The Press., 1894-02-01
{Hartford Ttmes.) . TIDAL WAVES.

It seems to be notable winter for big ''tidal waves" at sea. The Normannia the latest of the steamships to encounter one, met hers in the Gulf Stream, FOG miles east of New York, before sunrise last Sunday morning, while on her way to Genoa. It must have been a gigantic and tremendous one, and it seems to have come very near swamping the ship. It broke right aboard, and tons on tons of water poured over and into the vessel, burying some in their berths; but no lives were lost, though seven sailors were badly hurt. The Normannia turned and put back to New York for repairs. The damage to vessel and cargo will cost $1O0,OOO.
 The laundering down of tons of sea- water into saloons, cabins and berths, so that some, like the captain, had to ''swim for life," must have been rude awaken ing for the passengers. Nearly all of the 800 or 600 on board were drenched. The ship had a narrow escape from founder ing. Probably we can better guess, in the light of the Normannia's experience, the possible fate of some of the missing steamers that have never been heard from.
 A letter from a member of the Hamil- ton family, from Waterbury, who were on board, published in the Waterbury Re- publican, tells some interesting things about their experience:
 This you may learn from the New York papers, but you would not know from that source that in the mishap the Water bury party were lin the swim" Our rooms being directly under the music room, we had the full benefit of the free bath.
 We struck rough weather the first night out, Thursday, which continued Friday and Saturday-this last day no passen- were allowed on deck, and the sea dashed and pitched us about unmercifully. The ladies in our party did not leave their beds after Thursday night till they were aoGshed out Sunday at 6.30 a. m. Then came to their ears a terrible crash and cries of wounded men, while the water poured into their beds.
 At the stewards call, "Get up," the writer says they didn't wait for second call:
 We had our night clothes, and one young lady had, besides, her letter of credit in her hand. A wave had broken over the promenade deck and carried with it the upper saloon, music room, library, etc., into the main dining room below, and tons of water were pouring in through twisted iron frames, ceilings, doors, par titions and stairways, deluging everything above the main deck. Standing with us in the water in the midst of the debris were about dozen hands as frightened and not half as quiet as we, and to all our questions, such as Are we lost ?' 'Will we go to the bottom ?" Are we sinking?" they invariably gave the same answer, the one English word that they knew, Yes" believe they meant it.
 The main saloons were destroyed. The closed compartments did good service in saving the ship:
 We soon found ourselves being lifted pretty lively over the tops of the dining tables and up stairways to the upper deck, and as soon as possible the compartment doors were closed, the only thing that kept the ship from being foundered. We were wrapt in blankets, as well as many others who were as wet and dripping as ourselves.
 Here is new idea-an unlooked~for effect of ''the mind-cure:"
 Our seG-sickaess had disappeared. If our friends wish, to know the Only surt remedy &pr sea-sickness we can give it to them.
 On Monday evening ''the captain called us together to explain that it was tidai ao0Ue, the first he had ever encountered, and he had followed the sea forty-four years. He had never believed in such a thing, and always scoffed at the idea. Now he believes"