New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-03
STORMS RAISE HAVOC
WITH OCEAN LINERS
The New York Has Worst Battle
with Gales and Is Minus
BoWsprit.
PASSENGER LOST COCKTAIL
Many on Board Flee from Their
Rooms to Midship Sec
tion as Combers
Toss Vessel.

The American liner New York, hard hit
by storms and minus her bowsprt, ar
rived at her dock yesterday. a day late
from Southampton. She was not alone in
her fight with westerly gales and a ter
rife hurricane, as the Cunarder Car
mania and the Anchor liner Cameronia
,, arrived with her yesterday after having
weathered the same sort Of storms. The
Carmana lost her port anchor.
Although the Carmania rode the storm
the longest. she sustained less damage
than the other vessels.
Captain Roberts OF the New York. who
has sailed the seven seas In all seasons.
declared yesterday that the West Indian
hurricane which hit him on Friday last
was the most violent demonstration OF
natural force he had ever encountered.
For six hours the New York, with
barely enough speed to give her steerage-
way, held her nose up into the combers
and pitched as she had never done b.
fore. She Is vessel with tho oldtime
clipper bow. and her bowsprit and figure
head on this occasion got a washing and
pounding seldom meted out to ships OF
llfI toIIIhbt. NJ tlIllto the HURRICANE, dC-
oordng TO the Beaufort scale. was swir-
ling around the New York at a ninety
mile an hour clip.
Blow Began Friday Morning.
The blow began early Friday morning
Constantly the vessels bow was bounding
under water. with her stern well In the
air and her propellers racing Passen-
gers. frightened by the unusual commo-
ton OF the sea. fed from their rooms TO
the midship section. where the pitching
was less perceptible. but even here their
fears did not subside. Captain Roberts.
with his entire staff on the bridge. sent
word below that every door be locked
and only such members OF the crew AS
were needed there be allowed TO venture
on deck.
Although he tried TO keep her always
head on TO wind and wave, the captain
could not always shift his helm 10 coin
eide with the gale. so the New York
also did her share OF rolling. Despite
the fact that the height OF the waves
cannot be measured with anything APP
preaching accuracy. the New Yorks Of
ficers declared that the great walls OF
water were perhaps thirty-fve feet high.
one particular wave-known on the sea
as a cumulative wave-caused PRACTICAL
ly all the damage wrought upon the New
York. Itscurcd OF the starboard bow.
and as the vessel dropped and plunged
into IL the monster sea crashed upon the
deck. drenching the men on the bridge
and bowling them around like ninepins.
In its Wild rush aft the food smashed
three lifeboats and carried OF the port
quarter five liferafts and fifteen feet
of steel and teak rail. Dishes and pas
sengers rolled about within doors and
practically everything movable aboard
ship shifted position.
John Prescott, the bartender. VINO mas
been mixing drinks on the New YORK eve!
since she made her first trip, was rudely
handled. but not hurt. Just before the
real big wave hit the liner passenger
DESTROYS OF drowning his fears In drink
had applied for a cocktail. Prescott. glass
I'm hand. had reached for tray, when
few tons OF the racing comber swirled
into the bar carrying Prescott and his
drink with It. Prescott did a sort Of
whirlish dervish stunt for few seconds
and then landed. with the receding flood,
In the middle OF the smoke room.