THUNDERSTORM IN SYDNEY

Evening Star, Issue 18239, 2 April 1923, Page 3

THUNDERSTORM IN SYDNEY

FIREBALL CAUSES SCARE. A severe t’mmlerDnrm was experienced in Sydney between 6 and 7 o eioe.U mi March 19. A fireball struck an Iron standard in Hunter si reel. People standing under a verandah close in l.iie spot received a mild shock. Some of (hem imagined that, they bad been struck by lightning. Women screamed, and oven men sought shclier, fearing a further elccincal demonstration. The iron standard was one ot tlie supports of the overhead gear ot the electric Irani system. The descent of the fireball was observed by many people in the street, and win n it. struck die riandard it eroai.cd a cloud of smoke under the verandah. At first the smoke was -u thud; Dial mure than one person shouted a warning that the building was nn fine Welcome, rain accompanied the t hunde;storm. Shortly before noon on Ike same (lay a. tlnmderholi struck Medlovv bain, in the Blue Mountains. I'othmang ban- icrriiie bursts of Blunder, a hall of bine flame, described by cve-vviino-ses as being the si/,o of a' football, 'Hashed towards iiie earth and struck a stringy-bark tree near - Wonderland Park. Branches were splintered in all directions, the trunk was riven, and a jnrrovv made in ttic earth at ils tool, as a. 'gigantic plough had passed. All_ telephones in Urn’ town w-re disordered, and man v electric tights lused. the po.-tinD-tress’, who was sealed in the front office, said-'that, tongues of blue flume flickered 'about I bo. extremities of all the wires.