A TREMENDOUS WAVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1674, 28 September 1887, Page 2

A TREMENDOUS WAVE

• — The Ounard steamer XTinbrla, which arrived at New York on July 30, reports ■ a remarkable enoounter on July 27 at 5 ; o'clock a.m., with an immense wave. The ■ weather had been naaty all the way over ; with head winds, cross seas, and fogs. ; When the wave was Been approaching, : the officer on the bridge, 40ft above the : water line, was unable to see over It, He | cays it seemed to tower above him like ■ a covered pier to-a man m a small boat ! alongside. The wave struck the XTmbria : forward on the port bow, and carried : away the port light, The white light on : the foremast, 60ft above the water line, : waa put out. The raised house covering I the forward hatch was smashed m and forced down tbe hatchway, and toni of water fol'owed. The brass rods about ; the bridge were broken and badly bent, and the crow's nest wsb smashed to pieces. The officers of the Umbria aay they never saw such a wave before. Something of a panic prevailed among the few paasen» get a who were m the cabia at the time, and others, awakened by the tremendous crash, rwbed. on deck m their' sight' dresses, screamed hysterically, and fell on their knees m prayer. Maoh damage waa done to tbe clothing of the passengers but no one was seriously hurt. Prince Devawongße of Siam, the half-brother to the King, was on board, with his suite.