MAPOURIKA STRIKES A TIDAL WAVE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 29 April 1901, Page 3

MAPOURIKA STRIKES A TIDAL WAVE.

The Steamer Swept from Stem to Stern.

Narrowly Escapes Foundering.

(per press association.)

Nelson, This Day. The Mapourika had a sensational experience shortly after leaving Wellington for Nelson last evening. When she had just got outside the heads a phenomenally heavy sea or tidal wave, about 25 feet high, struck the vessel on the port bow and swept over her, making a wreck of everything on the fore deck and amidship.

The time was about 20 minutes to six and the passengers were at tea. The sea, in striking the bulkhead, shattered the thick glass of two portholes, through which the water poured and completely flooded the dining saloon from er.d to end.

The tables were swept of their contents, and several passengers cut by pieces of glass.

The women screamed, one or two fainting.

The passengers thought the vessel was going to founder, and the few minutes which followed were moments of intense anxiety and excitement. After the wave passed off there were no further heavy seas, and the rest of the trip was fairly smooth. A great deal of damage was done about the fore deck, the ratlins being cut to a height of nearly 30 feet, whilst the deck cargo consisting' principally of kerosene was completely wrecked. Several seats were carried away, and the window of ,the chart house was smashed in.

The damage aft is great, the sea merely shifting things about. One of the funnel guys carried away.

It is considered certain that had a smaller steamer encountered the sea she would have foundered.