TASMAN CYCLONE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19698, 2 August 1938, Page 13

TASMAN CYCLONE

SHIP HOVE TO 14 HOURS SALAMAUA BUFFETED MOUNTAINOUS SEAS ALARMING EXPERIENCES (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this' day. Pounded by tremendous seas, which broke over the decks from stem to stem, causing the vessel to be hove to for 14 hours, the motorship Salamaua encountered a violent cyclonic storm on Saturday night and reached Auckland last night about 1G hours late. No damage was caused as the ship was well battened down and prepared for the storm when it broke, but it was well buffeted and the 10 passengers and the" crew of about 40 had some alarming experiences. While still 260 miles from Auckland on the run from Lautoka and about 150 miles from the New Zealand const, the Salamaua ran into a westerly gale late on -Saturday afternoon. The wind soon reached cyclone force, and huge seas began to strike the ship on the starboard quarter. Many seas were shipped amidships, and one experienced early on Sunday rose almost 20ft. and appeared to cross the middle deck to half the height of the funnel. "The solid wall of water resembled the cataract of Niagara Falls," said the chief steward and purser, Mr. T. Spurdens. "In all my experience, I have never seen such a sea shipped, but the Salamaua is a staunch little ship and wonderfully seaworthy. The only water to enter the quarters was a trickle that came down the ventilator and went down the back of one of the engineers." Mr Spurdens and the passengers paid a tribute to the master, Captain Andrew Smith, and his officers for their efforts while 'the Salamaua was riding out the storm. Half speed was ordered at about u o'clock on Sunday morning, but the storm did not moderate sufficiently for full speed until nearly 10 o'clock that night. Thereafter, the seas calmed considerably, and the final stage of the run to Auckland was accomplished in good time and under pleasant Conditions except that the weather was showery. The Salamaua, a chartered vessel of the American Trading and Shipping Company, brought a cargo of sulphur from Galveston, Texas, to be discharged at Auckland. When the vessel leaves about Thursday she will tow the Richardson Line steamer Mako to Sy No e knowledge of the tow reached Captain Smith until Saturday and, as vet he has made no arrangements for the voyage to Sydney. The Mako is still lying at anchor in the stream.