TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN WEST AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 4 March 1909, Page 3

TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN WEST AUSTRALIA.

(Press Association.— Copybiqht.) RAIN, HAIL, AND FLOODS, TOWNSHIPS UNDEB WATER. GEEAT DAMAGE AND NARROW ESCAPES. (Received 9.46 a.m.) PERTH^ Thursday. Tuesday night's storm caused widespread devastation in the Northam and York districts. Following four days of intense heat, the storm came, with rain, accompanied by large hailstones and a cyclonic wind. It commenced suddenly at Northam where rain fell in cataracts. Then there was a lull, followed by another even worse storm. It is estimated that seven inches of rain fell in 35 minutes. An arm of the Avon river overflowed^ aud a wall of water 200 yard? wide and five feet deep carried i'enci-s. imall structures, and all moveabkarticles before it.

It rushed down on the town, and flooded the main stroet to a depth of four feet. Scarcely a house iu the town escaped.

The residents took refuge on chairs ■ind boxes placed on the tables, and there were many narrow escapes of the men engaged in retailing people. One man was washed out of a buggy and was saved by clinging to a hencoop. The constable in charge of the lock-up, wading up to his arm pits, released two prisoner; 1 ; whe otherwise would have been drowned.

To make matters worse the electrical station was flooded, and the town was in darkne.'y.

The waters Eiil^-'ded at the end of Mire l.';:rs :ii.d daylight presented a remnrkable picture. The street? everywhere were littered wUh debri.' — dead dogs and sheep and (liousands of fowls — while most of the houses were filled with mud and uninhabitable, the contents being largely destroyed. ,

Business people arc the greatest losers in stocks. Tho damage is estimated at from £10 000 to £15,000.

Tho Mayor ha? opcn«d a relief fund.

The railway and telegraphic services have been disorganised, and there are many washaways.

At York vthe storm lasted two hours. Haik'tones fell as largo as pigeons' eggs, and the main street was flooded. A swing-bridge was partially washed away and miles of fenc : n(T were destroyed. Great damage iv:is done lo property '.md orchards throughout (he districts have !)■.(■;! 'l"\ast.i:oil.

At Kalgoorlip three 111011 wer- rid ing in a dray, ainl one nann-i] s«-ifl was Kruck dead by lightning. The others sustained a severe shock.