The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-10
STRUCK BY A TIDAL WAVE.
How it Feels to Collide With Moul
tain of Water.
From the NetO York Advertiser.


From the Neto York Advertiser
The Wilson Line steamship Lepanto,
which sailed from this port on Sept. 6,
bound for Antwerp, with a valuable cargo
and passengers consigned to Wilson & Bros,
had terrible encounter off Sandy Hook,
the second day after sailing, with gigantic
tidal wave, which swept aboard and de-
stroyed deck fixtures and lifeboats, creating
general havoc and carrying away the chief
officer and seaman. Two other seamen
were violently thrown to the deck when the
volume of water fell upon the vessel. The
men were swept with force against the rope
netting Of the railing, and almost miracu-
lousy escaped death. They were picked up
and carried into the ships hospital as soon
they could be reached. They were uncon-
scious and did not recover for some hours
afterward.
The great wave came within an ace of
sinking the big steamer, ard but for prompt
action on the part of Capt. 81. J. j. Wise
and his crew the vessel would undoubtedly
have foundered. AS it was, the shock of
| the mighty volume of water as 1t struck
| the vessel first broedside, and then fell
back for a second and came on with appar-
emily renewed force, pouring cataract
upon the steamer, came near slowing in her
deck and sides and wrecking her with one
| blow.
The experience of the Lepanto with this
| gigantic wave is strikingty similar to that
| of the Cunard Line steamship Etruria with
tidal wave few days ago. In the
| Etrnria's case gigantic wave swept over
| her port bow smashing the bridge stranoh-
| ions and the port lifeboat and injuring no
| less than twelve members of her crew, one
| of whom was instantly killed. The others
| were laid up in the ships hospital with
broken legs and arms. The rope netting on
| the Etruria's rail, too, was the means Of
saving the men from being washed over
board and lost. By strange coincidence
the tidal wave boarded both steamships at
| o'clock in the morning, or within few
minutes Of that hour, and both came over
the port side of the steamer that was struck.
Tie tidal wave which the Lepanto en-.
countered was met with on Sept. z, when
225 miles Off Sandy Hook. No unusual
weather conditions preceded the coming of
the wave A squall which had no special
| Specification spraDg up, and preparations
were made to weather a storm. The iudi-
cations were that the squall would increase
tn fury, and as the wind was blowing from
an ugly quarter, the northeast. and heavy
| black, misunderstanding clouds began to
gather, Capt Wise deemed it advisable TO
reduce speed, after his course to meet the
seas. which was beginning to roll, and
clay to-"
This had the effect of reducing the danger
which a vessel is exposed to during a storm
of the character of the one which the Lee
panto then experienced.
One hour after the first indications of
NASTY weather. the storm was roaring flu
riousy. Squall after sQuall broke upon the
steamship, causing her to go over on her
beam end. The waves were not extremely
high, strange to say, but the wind at times
blew with frightful velocity.
The storm was beginning to abate when
the terrible tidal wave came. The wind had
gone down and had shifted two points. The
sea was still rough and the stanch steamer
was pitching heavily when Capt. w Use, who
had remained dashed TO the bridge during
the succession of squalls, deserted the wave
over the port bow.
Chief officer G. W. Yates saw it at the
same time 1t seemed to rise fifty feet out
of the water. 1t was one solitary wave,
and those aboard the Lepanto were almost
panic stricken when they realized that it
was bearing down directly upon the
steamer 1t was impossible to get out of
the way, but Capt. Wise threw her rudder
hard to port, which brought the steamer IS
bow head on to the coming wave. The I'M
pact was terrible when the water struck.
Tons aud tons Of water were shipped in a
Single instant. The vessel staggered under
the blow and reeIed like drunken man.
Chief Officer G.. w. Yates did not aban-
don his post when the ship was struck. The
rush Of water caught him up as if he were
a straw and. carried him over the hulwarks
In an instant. Seaman John Radcliffe
sought to save the officer by clutching at the
struggling man as he was carried by, but
he, too, was carried off his feet by the rush
Ing waters and swept into the boiling ocean.
It was useless to attempt a rescue of the
two men. They were carried far beyond
reach, and went down within sight Of those
on deck. AS soon as the wave had broken
aud passed the captain ordered sll hands to
the pumps IL was hours before her bilges
we e pumped clear OF the water which had
poured below. The fires, which were extin-
guished, were rekindled. and as the steamer
was badly damaged Capt. Wise decided to
head his vessel for the English channel,
which he reached without further mishsp
on Sept. 20.
The New York agents of the line were
yesterday notified of the loss OF the officer
and seaman and the damage which the tidal
wave had done 70 the steamer. Capt. Wise
sent letter TO the Boston agent containing
a detailed story Of the experience. Officer
@. w. Yates had been chief officer Of the
Lepanto for three years. He was also a
suu-lieuteaant in the Royal Naval Reserve.
He was 20 years Of age. Unmarried. and re
sided with his stepfather, John Clarke OF
P3rtobeilo house, Hull, Eagland.
] ......-. 81 .r..........- 49,