The New York herald., 1922-10-01
gUITAMA NLAYE;;
/ DAMAGED in STORM
Giantess Struck and Flood
ed by 20 Foot Wave When
Two Days Out.
WATER IN STATEROOMS
Capt. Charles Says Gale Was
I Worst He Had Met in
AZ Years at Sea.
! CREW HIGHLY PRAISED
Seamen Work 80 Hours With
out Relief and Reassure
Passengers.
CREW HIGHLY PRAISED

The giant Cunarder Aquitania
steamed into port yesterday, delayed
thirty hours by what Sir James
Charles, her skipper. called the worst
storm of his forty-two years at sea.
Her 2,7O6 passengers were immensely
relieved at the sight of land.
Differing estimates were made of
the size of the waves that broke over
the 900 foot vessel, but there was con-
crete evidence that the boat deck, 70
feet above the waterline. had been
swept from stem to stern. There were
even marks of salty spray on the red
paint of the tunnels, so or 80 feet
above the sea.
When the storm was at its height on
Monday giant combers poured down ven-
tilators from the boat deck and burst
through doors and portfolios to inundate
passengers in their staterooms. Forty
of them were forced to spend Monday
and Tuesday nights huddled in the
lounge wrapped in blankets because,
their sleeping quarters had been rem
dered 1nnhabitable.
Gale for "a Hours.
When the Aquitania weighed anchor
at Chesbourg a week ago yesterday the
day was sunny and pleasant, said Sir
James, and there was no hint of the tur-
bulent weather ahead until Sunday
night at o'clock the wind began to
freshen. the barometer dropped like a
plummet and the hurricane was on. BY
midnight the wind had attained the We
locity of gale, and 1t continued thus
for more than twenty-four hours. The
log entry for Monday read: Heavy
gale; high, dangerous seas" a highly
significant statement in view of the
moderate language always employed by
ship captains.
Monday morning found the Aqutania
plunging through mountainous seas. her
engines throttled down to less than half
speed. About o'clock the storm seemed
to reach its high point. and tons of
water swept the decks and left trail
of splintered doors and window frames.
Even the Raeburn suite, occupied by
Charles e. Peters of the Middle States
Oil Company and Mrs. Peters and their
daughter. did not escape invasion by the
Storm Mr.. Peters was in bed, unable
to sleep, when several portfolios crashed
In. burying him in a flood OF Icy water.
lie SAID later that the Rocky Mountains
owe up a'.d hit him.
Other Ships In Trouble.
In the midst of the excitement the
ships radio was receiving word of other
ships in trouble nearby. A message from
the Cardiff Hail. bound west for New
York, told of a second mate and a
seaman swept overheard. A Japanese
freighter 275 miles away reported
broken rudder and wanted tow into
port.
The barometer at one time reached
2S.2S. the lowest point in the memory
of Capt. Charles since 1898, when he
was in command of the Cunarder Luz
cania.
Considerable alarm prevailed in the
third class quarters, but ii is doubtful
whether the passengers there, kept be-
low decks and behind tightly clamped
D10nn portfolios, ever realized the full fury
the storm. The steadiness of the big
p in the midst of the towering
nbers was marvellous. according to
Reginald McKenna. former Chancel-
of the British Exchequer. who was
of the saloon passengers.
III the crew was ordered on deck
worked without relief for thirty
prs. An important part of the crews
ivity was the attempt to reassure pas
gers that there was no danger. When
WAS all over the passengers got to-
gether and subscribed $1,000 for the lads
in the forecastle.