ROUGH CROSSING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21062, 14 June 1938, Page 12

ROUGH CROSSING

Niagara Is Buffeted Passengers Suffer Minor Injuries By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. June 13. Two passengers suffered broken ribs and several others received treatment for minor injuries when the liner Niagara was buffeted for four days by I tempestuous weather in the Tasman ! Sea In spite of the stormy conditions , speed was not reduced and the vessel berthed at the Princes Wharf on her i scheduled time. Leaving Sydney on : Thursday the liner encountered a | storm about 15 miles from the Heads as soon as she left the lee of the land and did not reach smooth water again until she entered Waitemata Harbour. The liner met the full force of a west-south-west gale, but fortunately she was running before the storm. The gale lashed the water into mountainous seas The vessel lived up to her reputation as a good sea boat, however, and although the decks were drenched with flying spray no water penetrated below. Captain Martin said that the Awatea and Mariposa, both of which left Auckland for Sydney on Friday, would have a particularly rough crossing as they I were battling into the teeth of the gale. The Awatea was sighted late on Saturday night. She reported that the wind force was about 10 points, but she was too far away for those on the Niagara to observe whether her speed was reduced. With the huge following seas the Niagara developed a slow roll which, although unpleasant, was not so uncomfortable as the violent pitching which would be experienced by head winds. Several members of the crew remarked that they could not remember the liner ever having rolled so much. The only structural damage was the dislodging of a stairway when a huge wave crashed over the poop Surprisingly few of the 280 passengers on board were confined to their beds and attendance at meals was remarkable. Great inconvenience was caused by the severe rolling, and one passenger was hurled out of his swivel chair in the dining saloon and flung sharply against the bulkhead about 15ft away. Another passenger suffered a broken rib when he was thrown against the deck rail, and after this accident ropes were tied several feet away trom the rail as a precaution. None of the accidents was of a serious nature. Many of the passengers professed to enjoy the rough conditions, one elderly man who was travelling for the first tune caused much amusement by standing on the deck at the height of the storm and asking a steward if this was considered bad weather. Experiences were I many and varied. One passenger was about to fill a glass with water when a particularly severe lurch caused him to drench a woman companion with the contents of the jug. Another awoke to find that he had been thrown from his bunk and was sliding along the floor of the cabin. Tributes to the captain and officers were common among the passengers, who appreciated the fine seamanship which was displayed. BEHIND SCHEDULE United Press Association—By Elect no Telegraph—Copyright • Received June 13. 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 13. The passenger liners Awatea, Wanganella and Mariposa, en route from New Zealand to Sydney, met the full force of the gale in the eastern half of the Tasman Sea. Wireless messages received by the Sydney agents for the three vessels staled that all of them had been delayed for about nine hours. The three liners approached the Heads almost in a line and made an impressive sight this afternoon. The Awatea arrived at 5.5 from Auckland. Wanganella 5.11 from Wellington, and Mariposa 5.15 from Auckland Passengers Injured The only incident arising out of the Tasman gale was that two of :he Wanganella's women passengers fell down a gangway and received minor injuries. They refused to disclose their