SEVERE GALE AT SEA.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 7

SEVERE GALE AT SEA.

STEAMER BADLY BUFFETED

DANCED ABOUT LIKE CORK. WATER IN ENGINE-ROOM. United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright, (Received April 26, 10.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 26. . The Wainui arrived at Victoria Docks two days late on her voyage from the Bluff, having been severely battered in a hurricane. The officers told of a battle against the storm, which the vessel ran into soon after she cleared the Bluff and which lasted until she was almost in sight of the Victorian coast. “A seventy miles an hour gale and seas that blotted out the horizon made us dance about like a cork, and at times threatened to overwhelm us," said one officer. “At two o’clook on Saturday afternoon a sea crashed over the starboard side,, lifted a lifeboat off the chocks, and hurled it along the deck, breaking a skylight. The water poured dow/l into •the engineroom, and the engineers and greasers on watch thought the ship was foundering. . A few minutes afterwards a seaman, at great risk, rescued the starboard lifeboat. The port lifeboat suffered a similar fate, and had ’to be lashed. The Wainui then hove-to for live hours. The sailors were forced to keep continuous watch on six prize horses and a hull, which were tossed about and had difficulty in keeping their feet. However, they were hot seriously hurt.” The Wainui’s master described the trip as the worst crossing of the Tas-_ man he had ever known. ON NEW SOUTH WALES COA9T. •VERY ROUGH SEAS REPORTED. United'’Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright* (Received April 26, 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 24, Gale conditions continue along the coast, with very rough seas.