, 1892-01-06
THE GALE IN THE CHANNEL.
From the Daily Telegraph, 9tl Dec.

As mentioned in yesterdays issue, much
anxiety was felt at Dover on Monday night on
receipt Of a telegram from Calais, asking for
assistance to be sent to the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway Company's steamer, Nieto-
ria, conveying the club train passengers from
London, which was lying off the port apparent
~ disabled Although the fears entertained
were somewhat allayed by subsequent infor-
nation, it was not until the Victoria arrived at
Dover about two O'Clock yesterday morning,
that the exact nature of the mishap which had
befallen her was known. 1t then appeared
that On reaching Calais on Monday evening,
the Victoria was driven by a heavy sea
against the East pier at the harbour mouth.
Her port paddle was greatly damaged. but she
fortunately managed to back out of danger,
and her commander, Captain Shirley, after
making two more attempts to enter the har-
bour, decided on returning to Dover. Even
in her crippled condition the vessel completed
the return journey in a little over an hour
and a half.
Our Dover correspondent telegrap4ed last
night
The Victoria entered Dover Harbour to-day
{Tuesday), and is the object ofsmuch curiosity
and admiration. AS soon as the vessel was
locked, Captain Morgan, RN.,t the cor(any's
marine superintendent, went on board to
ascertain the nature Of the damage sus-
tanned, and discuss the matter with the cap
tain. The anxiety Of such occasions renders
the position of the marine superintendent by
no means an enviablc one; and while the
damage to the port wheel is Of a serious ma
trre. Captain Morgan had reason to be graf
flied that in every other respect the ship was
uniniured by her tcrriblo experience Of the
previous night. The damage il confined to
the port side. The paddIebox is smashed into
matchwood, and the whole If the wheel is
more or less damaged. the floats and Frame
work being very. much twisted. The marvel
is that, with the great force Of the impact.
the wheel was not more injured. and that it
was able to be moved at all after the accident.
At the time of the mishap Captain Shirley,
who commands the Victoria, was standing near
the port raddle-boX, and he had a very narrow
escape, the Wreckage Of the paddlc-boX ex-
tending almost to where he was standing, and
carrying away part Of the bridge.
1t is stated that thedamasc TO he Calais pier
is very extensive, asthepadGle wheel penetrated
the structure to a considerable depth, the
wreckage from the pier coming Oh the decks Of
the steamer. The crew say that the vessel
appeared to be lifted up bodily ont Of the water
and tossed from the west pier to the east. If
the port wheel he'd damned she must havebeen
driven round the cast pier on to the shore in
front of Calais port.
The marvellous way in which the vessel es-
capped more disastrous injury under such cir
cumstances' on a lee shore, and in the face of a
hurricane, is very strong evidence of the stabi-
lily of these vessels and of the almost perfect
discipline of the crews. The great difficulty
which has to be encountered in exceptional
weather. like that Of yesterday, lies, not in
crossing the Channel, as the vessels would be
safe at sea in the toughest weather, but in en-
tering Calais harbour. Although there is a
fine system of docks within the port, the en-
trance is very narrow in proport. Ell. and in
certain conditions of wind and weatL there
is a tideway across the mouth of the harbour
which renders entrance a difficult ind danger
GUS operation. The Calais Harbour aunhori-
ties have for some time past. been engage
in widening the entrance, and wheA this is
done the difficulty will practically be removed.