Terrific Gales In England

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 23 November 1927, Page 5

Terrific Gales In England

Accompanied By Heavy Rainfall SHIPS DRIVEN ASHORE Wonderful Rescue Work v [British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, Nov. 23.

Heavy gales during the last two days have caused many shipping casualties, and the loss of life would have been much more serious but for the rescue work effected by the rocket apparatus teams.

The gale on Sunday night and Monday reached a velocity of oO miles an hour and was in many parts of the country accompanied by heavy rainfall. The full fury of the gale was experienced on the east coast of England and grave fears arg entertained regarding the fate of the crew of nine of the motor boat Alaska, whose hull was washed ashore near Montrose, Scotland. The crew included six of the members of one familyThe crew of three vessels were rescued on the east coast by means' of breeches buoys carried on a line thrown to the wreck by land rocket apparatus. The Saltfleet Rocket Brigade in this way brought ashore seven of the crew of the small coasting steamer Mourne, in’ distress off the Lincolnshire coast. The steamer Djerisha, bound from Emden for the Tyne, went ashore on the rocks at Creswell, on the Northumberland coast, and it was obvious that her position was hopeless. The gale prevented the launching of the lifeboat but the rocket corps succeeded in bringing ashore every member of the crew of 25 men. In the same way the crew of the steamer Eros were safely landed at Sunderland. OIL TANKER SINKING. Dramatic attempts are being made to save the lives of 15 men who are in peril of perishing with the Dutch oil tanker Georgia, which is sinking off the east coast

of England between Cromer and Yarmouth. Yesterday, when the vessel went aground, a steamer managed to take off 15 of her crew, but was driven back by big seas and unable to rescue more. Lifeboats from Cromer and Gorleston went out but could not get close enough to the Georgia. They stood by until night and at dawn made other attempts to approach, which were unsuccessful. The vessel had been battered continuously by the heavy waves and appeared to be in danger of breaking up. URGENT CALL FOR APPARATUS. At noon to-day the Board of Trade, in London, received an urgent message from Yarmouth stating that it was impossible to rescue the Georgia’s men by ordinary methods and urging the despatch, by the quickest possible means, of the latest apparatus for life saving. The Board of Trade immediately sent off apparatus in a high power motor car, instructing the driver to disregard all speed limits. The apparatus, which embodies the most up-to-date scientific inventions, includes a pistol capable of throwing a lifeline, 150 yards. Meanwhile vessels near the Georgia are pumping oil on the water in an endeavour to subdue the strength of the waves and facilitate getting lifelines to the ship. BROKEN IN HALF. It is hoped that the motor car will reach the scene in time. The latest report stated that the Georgia has broken in half and that one half has sunk and 15 men are clinging to the other half.