THE SPORT OF ANGRY SEAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3717, 31 December 1912, Page 5

THE SPORT OF ANGRY SEAS.

VESSELS ALMOST. HELPLESS IN THE GRIP OF MOUNTAINOUS * WAVES.

THRILLING AND EXCITINC STORIES.

DANISH STEAMER FOUNDERS

OFF THE LIZARD

[UNITED PBESB ASSOCIATION COPYBIGHTJ LONDON, Dec. 29.

Further details regarding the Narrurig show that two monster waves rose up suddenly. Tlie Naming rode oyer the first, and then plunged into the trough. Instead of rising to the second wave the vessel went down to it, and the wave swept clean over the whole vessel. All the damage was done at one blow. The saloon and deck cabin doors were torn off. The foremast was broken in three places. The winches were torn adrift and tossed about like corks. There was four feet of water in the starboard bilge of the engine-room, causing a list of 10 degrees. Wireless touch was maintained with several steamers until the Naming was righted,„ and was able to dispense with assistance. Eight lifeboats were made ready, although they could not have lived in such a sea.

A woman was caught" in the sea, and washed to and fro on deck, despite her frantic struggles ,until she was nearly drowned. Almost all her clothing was torn off her. Others were washed about like corks. Mr J. Marion, a passenger proceeding by the Naming to Adelaide, says : —“The women were imprisoned in the flooded cabins, and could not be released when the ship returned. She was down many times to the water’s edge, and the waters poured down the ventilators.” Mesdames Sullivan and Marks, travelling to Adelaide, were injured, sustaining bruises. The partitions of the cabins were smashed. Some of the occupants were up to their waists in water. Mr Phillips, of Glasonberry, while assisting Miss Fierth, was dashed against the bulwarks and badly bruised.

Many cabin trunks were"smashed and everything washed out. Some women were in their nightdresses for two davs.

Many vessels are returning to port, crippled, with sailors injured.

The Beacon Grange has reached the Solent. The sea swept her when near the Caskets, and all the starboard life-boats were smashed, the davits had snapped, and several cabins were wrecked. The Danish steamer Volner foundered. The captain and a sailor were picked up off the Lizards, after two days’ suffering, in an open boat. Thirteen persons were drowned.

HOW THE VOLMER SANK

A TERRIBLE STORY

(Pei-lived Dec. 0, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, ! ec. 30

A wave 80 feet in height damaged the whole of the upper structure of the Beacon Grange. The engineers and firemen worked waist-deep in the water.

The Volmer was 2d miles southward of the Scillies when one tremendous sea swept the vessel, ripping off her bulwarks and poured in torrents into the holds and engine room and quenched the fires. • t The vessel turned ur> channel and drifted for five hours and then sank. The survivors experienced a terrible thunderstorm all night and two steamers passed without seeing their boat, which was oarless and waterless. Tlie men died one by one. The Narrung’s, repairs will occupy five weeks.