Disastrous Gale.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 7, Issue 7, 4 February 1896, Page 2

Disastrous Gale.

Brisbane, January 31. Owing to bad weather communication with fovvnsville and the northern districts is interrupted. The steamer Franklyn has arrived at Cairns from Townsville, bringing word of great devastations by the gale.

'I he steamer Aramae had been on a reef between Cairns and Townsville for 10 hours but was floated off and proceeded to Sydney for docking. The steamer Alexandra was ashore at Townsville, and nearly all the lighters and barges were ashore at Townsville, some of the number being total wrecks.

Two local steamers, the Adelaide and Star of Hope wer sunk at the breakwater the latter vessel being in a dangerous position. '< The steamer Ellen was ashore at the pilot station with a large hole' in her bottom. The steam hopper barge foundered alongside the breakwater, the western portion of which structure was washed away by the sea.

The water was three feet deep in offices in Flinders street, Townsville, wnile Ross Island was completely submerged. Houses were unroofed in all directions, and it is rumoured that fifteen lives were lost in the north, but no details are to hand.

Townsville, January 31. The weather has moderated and the flood waters are falling. During the cyclone the wind blew over 100 miles an hour. The face of the country is completely changed, trees being uprooted in all directions, and thousands of tons of sand were carried over pasture lands by floods.

At Ross Island on Monday six lives were lost through the capsizing of a-boat engaged in rescue work.