GALE IN N. S. WALES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1923, Page 5

GALE IN N. S. WALES

WILDEST ON RECORD.

LIFE AND PROPERTY LOSSES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) SYDNEY, September 21. The heavy cyclonic storm is abating. Though Sydney apparently escaped the fipl force of the blow, some damage to property is reported in the suburbs. The worst was at Chatwood where iron roofs of four shops were dislodged. A portion falling on the road struck a number of school children injuring four, two being sent to the hospital. Owing to general dislocation of telegraphic services excepting the northward, little new r s is available, but such country reports as have been received show the storm was widespread and violent, particularly between Sydney and Melbourne. All communication with the Southern States is interrupted. It is believed that much damage was done.

LATER. The State has been violently swept by the wildest gale in memory. Owing to interruptions to telegraphic communications, the extent . I the damage in many districts and rhe southern States is unknown. Reports ■ from every suburb and such country districts from which fragments of news have been trickling through, record many startling escapes from flying iron roofs, verandahs, fences and, m one instance, from the scaffolding from a nine story building in the course of construction alongside the Synagogue in the heart of the city, at the time shortly after six in the evening, when the worshippers were streaming from the temple after twenty four hours fasting. How they escaped the flying timbers is almost a miracle. Owing to the congested after-business traffic, the line was heavily laden, trams moving slowly in front of the buildings. Tho scaffolding fell on the tramcars smashing the wood work of the compartments. No passengers were injured.

One fatality is reported at Katoomba, where roofs from houses and shops were lifted bodily and carried several hundred yards away by the storm. A heavy chimney stack fell through the roof of San Souci, one of the best known residential hotels on the mountains and recently rebuilt on modern lines. The chimney forced a way through two floors on to Harry .Woods, kitchenman, of Sydney, who was staying there with his wife. Woods was crushed to death, and the chimney carried his body to the ground floor. The wife, who was sitting close by, narrowly escaped a similar fate. The chefs in the kitchen missed the deluge of bricks by inches.

Vessels at anchor also encountered anxious moments, but no damage is reported.