The Channel Squadron in a Gale.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 38, 15 January 1885, Page 4

The Channel Squadron in a Gale.

Tlip channel squadron, under] ttid' cbmm'and of Vice-AdmLral, the Duke of Edinburgh, which left Plymouth for Gibralter on the 20th ult, is reported to have experienced very heavy weather on the .passage. The squadron ' ran across the Bay of Biscay m exceptionally, line weather, but as soon as they got out of the Ray bad weather was experienced, and the ships rolled m a very unusual manner^ Friday the 24th ult, .jt is aid. to. have been the most.un- " pleasant clay ever experienced ,iri the squadron. The snips rolled so heavily that 'exercise at general 'quarters had to be abandoned. The sea rah "mountains High " m the afternoon anct,'the enormous hulls,- of the ironclads were tossed about like jolly boats!. The Agiiicpurt buried t,w% of her lee quarter boats m," the Water and' f were (inly saved" , after great difficulty!. So.b'acily did : the silipp roll that His "fipyal", .tiighness the . yiceiX'dmiral ordered the extreme .roll of each ship to .be registered 1 , and th'e result after an hours, observation was as follows :-—Minataur, 48,. degrees ; ;Aginc.ou*t, 53 ; A'cKilies, 52'; Sforthumberland, 6p ; Neptune, 42.; ;and Sultan 38. Anxious faces were, watching the Neptune, as she had' never before' been subjected tti so sev^rse trial. The huge 'wave 6 !. repeatedly burst on her decks, wilicK wtre' so flooded ; with water : 'that ' "the/ crew were., 'wading' aboWt waste deej). Duriing, the time the gale lasted there was much confusion oii i: b ! 6ard, nearly fall the ship's mess traps, mirrors, pic--^tires, -gun-cases, portmanteaus, chests of drawers, and, other articles being scattered about m all direc- , • tionsi. , . , ; . „"" v .. ■„,,..■-; '