GALES AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 189, 30 December 1912, Page 6

GALES AT HOME.

THE NARRUNG SAFE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 27. The Narrung has 248 passengers for Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, also some for the Cape. She 'sent a wireless message that she did not require i assistance, as she was steaming back at ten knots, and had passed the Isle of Wight and was coming to the Thames.

SHIPWRECKED CREW SAFE. London, December 27. A Commonwealth representative will meet the Narrung, to assist immigrants if necessary. The gale registered 97 miles ail hour at Paisley. The Penzance lifeboat rescued the crew of the Italian steamer Tripolitana, which was wrecked at Portlilevin. A DESPERATE EXPERIENCE. GRAPHIC NARRATIVE. HEROIC FIGHT WITH THE SEA. Received December 29, 5.5 p.m. London, December 2S.

The Naming arrived at Gravesend at six o'clock on Saturday morning. Her bulwarks were considerably damaged, her foredeck a mass of wreckage, and her hatches stove. She had a heavy list to starboard. Captain Bidwell left the bridge for the first time since Thursday. The gale commenced after thev* passed the Channel Islands on Christmas evening, and increased in fury until seven in the morning, when they were off Ushant. The steamer wa s shipping water heavily. Iler speed was put dead slow, and the captain kept her head to the gale and lioveto. So she remained all the morning, with the waves breaking over her right up to the bridge. The captain says that he never saw such a gale or such tremendous seas in thirty years' experience. In the afternoon a mountainous wave swamped the whole of the ship, burying her forward and wrecking all the tackle in front of the mast. It flooded all the passenger accommodation. smashed the winches, and burst through into the hold and flooded the cabins. The waves tore up the iron deck, turning it back like brown paper, it was impossible to proceed, and the steamer was turned round to prevent another such sea striking her. Had she taken another it would have been all up. Turning in the teeth of the gale they had a very anxious time, hence the request for assistance. The turning occupied eighty minutes. "We were running four or five hours before we catne out of danger," added the captain.

Chief Officer Postle estimated that the wave that struck the steamer was seventy feet high. One seaman was washed down and had three ribs broken. It was impossible for some time to remove the women and children from the wrecked cabins.

The captain declined to take food while there was any danger. The debris imprisoned five men in the cabins for ten hours.

The male passengers exhibited great coolness while baling out the, knee-deep cabins. The women and children suffered considerably, many being helpless through sickness. Passengers narrate that at the moment the great wave struck the steamer Captain Bidwell shouted to the crew, "Now, boys, it's life or death, don't trouble about anything else." The order and discipline were splendid throughout. The stewards did everything possible, but were unable to maintain supplies of food. Many passengers went foodies* for forty-eight hours except for tea and biscuits. The wireless operator, Reynolds, was working for fifty hours. The firemen worked waist deep in water. The coal was swept out of the bunkers.

The seamen on Friday night gave up their bunks to the women and children.

Lloyds estimate that the cargo of the steamer is worth £IOO,OOO.

THE MOLDAVIA IN" TROUBLE, Received December 20, 5.5 p.m. The Moldavia has sent a wireless telegram that she was damaged by the storm. One Lascar was drowned. ANOTHER SENSATIONAL PASSAGE. HISTORIC RELIC DESTROYED. Received December 20, 5.5 p.m. London. December 28. The steamer Duchess of Cornwall has reached Falmouth. Treuiednous seas tore away her funnel and smashed all the boats. It put out the fires. Two men were drowned. The stokers and engineers worked up to their knees in water, and their heroism saved the ship. The storm destroyed tlie Sallyport at old Portsmouth, whence Xelsou and other heroes embarked.

A BARQUE IV DISTRESS. Received December IK). 12.15 a.m. London. December 20. The four-masted barque Mary Ann Elleadliody. of Klasgow, with Australian wheat for Limerick, is in distress off Galway. Her sails are destroyed, and she has heavv | ; <| lo -larboard.