PACIFIC CYCLONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1939, Page 5

PACIFIC CYCLONE

MOTOR-SHIP DRIVEN OFF COURSE. FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE DAMAGE. 'By Telegraph—Press Association I AUCKLAND, February 28. After a 24-hour battle with a cyclone, in the .South Pacific last’ week, the Union Company’s chartered motor-ship Tolten, of 5348 tons, arrived at Auckland this afternoon from the Pacific Coast via Papeete. Unable to hold her course in the teeth of the cyclone, the Tolten was 260 miles off her normal steaming track when conditions moderated, and she was fortunate in being able to proceed to port without damage. On leaving Papeete for Auckland on February 18 the motorship ran into heavy rain,' lasting for four days, the downpour being followed by a cyclonis storm which burst on the vessel. The south-west course of the Tolten was altered to north-west to run before the high wind and terrific seas. The master of the vessel, Captain Evans, said that the fact that the ship was in good trim probably saved her from damage. Had she been deeply loaded the Tolten would have received a severe buffeting. Heavy seas mounted the ship as she was swept before the cyclone and as waves occasionally lashed the foredeck, on which a cargo of live stock was carried, the squealing'of four pigs could be heard even above the tumult of the weather. The stock, which also included six sheep, arrived safely. It was pointed out on the arrival of the ship that vessels on Pacific trade routes usually have no opportunity to avoid cyclonic storms, as lack of communications made it very difficult for the track of the disturbances to be planned.