DISASTROUS STORMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2443, 9 January 1901, Page 16

DISASTROUS STORMS.

LOSS OF LIFE AND DAMAGE

TO PROPERTY.

LONDON, December 30.

The late gale was the worst experienced in Great Britain for years. Many wrecks are reported. A mountainous sea drove the steamer Primrose Hill on Penrhose Rocks, on the coast of Wales. The vessel broke in halves, and the crew, numbering 56 souls, were all drowned, except one.

Thirteen persons perished on the coast of Cornwall and in the Bristol Channel.

Seventy barges broke adrift in the River Thames.

SYDNEY, December 29.

Early this month New Britain was visited by a hurricane, which lasted three days. Immense damage was done to the cocoanut and other plantations and to buildings. The Government and other wharves were demolished, and the mission launch Kingfisher, besides three lighters, was wrecked. Many boats were driven ashore and smashed. Two lives were lost and two persons severely injured.

PORT DARWIN, December 29.

Details of the typhoon at Guam, an island ceded to the United States aft«r the Spanish-American war, and the loss of the U.S. cruiser Yosemite are to hand. The storm was the worst ever experienced on the island. Houses were wrecked and the crops ruined. It is feared that unless relieved the native population will die of starvation

In the early part of the storm five of the Yosemite's crew, in attempting to find shelter, were drowned through their boat capsizing. The cruiser dragged her anchor and bumped on a reef, knocking a hole in her fore compartment and carrying away the rudder pos,t, besides damaging the propeller. She was then, driven a hundred lfiiles to s-ca, Ibut was kept afloat for two days by ihe greatest exertions of her officers and crew. A passing vessel took off the crew, who scuttled the vessel, before she sank.