WEATHER IN N.S. WALES

Evening Star, Issue 15129, 10 March 1913, Page 6

WEATHER IN N.S. WALES

GALE, RAIN, AND FLOOD. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 9. A strong gale, accompanied by torrential rain, raged in the city last evening. The streets were Hooded, and considerable damage was done. The sailing boats in the harbor had a rough time, and a mem-, ber"of a yacht’s crew was swept overboard and drowned. Races and sports were postponed, and shipping is sheltering. Later advices state that the rain has cleared, but the weather on the coast is still rough. The storm was the heaviest experienced for a long time. Thunder and torrential rain prevailed for several hours over a wide area, and the low lying suburbs round the Marrickville district were deeply flooded. Many people were compelled to leave their houses and take refuge in the Town Hall and elsewhere. The tram service was stopped. A cab was overturned in the flood water at Leichardt. The driver was drowned, but the passengers escaped. Telegraphic communication was badly , interrupted, including the line to La Peronse, necessitating the sending of the Press Association cables by messenger. Brookvalc reports that most of the parts of a derrick are sticking out of the water on the long reef near Manly. An investigation of a. possible disaster will be made at daylight. (Received March 10, at 9.45 a.m.) Several coasting vessels are overdue. It is supposed they are sheltering. Those arriving have had rough handling. A RECORD FLOOD. SOME FATALITIES AND MANY ESCAPES. FAR-REACHING AND COSTLY DAMAGE. SYDNEY, March 10. (Received March 10, at 9.35 a.m.) The storm was one of the worst on record in the metropolitan , area, which was the centre of misfortune. From a moderate north-easterly gale it developed into one of hurricane force) and for a couple of hours was accompanied by deafening thunder, vivid lightning, and a deluge of rain. Altogether, rain fell for 28 A hours in tho city, and 759 points were registered. Tho streets were transformed into streams sweeping the low-lying areas, which were quickly submerged, in some places many feet deep. The tram services wore dislocated through the debris blocking the rails, and long stretches were under water. Sixty cars altogether were derailed, but none were injured. The ferry services had to be discontinued, and the steamers moored. Vessels and, smaller craft received a rough handling. Tho only harbor fatality is that previously cabled. The drowned man's name is Walter Moore. He was a prominent yachtsman. There was a peculiar fatality at Waterloo. An electric wire broke, and in falling curled round the neck of a man named Clifford, electrocuting him. The cabman who was drowned at Leichhardt was named Stock! ey. He was driving in the darkness, and a deep dip in the road was filled with flood water. The horso stumbled, and the body of the driver was recovered in Bft of water. The horse was also drowned.

. The damage all round the city, particularly in the western suburbs, ‘ was very severe. The streets were torn up, gardens destroyed, trees uprooted, fences and outhouses washed away, houses flooded, and hundreds of fowls and domestic animals destroyed. Around 3larrickvillo it is estimated that the water encroached on 600 houses, greatly damaging the furniture, and in some cases washing away portions. The houses along Cook's River were invaded by the water, and the inmates had an exciting time taking refuge on tables and roofs. One man swam the river for a quarter of a mile, secured a boat, and then rescued 22 men, women, and children. In several case?_ the flood was too high for the rescuers to cuter the doorways, and the iron roofs had to be removed before the inmates were taken from their perilous position. At Homebush the roof of a house collapsed. It was occupied by Mr Cameron, secretary of the Civil Ambulance Sociotv, and his wife and four children. The wife was pinned in her bed by a beam, but was rescued uninjured. Two of her sons had severe scalp wounds. 10 HORSES ELECTROCUTED. SO3IE MARVELLOUS ESCAPES. SYDNEY, 3larch 10. (Received 3larch 10, at 10.5 a.m.) At Liverpool the troops were flooded out, and the whole camp is now under water. At Bankstown the flood backed against the railway and took possession of a number of houses. A couple of families liad to take to the roofs. They were rescued by a raft. Other families, who refused to abandon their furniture, spent the night on tables. At Campbelltown the floods caused serious damage to houses and shops, and much-live stock perished. At Newcastle there was a heavy storm and flood. Ten draught horses belonging to the Australian Agricultural Company were being, driven in a street, when an electric light wire broke and fell on the animals, all of which were killed. A man named O’Connell fell in a stormwater channel, and was drowned. At Worthington another man was drowned when crossing a flooded creek. At Clifton the Imperial Hotel roof was carried a hundred yards, then dropped on and wrecked another building. Other buildings were unroofed and damaged. Some sleepers and customers in the hotel, and the residents in adjoining places, had miraculous escapes. There are a number of railway washouts, trains are held up, and the telegraphic services are seriously blocked. The steamer Queensland, bound from 31elbourne to Newcastle, is anchored off Wilson’s Promontory. She has broken down, and has asked for immediate assistance to be sent.