Night the Salvation Army was ‘saved'

Press, 4 June 1982, Page 14

Night the Salvation Army was ‘saved'

By

MURRAY PATTERSON,

of Leeston,

who had a relative in the Sunday School class of 1914

Thursday, March 13. 1902, has not gone down in history as a day of special significance. The South African War was drawing to a close. Troopers had returned to the Ellesmere district from New Zealand’s first involvement in an overseas war. The harvest season was nearing completion and the tang of autumn was in the air.

But the day was to bring a new meaning for the word “salvation” to local members of the Salvation Army.

The Leeston Contingent had gathered for an evening meeting. About 8 p.m. a thunderstorm passed over, sheet lightning being followed by heavy rain. At 8.15 p.m., with dramatic suddenness, a whirlwind struck the town. The Salvation Army Barracks, with the congregation inside, was lifted eight feet off the ground and landed on its roof 15 feet from its foundations, as the photograph dramatically shows. Amid the confusion of overturned seating, tangled bodies, and crashing lamps, fire broke out when spilt kerosene ignited. Henry Breach, the treasurer, had the presence of mind to pull his coat tight

around him and roll the flames out.

Miss Harper, one of the “lassies.” comforted the congregation who were said to be “in a wretched plight after their terrifying experience.”

Trooper W. Prosser, recently returned from South Africa, was the first outsider on the scene and rushed to extricate those in the building. Stanley Lunn and others joined him and helped the shocked and injured Salvationists out through the windows.

Dr Gossett was quickly summoned, and with assistance from C. L. Thomas, the chemist, treated the injured in the home of H. C. Dierck.

Ensign Davies had a dislocated shoulder; his wife, Henry Breach, and the others in the building were cut and bruised. It was a miracle that no-one was seriously injured. Other buildings and property in the town were damaged. Maxwell’s coachbuilding premises were cut in half, Durant’s, grain store

damaged by flying debris, and Carl. Fisse’s watchmaking shop turned through 90 degrees and all the clocks flung to the floor. Campbell’s hairdressing premises and the Oddfellows Lodge property were damaged, trees uprooted, and a shed roof destroyed at the Rev. Mr Beck’s home.

The whirlwind departed as quickly as it began, leaving a trail of damage from • the Salvation Army Barracks to the Methodist Parsonage. The barracks, a structure with seating for 250, had been opened in. 1896. Ten years earlier some young men from the Brookside flaxmill had come under-the influence of the Salvation Army in Christchurch, and on their return held,meetings among themselves.

Two young officers took up duty at Brookside but headquarters were soon shifted to Leeston as their work expanded. Regular meetings and Sunday school were held in Ngati Moki Hall, Taumutu. Wednesday evenings at Tau-

mutu were devoted to hymn ’ singing; everyone came, with their horses and carts tied up, along the fence. ’’ The Army “lassies” travel-' led to Taumutu on pushbikes, working their Way down during the day selling the “War Cry” and visiting the sick.. Using the Sankey Hymn Books, old and young, Maori and pakeha, joined in singing their favourite hymns. Captain Ransom was a particular favourite during his years at Leeston. He«, pedalled his bike round the s ; old shingle roads for miles a&i he could not afford to keep a'£ horse fed and shod, even£ though a set of horse shoeSs cost only six shillings* Many others followed Cap= >. tain Ransom in charge afjj Leeston until the Army, through dwindling/? support; closed its doors in-;' 1946.

Older residents will Samuel Green, Mrs Loch-S head’s teamster, regularly'.' proclaiming the Gospel sage outside George Purser’s’, shoe shop on Friday nights.*,, For 60 years the Salvation” Army served the Ellesmere'' district well, but never again*-; did it experience such quick “turnover" of members;' as on the night of March 13A 1902.