New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09
TERRIFIC STORM PUTS
MAURITANIA TO TEST
Bow and Stern on Wave CreStS;
Amidships Almost Clear;
Not a Plate Is Sprung.
WIRELESS is BLOWN AWAY
Waves Sweep Deck Clear OF
Everything Not Bolted Down
and Smash Wheel
house Windows.

One of the most severe tests a huge
ocean liner could undergo was success
fully passed by the Mauritania. of the
Cunard Line, on the voyage that ended
at this port yesterday. On Tuesday night
she passed through terrific gale. Noun
famous waves swept the ship, their crests
rising until even the wneelhouse was sub
merged. When the vessel docked she
showed unmstakable signs OF her tussle
with the seas Passengers who were sea-
soned declared the storm was the worst
they ever encountered.
When the gale was at its worst the big
liner mounted a wave, and its follower
lifted the ships bow until stem and stern
were buried. The trough fell away until
her amidships were almost clear OF the
water. Thus, for an instant, she bridged
the waves. II seemed that she should
break in two. but she slid safely over the
crest into the trough
Before the great ship could right her
self however. q sea rose above the rail
and dashed against the bridge. bending
the steel structure and smashing every
bit OF glass in the wheelhouse Then II
hurled itself along the decks. carrying
away everything that was not bolted IN
place The wave smashed the oYerhanS
Of the bridge, beneath which were the
wires controlling the signalling devices
The telegraph to the engine room was
disabled. and for while the only means
Of communication between the bridge
and the rest of the ship was by speaking
tube. The glass windows Of the wheel
house, half an inch thick, were shattered
and their frames bent so as 10 render
them useless as protection.
Before the force of the wave was spent
IL twisted the steel plates Of the bulwark
on the forward promenade deck, tore
away the taffrail and smashed the port
lights of several staterooms. The wind
that accompanied the high seas disabled
the wireless apparatus, and for SIX hours
the steamer ran at reduced speed, without
means Of communication with other ships
C. y. Hunter. of the firm which built
the Mauretana, was a passenger. ana
had ample opportunity to observe the
merits of his yards work.
II did not believe the ocean. no matter
what her mood could throw snip the
size OF this about the way IL did Tues
gay night" he said yesterday. After
we had been tossed about for hours as II
we were a yacht ] began to have a great
respect for the ship for 1t seemed that
nothing that human hands constructed
could have withstood the hammeI1ns We
got. We were afoat while the seas poured
over US and tore away everything thai
was not fastened down
I'VE slowed down for thirteen hours OF
Tuesday. while the ship spun around aht
around like a crazy horse. The naviSa
lion of Captain Turner was splendid.
dread 10 think Of what would have. hap
pened had there been less experienced
man IN command. There has always
been a question In my mind as to VIVA,
big ship would 90 when balanced on the
crests OF two waves. / found out this
time. She was not strained in the least
Not a bolt or rvet was found to be
.oose."
Among the Mauretanias LA passen-
gers was William X. Vanderbilt. who de-
clared that ne had never known the vino
20 blow so hard at sea.
At the height Of the storm Violet Rich
ardson, aged three and half years. diee
in the steerase. She developed a severe
case Of diphtheria after the steamer
sailed. and died after an operation OF her
throat had been performed By Or. Sydney
Jones. the ships surgeon Her body was
wrapped in a Union Jack and lowered
from the stern of the vessel. Cabin pas
sengers collected $3.50 and gave II TO thu
mother, who had an infant daughter. nln'
months old with her.