New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29
Lightning and Torrentlal Rains
Mark One of Most Un-
usual Storms Recorded.
MANY LIVES LOST AT SEA
Deep Water Covers Roads Near
Portsmouth, Cutting OF
Naval Station from
Mainland.
~ cable % The TrIbune.l

swept across the British Isles through
out Christmas week, causing wide
spread damage, flooding whole tracts OF
land and wrecking numberless craft
around the coasts. In many quarters
the wind blew with hurricane force, ana
at Plymouth the anemometer reg
istered eighty-three miles an hour.
For four days London experienced an
almost continual deluge, the downpour
rarely ceasing for even an hour. IN
certain places the downfall equalled an
inch and a half in forty-eight hours.
and in London on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day totalled $50. a record
rarely exceeded In the last fifty years.
The greatest force Of the gale was
felt on the south and southwest coasts
here. Heavy seas, piled up by the ter
rife wind. swept in with tremendous
force. The scene in Plymouth Sound
was extraordinary. Three big steam
ships were driven ashore within the
space OF a few miles. Lifeboats and
tugs made almost frantic efforts TO
render assistance.
Three Ashore Near Plymouth.
The Brazilian steamer Goyas, for SER
Twice on the Amazon as passenger
Isteamer, which anchored in the Sound.
WIS driven from her moorings and.
after crashing into the schooner Will
lam Gilmore, drove ashore broadside on
the rocks. The William Gilmore also
broke away and went shore at spot
where another schooner. the Ottawa,
had gone ashore only an hour previ-
ously. All Plymouth's lifeboats and a
number of government tugs as well as
private launches went 10 the rescue.
one of the Iifeboats. after rescuing the
crew Of the William Gilmore, itself
went ashore and remained fast on the
rocks for more than two hours.
The British steamer Ripon put into
Queenstown in terribly battered con-
dition. She had started on her voyage
10 Philadelphia, and was some sixty
miles west of Fastnet when she en-
,ountered the fun force Of the gale, and
narrowly escaped laundering. One OF
her seamen was washed overheard and
was drowned. while seven others struck
by huge wave were dashed from the
fore to the after part of the ship. One
of the seven had both arms broken.
The Italian steamer Tripolitania,
from Genoa, went ashore on Looe Bar,
lust eastward of Mounts Bay, Corn
wall. Before the arrival Of q rocket
apparatus the crew abandoned the
ship. AS the tide receded they clam
bered down the side Of the vessel 10
vessel which had come TO them from
the beach. BY this time twenty-seven
were saved, one being drowned.
Wreck at Tenby.
The French schooner Maria Emile
Andraes was wrecked at Tenby, but
the captain and crew were rescued by
the local lifeboat.
Portsmouth, the chief naval port Of
England, is completely isolated on the
land side. The gale piled water in the
upper reaches OF Portsmouth and
Langston harbors until the connecting
arm of the sea which creates Portsea
Island overlooked, and the main road
was Hooded for half mile to a depth
of five feet. The water has not yet re-
ceded.
The highest tide in a quarter of
century was recorded at Southampton.
The railroad track was flooded, incom-
ing trains finding themselves axle deep
3n water. The streetcar service was
suspended. owing TO the flooding of the
electric light works.
The amazingly high tide caused dis
sstrous fioodings IN the Isle of Wight
Water overhowing from the River Var
extinguished the fires at the Fresh
water gas works and filled the mains,
with the result that the western half Of
the island was in darkness on Thurs
day and Friday nights. AT fashionable
Cowes there were several feet Of water
I'm the main streets, and boats were
rowing about, one entering the bar Of
a flooded public house. The telephone
service was cut off between Freshwater
and Ryde.
Channel Wires Break Down.
on Thursday telephone communica-
ton between Paris and London was cut
off and Geographic communication be-
tween England and the Channel Islands
broke down.
The p. and o. liner Narrung, which
left Gravesend on Tuesday for Sydney,
" S. W., carrying 24S passengers, sent
out distress signals south of the Lizard
which were heard as far as Brest, but
slight abatement OF the gale enabled
her 20 turn back and steam for Graves
end. She reported: much water in
hold Very important damage. Want
assistance"
Another p. and o. liner, the Mol
davia, which reached Plymouth on Fri
day. lost one seaman and all her wire
less installation. Many other steamers
which have already reached English
ports report losses of seamen.
At Cromer on the east coast, some
fishermen were returning to the shore,
when their boat capsized on the Single
and one unfortunate man was buried
beneath the craft. The suction was so
great that the united efforts OF all his