THE ALEXA IN A CYCLONE.
r 1 (PEB UNITED PBES3 ASSOCIATION,) , . ' Wellihgtoh, November 8. TnrnbulTs barque Al- xn, from Fco Choir, had ft very narrow escape through encoun-ering a terrible cyclone on the 19th August. It came on to blow a perfect hurricane from the N.N.W., the ship being, then on a lee shore. .Bain fell in ■torrents, andldrove along with blinding forcer the lightning also being terrific. Happily the wind shifted to the westward, nnd enabled the ship to 'ran through a channel between Sandon Bopks and the mainland, bnt for which her destruction was inevitable. The A lexa scudded before the gale under lower topsails, but the same 'i ight the tempest suddenly burst on her from the "sonth'east, throwing the veesel on her beam ends, The topsail sheets were let go, but the sai s were instantly blown out of the bolt-ropes. At midnight the ship was still on her beam ends, with ,'the lee rigging about ten feet under water, and only a small part of the weather deck vi ible. .The weather backstays wera cut to let tie torgallantma'ts go over the side, bnfc the ship ljiog orerso much, the masts were almost flat on the water, and the wind was blowing along them, so that it had no power to carrythem over, ill spare spars and deck hamper wen'- overboard. The typhoon reach d its height abont 2 a in. on the 2 th, when the barometer hid fallen to 2S'9O, after which it began to rise ; but tho storm did not abate till 4 a.m. A strong sulphurous smell prevailed daring the typhoon. ' One of the boat;, was blown oS the skids, but was caught by the rigging. The poop ladders were also b own away. ' At 5 n.m. the wind shifted, and tho ship righted, - nnd then scadde I under bare poles. At daylight she presented a most d smal spectacle with tittered Bails, ropes broken, and twisted round the rigging, and everything in disorder. The sea was terrible, but the Alex* behaved beau' ifully. (beotkb's tbleobah.) . . (by. electbic telegbafhic— copvbiqht.) Beceived November 2,JL p.m. ' San Fbancisco, October 3\ . Arrived, yesterday— Steamship Zealand^, from Auckland (October 10th), wi h homeward moils. (PER TJJ.TTED PRESS ASSOCIATION). ImTTELTOK, November 3. Arrived— T«erksworth, from Westport; Wsihi, from Dnnedm for Wellington (put m to repair feed pump of boiler). Sailed— lnl, for Kaikouia and Wellington. ■ ■ :
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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 4 November 1882, Page 2
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399THE ALEXA IN A CYCLONE. Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 4 November 1882, Page 2
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