HOME WRECKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 10

HOME WRECKED

FIERCE WHIRLWIND HURLED FOR 20 YARDS I NEWLY-WED OCCUPANTS ; PINNED UNDER DEBRIS f • I'm ■ [>r TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] HAWERA, Mondiy H Lifted bodily and dumped 20 yardj away in a mass of tangled wreckage [ the four-roomed farm residence of Mr! r and Mrs. R. T. Oaten by, of Te Kiri ' near Opunake, was demolished by a > whirlwind on Saturday. Debris was - hurled a mile away. Furniture and household effects were caught up and I the wreckage scattered over the pads docks. Mr. and Mrs. Oatenbv, however. ' 1 miraculously emerged almost unscathed from the flying timbers, iron and bricks, ~ All of the hbuse that was left in position was part of the verandah flooring. Cowsheds on adjoining properties were lifted 200 ft. in the air and smashed to pieces. Power lines were ' snapped by flying iron, and, on one farm, a cow was electrocuted. Roar of Terrific Wind A storm of unusual severity occurred throughout the district late in the afternoon Hailstones fell the size of pigeons' eggs. Then came an stillness. Mr. Oatenbv and his wife were in the kitchen of their home, where Mrs Gatenby was preparing a cup of tea. The stillness was broken by the roar of a terrific wind and the house rocked on its foundations. Seemingly in a flash the house was lifted and dropped 20 yards away in a crazy jumble of broken timber and twisted iron. Mr. and Mrs. Gatenby crawled from the ruins and watched the roof, walls and contents of the house sailing over the hedges. In five minutes all that remained was part of the verandah flooring. Debris Carried a Mile On top of a hedge a chain away rested the floor of the sitting, room. The kitchen floor was hurled over a hedge and came to rest 100 yards away near a cowshed, which also was demolished. Other parts of the house were strewn in the paddocks, and some came to rest on the Eltham-Opunake road, a mile distant. Furniture, smashed to matchwood, was scattered over a wide area. "It was a miracle we were not killed," said Mr. Gatenby. "We were buried in the wreckage and I was pinned by timber and iron. My wife was able to free herself and she crawled over and released me. We managed to get outside. It was lucky for us that we were not hit by flying debris. Terrifying Experiencs r "It seemed to be all a few seconds. It certainly was a terrifying experience. Our only injuries were minor cuts and abrasions, but my wife is suffering from severe shock. We were married only six weeks aeeC and you can imagine what a bfbw it is to us. I spent £IOO on the furniture and every stick is smashed." On neighbouring farms haystacks and outbuildings were demolished, while a belt of shelter trees snapped off like matchwood. Farm implements were hurled about like straws. A trail of minor damage indicates the path of the visitation for about two miles. The track is about 200 yards wide. A similar disturbance occurred in this district four years ago.