile liner arrived at Auckland to day, and passengers described the uncanny experience. The ship, they said, quivered from' stem to stein for'about 15 or 30 seconds in a manner that made it seem that she was being shaken from different directions at the same time.

“Ormond, via Waiohika. —Side drains have been cleaned. The tractor grader has been employed trimming the gravel section.

“Patntahi-Rere.—The usual maintcu atice has been carried out.

“Licenses were issued during the mouth as follows: Heavy traffic, 60, fees collected £247 16s; motor drivers, 4S, £l2 2s 6d; building permits, 1, £MOs ; total. £261 8s 6d.”

Then she ploughed on steadily through calm and untroubled seas. The disturbance occurred about 7 o’clock in the evening, when most of the passengers were preparing for dinner. One man said he was in the smoke room, having a cocktail before dinner, and the sudden violent trembling of the ship “would have spilled his drink if ho had not hastily swallowed it.” Captain Hunter, commander of the Rangitata, said the liner was travelling at her normal speed, the weather was fine, and the sea calm. Suddenly, without any warning, and with nothing to disturb appreciably the surface of the ocean, the ship shook convulsively. There was deep water in the vicinity, and there was nothing in ilie peculiai motion to suggest tliat the ship had struck a whale or any submerged obstacle. . . .

Later reports were received by wireless stating that a severe, earthquake had been experienced at San Salvador and Guatemala. Tt -was stated-•that' the disturbance experienced by,the liner was almost certainly connected with tins earthquake.