TERRIFYING SEAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 7

TERRIFYING SEAS

“STEEP AS CLIFF FACES” SHIPS IN RECENT GALE MAKURA AND MONO WAI. [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Reeciv’ed May 5, 11.55 p.m. {SYDNEY, May 5. Captain MacDonald, of tue Makura, declared to-day that never in 36 yeais at sea had he experienced a worse gale than the one he had just encountered and which caused so much damage in New Zealand. • ‘ The seas were as steep as cliff laces,” he said. “Heavy weather began in Cook Strait on Thursday night and the gale, at its height on Friday and Saturday, reacned a velocity of 75 miles an hour. Tha seas were terrifying to look at. Wp would ease the Makura to the top at an angle to allow her to townr herself down the other side without doing structural damage. Several times we thought the walls ci water would cause her to toppie over. Some waves were over 60 feet high. officers were without sleep for 36 hours, clinging to the bridge rail and watching every sea closely. Fore and aft tne we'l decks shipped avalanches of water. The crew hud great difficulty in moving round. The Makura came through with only minor damage.’ ’ The Monowai, however, suffered a good deal of damage. A steel compan-ion-way was carried away and several portholes forward were smaghed. The crew’s quarters were flooded and the forward galley put out of action. A plate-glass window on the bridge was broken and the officers’ quarters on the boat deck were flooded. Passengers were confined to their cabins the who.? wav. Delays to the two vessels resulted in 24 passengers missing their coanec tions in bydnoy for the East and London.