ARRIVAL OF THE ALAMEDA.

Samoa Weekly Herald, Volume 1, Issue 3, 10 December 1892, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE ALAMEDA.

♦ SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON BOARD. CHIEF OFFICER HAS BOTH LEGS BROKEN. SitoiiTi-Y after 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening the R.M.S. Alameda, with tho colonial mails on board, arrived in harbour from Sydney, via Auckland. On proceeding on board our representative gleaned that a sad and serious accident had befallen Mr. Thos. Dowdell, the popular chief officer of that vessel. Tho Alameda left Auckland at 2 p.m. on December 3, and encountered a strong N.W. wind, which hauled round to N.N.E., and continued in that direction, with cloudy weather and passing showers, until Dec. wr. On the afternoon of that day the wind increased to a strong breeze, with heavy rain squalls, tho sea increasing. At this time tho vessel was going through the water at a speed of 1:! knots, and shipping very little water. At 5.15 p.m. throe heavy rollers struck tho vessel, the first causing the ship to pitch heavily down into the sea, and the engineer on duty, to avoid racing, stopped the engines. The second sea came over the bows with toriilie force Just as this sea struck the vassal the Chief Officer unfortunately was leaving tho bridge, and on tho way to his enhin stopped to close the shutters of a stateroom, when the sea struck him, anil ho was carried along tho deck, together with the bridge steps and other wrecknge, striking the bits nnd bout davits with such force as to broak both his legs—the right leg below the knee, and the left in two places above the knee, ulso indicting u deop und dangerous gash on the left leg just above tho knoo. Tho injured officer was carried to No. 1 stateroom below, tin. l largest ono in the ship, so as to give tho surgeon plouty of room to attend to him. This stateroom is situated amidships, and consequently very little motion from tho rolling of the vessel is felt there. Immediately on hearing of the accident Mr. lllnekloek, U.S. Viee-Consul-Oeuernl, who was alongside the Alnmeda on arrival, immediately prorcodod on board 11.M.5. Riugiirtioiuii, and was neeninpaniod on his return to the Alameda by the medical officer »f the warship. Dr. Funk was also sent for, turn he lost no tlmo In proceeding on board tho Alnmcdti.

Owing to thd. being no lee and other necessary eouvenlnuem in Apia, thoinjured nfflrorwas taken un by the steamer, although Messrs. Netxler and Parker had made alt arrangements (or his reception on shore had It been decided to leavo liitu it«io.