BRITAIN IS SWEPT BY MOST VIOLENT STORM YET

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 1

BRITAIN IS SWEPT BY MOST VIOLENT STORM YET

VESSELS DRIFT HELPLESSLY TO DESTRUCTION IN FURIOUS GALE. Never Before Has There Been Such A Succession of S.O.S. Appeals. (United Press Association.—By Elgctrlc Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received December 9, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. Although lasting only a couple of hours last night’s storm exceeded in violence and destruction all the storms of the past. Ships were disabled, cargoes shifted, and before anything could be done many vessels drifted to destruction. Never before has there been such a succession of S.O.S. appeals. The French steamer Ortais was rounding Land’s End when her rudder was dismantled. Lifeboats could not live in the seas and the Ortais drifted helplessly. She just missed the rocks at Mount’s Bay and eventually went ashore at Perran Cove. The Penzance lifeboat was swamped three times and was forced to relinquish its errand. A youth swam out with a line and the crew were hauled ashore. The Hungarian steamer HonVed found herself drifting on a lee shore. A notice was posted at the Shoreham theatre asking if any lifeboatmen were present. Nearly the entire audience went to the lifeboat station and the lifeboatmen battled for 13 hours before returning. The Honved in the meantime got clear. The Newhaven to the assistance of a schooner, while the women prayed in the'wind and rain. The entire crew of eight were rescued. The Italian steamer Casmonia was abandoned in the Bay of Biscay. The British liner Arlanza rescued the crew.