TOWNSVILLE CALAMITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 838, 12 March 1903, Page 2

TOWNSVILLE CALAMITY.

SOME HARROWING TALES O THE DISASTER.

PINNED TO THE DEBRIS

A FAMILY BURIED IN DEBRIS

OF THEIR lIOMi-

A DYING GRANDMOTHER.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.

TOWNSVILLE, March 11

The barometer fell rapidly on Monday morning. At 11 the wind was blowing a gale, which incieased at noon to a hurricane.

This continued till one o’clock, and then the barometer dropped further, and the wind swooped round to the south-east, with terrific force.

The barometer reading at 2.15 was 28.58.

By four o’clock the gale gradually abated.

Hundreds of private residences were levelled to the ground. Two additional persons were found dead under the debris of private dwellings, The well known intercolonial steamers Woodonga and Barcoo were both driven ashore on a mud bottom. When the Barcoo broke away she carried a portion of the wharf with her. A number of small craft were driven ashore.

The medical superintendent, fearing the destruction of the hospital, ordered the removal of the typhoid patients from the top storey. Shortly afterwards the roof was blown away, and when the gale was blowing fiercest the brick wail collapsed, burying the patients in tbe ground floor. In addition Lo those mentioned yesterday as being killed, Nurse Grant bad her leg broken and skull lractured. A boy named Het-heringt-on was extricated from ihe ruins with Iris arms hanging bv a shred. ...Hopkins, ~ patieiil, had both legs broken

All the outbuildings were levelled. Tlie damage to the hospital is estimated at six thousand pounds. About one thousand persons are homeless in the town. Later.—The missing steamer Barrutta (which was blown out to sea.) has returned safely.

Tiie Imlk Mollke, with six hundred Tons of coal on board, has disappeared, and is supposed to have foundered at her moorings. The harbor works sustained no damage. It is estimated that the damage to the town amounts to two hundred thousand pounds. Twelve persons received’ broken limbs.

Many people were cut ; by flying iron.

The scene from Stanton Hill is not one that will easily be forgotten. Sheets of iron and other material were blown across the town like paper. The rattle and roar was dea-

fening. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s woolsheds were seriously damaged.

An old man named O’Donohue was, buried with his wife and son m the debris of their house. It is believed that the man’s ease is hopeless. Mrs Currie and her grandson were found pruned in Hie debris of their, house. The woman is dead, but the boy was uninjured. lie said that his grandmother was not killed outright Elie asked him Lo fry to lift a piece of timber that was crushing hcr 3 He found that lie could not. The old lady replied : “ I am afraid lam going. Good-bye.” A man named Thomson was- struck by a piece of flying iron, and was killed. These were all the fatalities outside the hospital all’air

FURTHER DETAILS.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. Received 10/13 p.m., March 11. TOWNSVILLE, March 11. With the exception of Central Flinders street, (he whole town suffered great damage everywhere. The water supply was cut off all over Hie town, ow,-ng to the pumping station being wrecked. 'f'he Grammar School was unroofed and all other schools damaged. 'llie Botanical Cardens were devastated.

The Barratta, after her return, while conveying passengers, was washed on the rocks, and sank. All escaped.

The steamer Palmer was badly damaged.

The steamer Wolonga, wli ch was driven ashore during the cyclone, lias been refloat-.

Subscription lists have been opened for tiie sufferers. The amount of damage in outside districts is ’ not yet known.

Along the Bohle river, many, selectors suffered severely.,

Received 11.30' p.m., March ll d

A wing of the prison at Stewart’sCreek was partially unroofed, and much damaged. The prisoners were safely removed. The Titles Office was unroofed and the Stamps Office devastated. The private residences of the staff were demolished.

Bowen reports that the cyclone, accompanied ny heavy rain, struck the town early on Monday morning and lasted several hours. Many buildings were badly damaged. _ The railway booking office, ’ goods and locomotive sheds, live leading hotels, Holy Trinity Church, Sunday school and vicarage were unroofed, and otherwise damaged. Tho Presbyterian Sunday-school was blown over, and the church unrooted. The Roman Catholic Church was damaged. The Customs and Court-houses were partially unroofed.

The sea rose six feet' over the jetty. The drill shed, and Burns and Philps’ hulk stores were wrecked. The municipal baths were washed away.

The police station, stockade, and stables were demolished.

The district generally .was devastated. The orange crop was ruined. No lives were lost, but tnere were several slight accidents.