A PHENOMENAL STORM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5846, 8 February 1887, Page 3

A PHENOMENAL STORM.

[By Telegraph.] [Special to the " Stab."] SCENE IN BLUFF HARBOUR. GREAT DAMAGE TO VESSELS. THE TUG HELPLESS. 1 INVERCARGILL, Feb. 8. A storm of phenomenal violence visited the Bluff on Saturday. A remarkable feature was the rapidity with which the sea within the harbour rose, while outBide there was no more than the ordinary swell. The wind blew from the land, nearly due north, fair on to the wharf The hurricane lasted about four hours. Firat to feel its effect were the vessels moored off tho wharf. They began to drag their anchors, and the cutters Nautilus and Alarm speedily went ashore on to a sandy beach. The cutters Heather Bell (Auckland built) and Dolly Varden were not so fortunate, aa they came in contact with the wharf, against which they were thrown repeatedly by the heavy 6eaa. The railway horses, with a number of men, took the Dolly Varden in tow, with a view to beaching her. After considerable effort they Eucceeded, but not before the smart little craft had been eadly knocked about. The whole of her stanchions and bulwarks on one side were smashed, and there is no doubt that- but for the timely assistance given she would quickly have left her bones outside the wharf. Mr Williamson's other cutter, the' Heathei Bell, was alßo greatly damaged before tbe steamer Invercargill, which happened to come in about noon, succeeded in towing her off the wharf. In doing this the Invercargill lost one of her anchors, and had to run outside the harbour, getting under the lee of a point for safety. The Harbour Board's tug also suffered. She was lying alongside the wharf, and immediately after the storm set in, steam was got up in order to render aid to the cutters. The violence of the Bea was such that it was found to be impossible to get the tug clear. Some idea of the force of the wind and sea may be gathered from the fact that although full steam was on, the tug could neither move ahead nor go astern j she was Bimply jammed against the wharf, and the thumping soon told on her. The paddle box on the port side, and the floats were smashed through concussion with tbe wharf, the beams of which at the tug's berth were snapped asunder. It is estimated that JB2OO will be required to make good the damage done to the tug. The Harbour Board's dredge, which was moored on the lee aide of the wharf, broke her moorings, which' had been just previously strengthened by the addition of several chains, and drifted ashore. She lies full of water on the beach. Nichol Brothers' coal hulk • Chance also sustained injury. Tho engine on deck was capsized, and although the vessel is built of oak, her side next the wharf, where it came in contact with the piles, was almost chafed through. An old identity says such a sea was never witnessed in the haibour before. People on the Railway Station platform, ' 200 ft from the shore, were drenched j with tbe spray. During Saturday night the sea encroached on the railway line near the Ocean. Beach station, and passengers by Sunday afternoon's train had to get out and walk some distance. The damage has Binse been made good. The bright side oi the picture is that although several narrow escapes occurred, no loss of life has to be recorded. Great sympathy is felt for Mi Williamson, whose enterprise in. developing the fishing trade is well known. Hie loss is considerable.