Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-25
A TIDAL WAVE.
The Experience Of a Steamer in the British
Channel.

The Experience of a Steamer in the British
Channel.
The Weymouth and Channel Islands
Steam Packet company's mail steamer
Aquila, which left Weymouth at her usual
hour, IL o'clock on Friday night, for Geurn-
sey and Jersey, on her passage across
channel encountered very curious and
dangerous phenomenon. The weather was
calm and clear, and the sea was smooth.
When about one hour out, and with the
shambles light still in sight, the steamer
was struck most violently by successive
and mountainous seas, which sent her on
her beams and swept her decks from stem
to stern. The water Immediately flooded
the saloon, ladies' cabin, fore cabin and
engine room, entering through the sky
lights, the thick glass of which was
smashed into small fragments.
The lamps in each of these
places were extinguished and smashed, and
the floors to some depth were covered with
water. The passengers were greatly alarm
ed, and as soon as possible they received
orders to come On deck, and shortly after
wards they were to be seen scrambling
over the debris which strewed the decks.
Everyone was pale with fright, while in the
panic and confusion which prevailed Meth
er sailors nor passengers could for the
moment tell what really was the matter.
One man was heard to exclaim that the
vessel was fast making water, and would
probably soon go down. On sounding the
pumps, however, this was found to be in
correct; and consequently confidence that
no further danger was at hand seemed to
be assured. As the decks became clear of
water, the actual damage became appar-
ent. The bulwarks were found to be
broken in several places, one of the
paddle boxes considerably damaged, the
iron rail on the bridge was considerably
twisted, the pump was broken and rendered
useless, the skylight of the ladies' cabin
was completely gone, and the saloon sky
light was smashed to atoms. Two large
cases of plate-glass consigned to Jersey
we're smashed to pieces, and one among
several slabs of Bath stone, weighing
about half ton each, was broken to bits.
Two coops containing fowls were smashed
overheard. The stewardess, who reports
being occupied at reading at the time, was
knocked down across the cabin and was
covered so thickly with broken glass and
other debris that she was unable to move
till it was taken from off her. The steward
was standing in the companion-way when
the force of the water broke away one of
its sides, and he was thrown downstairs,
receiving a cut across the forehead. A sea-
man who was forward when the sea struck,
fortunately clutched one of the davits,
and states that otherwise he would have
been washed overheard; when the second
sea struck he thought he could hold on
no longer. from the force of the surround
ing water. 1t appears that the Aquila
was not able to shake herself clear of the
first wave when the second one came upon
her; and the captain states that had an
other followed he fears she must have
foundered. The cabins were baled out
with buckets. while tarpaulins were placed
over the skylights for protection. Forum
ately nobody was seriously injured. Five
minutes after the waves had struck the
steamer the sea became perfectly calm.