THE SERVIA IN A CYCLONE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2910, 10 March 1891, Page 4

THE SERVIA IN A CYCLONE.

EXTR.VOIUH.VARY weather has been experienced by the Cutiar-1 steamship ,X/>rvia, which roaehed from New York on Sunday afternoon. She started on her voyage on Saturday, November -H, and two days liter encountered a cyclonic hurricane of very unusual violence. Thebarometer fell rapidly until it stood at the wind, which blow from every quarter of the the compass in succession, and which veered continually, attained a force of eleven or twelve, and early in the afternoon Captain Walker, consultin" 1 the comfort and indeed, the safety of Iris pa.wngers. abandoned for the time all dforts to hold the great ship on her eastward course, and headed her for the south, hia primary object being to keep the Servia's bows to the mountainous seas, and his secondary one to oscapo from the cyclone. At this hour the spectacle was a magnificent and terrible one. Not only the upper deck, but also the hurricane deck of the steamer was at times almost buriod beneath green seas, which tumbled and roared in angry cascades, now from otie side and now from the other. It seemed ns if nothing could withstand the gale. Tho Servia itruggloigallnntly against the tempest, but could, make barely four knots, in spite of the fact that she was supposed to be steaming at full speed and as sea aftor sea fell crashing upon her she trembled as though about to shake herself to pieces. The scene between decks was, at least to the inexperienced voyager, an alarming one, and both on the bridge and in the engine room great anxiety was felt; but, happily, after some seven hours of turmoil, the vessel got clear of the gale with tho loss only of one boat washed away and two damaged, and with but slight injury to her upper works. The crew escaped with less wood fortune, about a dozen men being more or less hurt. No one, however, it is hoped, is seriously disabled. Great credit is due to Captain Walker, Mr Finney, chiof engineer, and all hands for the splendid way in which tlie ship was handled during a storm which, as all on board agree, was the worst in their experience. At the height of the gale a baby was born on board, tho mothor being a steerage passengor.