CYCLONIC GALE AND DELUGE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 102, 24 January 1933, Page 9

CYCLONIC GALE AND DELUGE

Low-lying Suburbs of Sydney Flooded

PARTY OF CAMPERS SWEPT TO DEATH

Extensive Damage to Property Throughout State

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— -Copyright.

(Received Jan. 23, 8.55 p.m.)

A heavy downpour of rain all night long flooded many low-lying areas of the metropolis. The results are the most serious expenenceo for years. The damage in city and suburbs to homes, shipping and other property cannot at present be estimated, but will probably exceed £50,000. ' , „ . Seven persons were drowned at Stairwell Park when flood-waters rushed, down a valley and overwhelmed camping parties.

Hundreds of homes in low-lying areas were flooded. In Waterloo, Alexanudria, and neighbouring suburbs, people awoke to find their beds almost awash. ' . A cyclonic gale added to the miseries of the situation. . A number of large shop-windows near the central railway, station were smashed. Tram services were delayed on many lines by accumulated water in low-lying spots. The railways were interrupted on both the Southern and Illawarra lines. The latter was badly affected for fifteen to twenty miles. The Coogee and Kensington ovals were turned into lakes, and water entered neighbouring houses. The Nepean River rose fourteen feet at Penrith, where water was three feet deep in the main street Liverpool was isolated as far as road traffic was concerned. Coastal shipping movements were hampered during the early hours. The weather bureau warns shipping that wild weather is still expected around the New South Wales coast. Camps Washed Away. Six campers were rescued from' a flooded island in the Georges River by a boat rushed from Liverpool on- a lorry. ■ Many camps were washed, away, and the occupants spent a perilous time, awaiting daylight. A whole family was trapped in a cottage which was engulfed in a landslide at Helensburgh, a small mining town on the Illawarra line. A boy of fifteen was smothered. Rescuers are working feverishly to save the others. Following are some of the rainfall readings for the twenty-four hours up to 9 o’clock to-dayAt Waterfall, 24 inches, largely between 2 and 5 o’clock this morning: at Randwick, 10 J inches; at Bexley. 8J inches; at Earlwood, over Si inches: at Mascot 6 inches.

Two small children playing in a storm water channel at Canterbury were swept away by th© onrush of water, A man, fully clothed, rushed in and brought them out barely conscious.

The Randwick racecourse is submerged to a depth of two feet. The Hawkesbury River rose IS feet in eight hours. ' ■■■ - , , - To-day Richmond" settlers were warned of the danger of flood. ' The damage to the south coast railway is so severe that it will be four days before the through service can be restored.

A man named Headway, one of a group standing in the yard of a house at Young, was killed and the rest were knocked unconscious by lightning this morning. Veryheavy rain continues in the xoung district....

The rain brought relief to the North Coast, where the butter-producing districts had been anxious. The soaking was general throughout the State, though a few areas are still untouched. The grass fires are mostly extinguished. ’ A landslide blocked the railway line near Stanwell Park on the Illawarra route. Hail did much damage to orchards. Electrical Storms. ’ Severe electrical storms caused much damage, at the week-end in many centres of the Kiverina and Northern border districts. Thunderstorms between Adelaide and Fremantle disorganised telegraphic communication. A fireball struck a house in Young,

narrowly "missing a boy who had just been called from bed by his mother. Cyclonic conditions are now reported as covering a wide area of Eastern Australia. SEVEN LIVES LOST Swept Away in Surging Torrent FLOOD TRAPS CAMPERS (Received, Jan. 23, 8.30 p.m.) Sydney, Jan. 23. During the terrific storm which lashed the coast from S o’clock until dawn seven people were drowned and others were gallantly rescued when flood waters rushed down a valley at Stanwell Park and overwhelmed camping parties. The dead include a father and mother and three of their children, and two brothers of another family—namely, Vincent Davis, aged 40; his wife, aged 38; their sons, Vincent, 13, Leslie, 9, and Jack, 2; also Jack Phyllis, 12, and his brother Allen, 8. Following torrential rain, the beach lagoon near where the tents were erected overflowed. Some campers fought their way up a steep hill to seek shelter at the railway station. The Davis family and the Phyllis brothers were left marooned. Suddenly the Davis’s tent was blown down. Mr. Davis then used a rope, which formed part of the tent fastenings, to tie his family by the wrists to a tree. The two Phyllis boys, whose camp was washed away, sought shelter with the Davis family, and Mr. Davis also tied them to the rest of the party.

Then strapping his baby to his shoulders Mr. Davis plunged into the water in an attempt to reach land fifty yards away, and thus secure help. Neither he nor the baby was seen again.

The force of the water was so great that the rope holding the other members of the family to the tree snapped and they were swept toward the sea. The rope around Laurel Davis's wrist became . entangled in a fallen tree and saved her life. • . Gordon Thompson, aged 17, made five attempts to swim through the boiling torrent before he finally dragged her ashore.

The island meanwhile became completely submerged. The body of Mrs. Davis was recovered. Two others have been seen in the surf.

RAILWAYS DAMAGED

Interruption of Services

(Received Jan. 24, 0.15 a.m.)

Sydney, Jan. 23.

Railway reports show that extensive damage was caused throughout the State. Many services are interrupted. The Brisbane mail and the Glen Innes mail are held up at Werris Creek, owing to washaways. The line has been swept away in patches over a distance of 11 miles. The State Meteorologist forecasts “further heavy to flood falls, with danger of floods in all coastal rivers.” Light rain continues in Sydney to-night.