FIFTY MILES AN HOUR GALE

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1946, Page 5

FIFTY MILES AN HOUR GALE

Press Astn.

— — NEW SOUTH WALES BATTERED Huge Wave Crashes Aboard Sydney Ferry

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received' Tuesday, 7.1% p.m. SYDNEY, April 16. 1 Passengers were Tiajtercd, sv/cpt along the decks and showercd witri broken glass, when big uiesel-eugined Manly i'erryboat Barren Joey, was strnck broadskie on by a huge wave when crossing inside Syd.ney heads this morning. Oue oi three ■women who were injiami was still unconscioas- when- taken to hospital by ambulanee which met the damaged ship when she reaehed Circular Qw- . , x When the wave crashed aboard passengers were swept right aeross the lower deek and th-e i'orce- of the btovw caused the Barren -Joey to heel over until water eame aboard the" lee side. The injuries sufPered by the three women rushed to hospital inelude a strained baek, possible internal injuries, and euts caused by flying glass. Other harbour ineidents ineluded the battle oi' two tugs to rescue a watehman adri i't on a. pile driver which broke ironr its moorings. Late. this morning the pile driver was finally towed toa sal'e anehorage. ' * No yessel has let't port for thirty-s-ix hours. Following the mishnp to the ferryboat Barren Joey, a sister ship, the Barraeoola, which took over the Manly rau, was struek by a heavy sea and arrived at Maiily with five windows shattered. A nineteen vear old girl was taken to Manly hospital suffering severe euts on the legs and faee. At Neweastle, the earetaker of "Bogey Bole" was severely injured about the head when an avalanche of rock 1'ell. sixty fe"t into ihe eoitage. A slab measuring nine feel by five I'eet crashed lli rough the wall of the eoitage and buricd the earetaker under a pile of splintered iimber and roek. He sustained a fraetured skull. and concussion. The Sydney metropolitan area has been subjeeted to the greatest rainfall on record for April. The suburbs recorded as high as 737 points for t.wenty-four hours. A fiftv niile an hour gale, heavy seas and t.orrential rain, are eausing damage iu the metropolitan area. Rail. road and an* traffie. is disorganised and small towns just north oi Sydney are partially flooded. Foreshores in some parts of the harbour are littered with the wreckage of small boats. Flood warnings are being broadeast to residents in Nepean and adjaeent river areas.