A CYCLONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9690, 19 June 1917, Page 8

A CYCLONE

DWELLING DESTROYED NARROW ESCAPE OF IRONWORKS AT MOTUROA. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF FAMILY. The stormy weather last week reached the culminating point on Saturday morning, when there was a heavy thunderstorm, with heavy hail showers early in the morning, and then, at about 10 a.m., the district oi Moturoa and Spotswood was struck by a cyclonic visitation that resulted in the complete destruction of an eight-roomed dwelling, and the execution of considerable other damage. It is marvellous, says the “Taranaki Daily News,” that there was no loss of life, as the wrecked house was occupied at the time by a woman and five children, who had miraculous escapes.

WHIRLWIND OR WATERSPOUT? The whirlwind or waterspout—there seems to be some question as to what the visitation was —was seen by men working at the wharf to gather in the sea, between Mikotahi and Paritutu. It rose until it appeared to reach a height of several hundred feet, a huge black mass, which began to move towards Paritutu, a spectator stating that it appeared as though it were an v elephant’s trunk moving round to'see what it could devour. THE IRONWORKS NARROW ESCAPE.

It first struck the Ironsand Company's office and laboratory, tearing off half the roof of the former and damaging the windows of the latter. The iron of the roof was earned into the air and blown over the country, os were also various papers from tho walls and roof of the office, »n which Mr Payne, the manager, was working. Some wooden patterns were also scattered on the beach. Fortunately the monster missed the main 'building, which shook with the disturbance, as here there was heavy machinery, among which several men were wording, and probably a fatality would have occurred. OIL DERRICK DESTROYED. It then appeared to glide over the sandhills behind Mr Knowles' hotel, passing over the old ironside' experimental works, which escaped damage, and removing trees summarily from its path. No 3 derrick of the Taranaki Oil Compaq received its full force, and despite its strong construction, was lifted ten feet into the air and thrown to the ground, some thirty feet from its original site, becoming a wreck. It then appeared to travel over the hill, missing some houses and the oil refinery. It struck tho hill, and, Air W. Marr, who was watching its approach from tho door of his residence, just had time to shut the door when a considerable portion; of the roof was blown away, as well as the balcony and chimney. Other chimneys and trees also suffered severely. A HOUSE DEMOLISHED.

From here the whirlwind travelled across tho Main South road, snapping a telegraph post. Fortunately, no coastal oars were passing at the time. It then struck a two-storey residence, known as “Blagdon,” on the left-hand-side of the main South road, near the Devon Line junction, and here the greatest havoc was wrought. This house, which was owned by Mr Honeyfield and occupied by Mr A. H. Bensley, contained five rooms on the ground floor and three upstairs, and was practically surrounded by a belt of trees. It received tho full force of the visitation, and was quickly a mass of wreckage. Mr W. A. Bailey (Mrs Bensley’s brother), who lives nearby, saw the whirlwind approaching, and hurried to give warning. It, however, overtook him at the front gate, but he had time to throw himself down, grasp the gate-post, and bo escaped, enough the force tore his coat off. He said that it carried considerable debris_ in the shape of iron, gorse, lupins, etc., and also a telegraph post. It passed through the orchard, wrecking numerous trees, one being turned upside down, and, passing on to the house, served it m a similar manner, making it a complete wreck. When Mr Bailey reached this wreck, he discovered Fred, the eight-yenr-old son, pinned beneath the debris. Help, including two passing motorists, extricated the child, who was carried into Mr Bailey’s house, where, on Dr Blackley’s arrival, it was found that his collar-bone was broken and his head and left leg cuttle was later taken to the hospital.

FAMILY'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE Mrs Bensley. aud her five children had miraculous escapes. She was in. a bedroom on the ground floor, bathing her few-weeks-old baby, and had .just lifted the baby out of the bath when the house was struck. The furniture of the room was thrown through the south wall of the house, and Mrs Bensley and the child followed, and wore then lifted and deposited half a chain away, the baby escaping with a few bruises, the mother having both arms and one log hurt, but not seriously. Two girls, aged thirteen and three respectively, were in the kitchen, and they received much the same treatment, Che little girl sustaining a cut about the head five or six inches long. The two boys were upstairs, one, aged eight, was injured as described, whilst the other, aged six, received a lacerated knee, also a cut on the back of the leg and a slight wound in the head. Some idea of the force of the disturbance may be gleaned from the way in which the trees were treated, huge pines and gums being snapped off, uprooted and twisted in all directions. One eucalyptus, about three feet through, was twisted and snapped off like a carrot. Some of the iron was carried half a mile away. Mrs Bensley’s furniture was completely destroyed. all that was saved being a dresser badly damaged, two pillows and a mattress. Their clothes were scattered in all directions, some being discovered in Marfell's in ‘Westown,’whilst a hat was found in Duncan and Davies’ nursery. _ , The live stock owned by Mr Bensley had a parlous time. A pig with its stye was carried away. The pig has since been discovered, but the stye is missing. One cow was turned completely over and the other was rolled to the bottom of the hill, and neither appear to he hurt, but one in full milk has given no milk since. The visitation seems to have expended its force here, for, though it was

observed to travel miles inland, sxo damage has .so far been reported. THE DEBRIS AFIRE. During Saturday night the debris of the house and its contents caught fire, and was completely destroyed. Considerable sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Hensley and their family of six children, wiio have practically lost everything, the children even losing their boots, as they were barefooted at the time. Mr Bensley has resided in tho house for several years, having boon employed as a storeman at the Moturoa freezing works.