Encyclopedia Titanica

HUGE WAVE SWEEPS OCEANIC

New York Times

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Captain Thrown from the Bridge and Left Unconscious
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While plowing her way through the worst weather met with on the North
Atlantic lane in many months, the White Star liner Oceanic, in last
night from Liverpool, was boarded by a giant wave which swept her decks,
smashed in the heavy glass front of the chart room, and left her
skipper, Capt. John G. Cameron, unconscious on the bridge. This happened
on Sunday morning and marked the climax of a gale which kicked up
mountainous seas.

The Oceanic left Liverpool on Nov. 21 and ran into a moderate gale,
which died down on the 24th only to return with increased fury on
Sunday. At 8 A. M. Capt. Cameron and a seaman were on the bridge. The
sea had been breaking over the vessel's bow and thundering along her
decks. Suddenly a monster wave broke over her starboard bow and crashed
onward in its course, flinging its crest higher than the bridges, some
fifty feet above the water line.

Capt. Cameron was on the weather side of the bridge when the onrush of
water caught him. He was fairly lifted off his feet and dashed against
the binnacle. At the same time a part of the canvas protection on the
bridge front, whipped by the wind, struck him In the face and cut a gash
across his nose.

The unconscious commander was carried to his room. Dr. W. F. O'Loughlin,
the ship's surgeon, revived him after fifteen minutes.

In the chart house were First Officer Thomson and the Quartermaster.
Thomson saw the wall of water coming and he shouted a warning to his
companion. Almost as he shouted the sea struck the heavy glass front of
the room and shattered it. Thomson was cut about the face by the flying
glass and had to be attended by the doctor.

As soon as his injuries were attended to Capt. Cameron went back to the
bridge and remained there most of the next twenty-four hours, when,
according to the log, there was "a fresh gale and a dangerous sea."

When the Oceanic landed her passengers last night, Miss Alice Hollander,
a vaudeville actress, had to be carried ashore. The young woman was
thrown to the deck during the rough weather and sprained her ankle.

Others arriving on the Oceanic were: Dr. and Mrs. W. G. Anderson, Miss
Elizabeth M. Byrne, Lady Purdon Clarke, Dowager Lady Cook, P. L. Foster,
the Rev. James A. Lanigan, J. H. McFadden, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. S.
Newhall, Mrs. John B. Stetson, Frank E. Terry, C. R. Mayer, and Mr. and
Mrs. Frederick Williams.

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Encyclopedia Titanica (2006) HUGE WAVE SWEEPS OCEANIC (New York Times, Thursday 29th November 1906, ref: #5388, published 2 December 2006, generated 27th June 2024 01:14:57 AM); URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/huge-wave-sweeps-oceanic.html