LINER IN STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1928, Page 3

LINER IN STORM

RIMUTAKA’S ORDEAL

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, May 25,

A terrific cyclone was encountered by the N.Z. Shipping, Coy’s liner Rimntaka on her voyage from London and Southampton to Wellington. The storm lasted for 48 hours. Mountainoils seas dashed over against the vessel and her stern, doing a good deal of damage. Railings and skylights were smashed, the cabins were flooded, and tho lifeboats were torn from their lashings. On the night of 14th May a long, heavy swell set in from the south-east, and within 24 hours the barometer dropped from 30.11 to 28.99. The waves rose to a height of 30 feet/ gradually increasing in height, until they towered high above the ship, and broke with fury on the port quarter. A corresponding increase of the wind force was registered, until a velocity of over 75 miles an hour was reached, making tile stays and the rigging set up a high pitched howl. Daylight broke, to the accompaniment of a roaring gale such ns is seldom encountered in tlie equatorial latitudes of the Pacific at this time of the “year. The vessel shipped heavy seas from both the port and starboard quarters. She was continually rolling her main deck rails under water. The climax was reached at 4 p.m. Then there were waves dashing along tho full length of the vessel, and they smashed the gangway that was lashed to the side-rails of the promenade deck, and stripped the rails like wire and matchwood, twisting the three-inch pipes and stanchions, bursting the deck-house vestibule door, and smashing the skylights on the boat deck, throwing the lifeboats about like corks and washing their equipment over the side, while at the same time stripping the main deck of all its moveable objects. ' ■ At 4.30 p.m. not a ladder from tho saloon to the main deck was left in position.- The deck ladders were smashed and torn from their sockets and washed over the side. The rafts on top of the officers’ quarters were torn from their lashings, tliown against the rails, and splintered into matchwood. Throughout the period of 48 hours, the commander, Captain Hemming, except for two short periods, remained on the bridge, drenched to the skin, and but for his excellent seamanship the damage' would undoubtedly have boon greater. When the lifeboats were torn from their lashings, Captain,Hemming personally assisted to make them secure. The engineers were for 36 hours without sleep, and under the most trying conditions they kept tho ship under way, with the engines racing and the. propellor cutting air every few revolutions.

After 28 hours’ battling with big sens, the starboard engine became disabled, thus rendering the steering both difficult and dangerous.

From the 17th to the 23rd May the vessel ploughed against a 20-foot swell, but slie made good speed under these conditions.