Perilous Passages.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5881, 21 March 1887, Page 4

Perilous Passages.

♦ THE WESTERN MONARCH AND THE BRIER HOLME. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Mabch 19. The ship Western Monarch, which arrived from London to-day, and the Brier Holme, from Liverpool, experienced very heavy weather off Dungeness, on the English coast. On Dec. 8 the Western Monarch had a narrow escape from going ashore in a heavy gale, and the captain put into the East roads, but, in coming to an anchorage, the storm raged so heavily that both anchors parted, and the ship was saved by the assistance of the tug Victor. The Brier Holme had been out a week when she experienced heavy weather. On Dec. 9 a terrific squall struck her, heaving the ship on to her beam ends. The port side of the deck was c_mpletely submerged for about twenty minutes. On the same day a heavy sea broke over the ship forward, doing considerable damage to the Bhip, gutting the galley and the forecastle, taking the covers off the fore-hatch and the fore-companion, breaking the mast-coat off the foremast, starting the forward house and the forepart of the deck (a considerable quantity of water going below), taking everything moveable off the deck, a quantity of the seamen's effects being washed overboard, severely injuring the sailmaker, and doing other considerable damage. Ongoing below it was found that the cargo in the forehold had shifted, several kegs of bicarbonate soda having their heads out. The heavy weather lasted until Dec. 18.