HURRICANE STRIKES SOUTH OF ENGLAND.

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

HURRICANE STRIKES SOUTH OF ENGLAND.

MANY SHIPS DISABLED IN HEAVY WEATHER. (Received December 9, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, December 7. Another violent storm with winds of hurricane force, accompanied by lightning and thunder and torrential rain, struck the south of England last night. It swept up the English Channel causing damage to shipping caught in the heavy seas and to life and property in the coastal towns. The small Rotterdam steamship Merwade was driven ashore near Newhaven and a lifeboat went to her assistance, but owing to the seas she was unable to approach. Rocket apparatus was requisitioned and after some exciting incidents the crew were brought ashore by a breeches buoy. The ship was frequently obscured by the .seas during these operations. The Shoreham and Selsey lifeboat responded to signals that the Budapest steamer Honved, of over 4000 tons, was drifting towards the shore. A cable ship which was in the vicinity later reported that the Hbnved was holding her own and that she was standing by, although it was too rough to pass a tow rope to the Honved. The Shoreham lifeboat returned after eight hours, but the return of the Selsey lifeboat was further delayed by the weather. The Boulogne to Folkestone crossChannel steamer had to be diverted to Dover and was only able to make the harbour after lying outside the port for an hour. The channel services were run as usual. This morning the steamer Largo Law was out of control owing to damaged steering gear off Dyngeness. This morning the c.rew of a tug which went ashore near Dover were rescued by rocket apparatus. The British steamer John Charlton went ashore near Newhaven. Her crew are safe. A tug this morning responded to the calls of the Spanish steamer Alfonso Perez, whose steering gear was damaged in a storm off Great Yarmouth. The Italian steamers Casmon and Johnny, both off Land’s End, also summoned assistance owing to a damaged helm, engines and pumps. Several shipping casualties, involving trawlers and other small craft, are reported. Some damage was done by lightning during last night’s storm, but most havoc was wrought by wind. One woman was killed and another injured owing to the blowing down of a wall in Eastbourne. Many injuries were caused through pedestrians being blown against moving motor-cars. In London windows were blown in in many parts and telephonic wires were brought down. Some roads in the suburbs were flooded, notably at Wembley, where owing to the depth of the water in certain places the traffis was stopped. Although last night’s rains increased the volume of water in the Thames, there is no immediate danger of flooding in the London area.