The Storm

Southland Times, Issue 22345, 9 June 1934, Page 19

The Storm

—Highly Commended — . One cold winters night I was coming , home from school with my chums when some heavy rain-drops fell upon us. We looked anxiously above us, and saw great black clouds hovering around us. As we looked the four of us had the same thought—would we get home in time? It seemed impossible as we had two miles to go through scrubcovered land. Suddenly the storm burst and we girls were terrified! Joyce, who was the youngest declared that she would not go any further but was going to shelter in the bushes. We others then , persuaded her to come out in the open ground in case the lightening caused some trees to fall At this Joyce con- . sented to come on. It grew darker and the thunder roared louder and we were more frightened. At last we found that we had lost our way. Joyce and Mary started to cry and the rest of us felt very depressed. We were all thinking of home and how our parents would be feeling. At last we fell asleep and when we woke the sun was shining brightly. We were still too much exhausted to get up, so we lay on the ground. Not long after we heard voices and we knew we were found. The whole four of us were in bed with colds and the ’flu. We never ever forgot the storm. At sea many lives were lost through the terrible storm. —3 marks to Cousin Dorothy Ferrar (12), Kapuka South. —Highly Commended — It was a close sunny day when suddenly a cold breeze got up and brought a large black cloud into the sky. As the wind got stronger, I noticed the horses galloping round the paddock and the cattle running for shelter, which is a sure sign of a storm brewing. Soon the sky became as black as ink, as the black cloud had now spread out over the sky. After a while ft slight sound was heard, which was thunder away in the distance. Louder and louder it came, until right up above us it seemed as if it was shaking the whole house. Then the lightning started flashing every now and then across the window pane. A downpour of rain started, —light at first, but heavy afterwards. Soon the tanks were all overflowing while the ground was just one big puddle. The storm lasted for about two hours, and what a difference it made outside for there seemed to be puddles every where! —3 marks to Cousin Dorothy Stevens (9), Lora Gorge. —Highly Commended — A stately barque stood becalmed on the still ocean a few miles away from Cape Hom. The ship was Finnish make taking a cargo of wheat from Australia to England. She had been sailing steadily for some time before a fair wind. About five miles away the wind had dropped until there was scarcely enough to fill the sails. Further on it became a dead calm. As all her- sailors knew, a calm camo before a storm so the captain, M. Francois Laronade, a Frenchman, had ordered several of the sails to be reefed. He was not a moment to soon! An hour later the storm broke on them. They were driven through the water at a terrific speed, right in the teeth of the gale. The waves were like mountains, washing over the bow and the stem. -The ship had little chance of surviving this storm and every man thought he was sure to drown. “Every man to his post!” roared the captain, scarcely heard in the storm. Higher and higher grew the waves, the ship tossed about on the top of them like a cork. First on one side then on the other, the ship rolled. Hhe mountainous waves sweeping over the decks, washed everything away with them. The day passed on and still the storm raged. Night came, thunder and lightning with it. St. Elmo’s fire played on the masts, spars and railings. The howling wind made itself felt in every corner of the ship. For two days it continued thus, and when on the third day the storm abated, the Finnish barque looked more like a wreck than a sailing vessel. 3 marks to Cousin Graeme Anderson (9), 78 Don street, Invercargill. —Highly Commended.— One day I thought that I would like to go for a row as it was fine. Going down to the seashore I pushed a boat into the water and jumped in with two oars. I had left the shore about two miles behind when rain clouds blew up for a storm. The waves began to rise ■ higher and the wind blew them against the boat. At last I decided to go home but the rain was drenching me and my joints were aching with cold. I rowed as hard as I could for the shore while the storm was raging and monstrous waves were trying to capsize the boat. I saw that I was going further away from the shore instead of getting nearer it. At last, worn out with hunger, I fell , asleep in the boat. When I awoke I was surprised to see land. The storm was still raging fiercely and I felt like a drowned rat. Soon the boat drifted to the shore of an uninhabited Island j covered in places by dense bush. ( Thinking that I might need it I had brought my gun. It was just as well . for me, too. I had lit a fire and was drying my clothes, when, from behind ■ a big tree came an old grizzly and her cubs. Picking up my gun, I shot her through the head while her two cubs bolted into the bush scaring the birds out of their wits. After , that nothing . disturbed me and the rain had eased off so I built a strong log house to ' sleep in. ! In the morning I saw a ship an- : chored off the shore and two boats were coming towards land. When they landed I found to my joy that they had my friends in them. They had set I out to find me and thought that I might have been on this island. When they ] lowered the boats they saw my boat on the shore and knew where I was : and that I was safe and had been sheltering from the storm. j —3 marks to Cousin Bob Howden - (10) Mataura Island. < • i —Highly Commended — I As I looked out of my window I ob- i served that the sky was dull and over- ’ cast and the storm was surely ap- j proaching. ” Suddenly I heard the dis- j tant rumbling of thunder which gradually came nearer and nearer until it ( sounded just over my head, like the ‘ mighty crashing of two giant drums. Almost immediately this great, noise yas followed by flashes of lightning and rain began to fall while the wind 1 seemed to lash round the house in a * terrible fury. ( As I gazed out of the window I j noticed there were a few unfortunate 1 people hurrying past. They were hug- 1 ging their coats round them in their r endeavour to keep out the driving ■ wind and rain which simply beat upon A them. 1 It was all so very terrifying and yet c there was something about it that fascinated me. However, I felt very c pleased, I was cosy in my own little I room and did not have to venture out c in the storm. £ —3 marks to Cousin Nola Little (8), Ettrick street. 1

—Highly Commended—- ’ Oh Dear! What a storm! We were all i wakened by the wind whistling round . the house. Dad called us, out to see I the roof nearly off the stable; the gig 1 up side down; all the empty petrol I drums having a race down the pad- : dock; one or two trees were over in > the plantation, and the sheaves that - have been blown off the stacks were scattered all about the paddock. > On our way to school we were near- ; ly blown off our feet. When we reached I school we were soaking wet because > the rain was pelting down and our i hats were blown off and our coats i would not stay fastened. We were glad I when we reached school for it was still • raining. I We did not pay much attention to : our lessons that day because of the rain pelting on the roof and of. the . storm still raging. When we arrived home at night, it was still raining but I the wind had gone down considerably. ! 3 marks to Cousin Hazel Monk (10), Lumsden. —Highly Commended— The afternoon was hot and sultry, too hot to last. As old Father Time wore on it became clear that something was in the wind” for black, stormy clouds covered the once blue cloudless sky. Then, all too soon came the rainpouring down. If you had been in it it would have drenched you through to the skin in a moment. The wind, ' also howled fiercely as it whisked the snow in every direction and picked all the filth out of the gutters to whirl it around the streets at a rate that would have put an express engine to lightning noiselessly flashed across the now darkened sky, lighting everything up, only to pitch it into darkness again. The thunder crashed till the very earth shook with it. Fences, chimneys, trees and sheds all came down in the tumult/ Everybody was growling at the weatherman for the unbearable weather. Father did not see why this should happen and spoil his crops. Mother wanted it fine to do the shopping and Betty to have a doll’s tea party in the garden. Johnny wanted snow but no rain because he wanted to go tobogganing. Big brother wanted ice to skate on. The shopkeeper wanted it fine because, as he said, he had more customers then and not so many crowding round the door for shelter. Thor, the god of thunder, laughed at the way he had frightened the people but soon he tired of his play and decided to stop. As the _ rain and everything else followed his example, there was soon peace and quietness after the raging storm. —3 marks to Cousin Eugenie McKenzie (12), Marine Parade, Bluff. —Highly Commended — “Storm ahead!” shouted the mate. “Clear the decks! Quick!” All eyes turned anxiously towards the dark, dismal, miserable wretched clusters of clouds, as the mate spoke. Toiling hard, we did not have time to clear the decks before a strong, sou - west gale sprang up, and the sea’s flying spray surrounded us. The old cargo steamer tossed, she groaned pitil—ously as the great torrents of ungracious water and foam swept across her Oh! How the thunder clapped and rumbled as if God was very angry.. Oh! How the lightning flashed as it lit up the unforbidding, low, dirty ceiling of Heaven. “More tar!” shouted a small cabin boy, as he made his way briskly down the stairs to the engine room. “A seam is leaking near the stern. Hurry up!” The sea was white like a sheet of foam, as it boiled like a large, pot of milk. There was not a break in the angry clouds. The infuriated sea tossed vigorously against the sides of our heavily laden vessel. There was not a single break in the intolerable weather. The bulwarks were washed away by the furious mountains of waves which leapt high above the worn, wet stanchions. The spars seemed to quiver in this most ferocious gale. Riggings were tom away from the piece-meal, as it was now called. There was not a dry spot on the boat now. Now and again we sprang a leak, but it was always sealed up before coming worse. The rain beat unmercifully on the cabins. We, the crew, had to hold on to our bunks, as the boat was being gutted bit by bit. The captain sent messages to tell us that we were three miles off our course and that the island was nowhere to be seen. This terrifying storm was beginning its fourth day of anxiety. Often we felt there was no hope for us, but sang songs to keep our hearts from falling. Now and then the mate would say: “Have courage, boys. Hope yet!” The sea still tossed and pitched. The rain still came. The wind whistled and howled as if in agony. The thunder and lightning had ceased for at least a day. One morning when it was my turn to go around the boat to see to the damage I saw leaves and seaweed floating on the squally ocean. Excitedly I rushed in and told the captain and crew. “A light! Land!” shouted a sailor who had climbed a mast. The heavens had broken and bright, gleaming rays descended on us. “Thank God” was all we could say as we steamed into the native harbour. —3 marks to Cousin Phyllis Tuffery (12), Heywood street, Invercargill. —Very Highly Commended— All was excitement and bustle at King Thundervoice’s royal palace in Cloudland. Dark visaged clouds were steaming into the court room and taking their places before King Thunder- . voice and his sky fairies. When they were all assembled he spoke. “Now the rosy Dawn Clouds will stand and tell us their complaint for which they have called this meeting on purpose to express.” So accordingly the aforesaid clouds stepped forward and said: “For weeks we have arisen early in the morning and blushed and' glowed till the sun arose but the earth people just look up and say “red morning ■ shepherd’s warning” and then go rush- . ing about with their heads down ; grumbling. , “They are always scowling at us and ; saying something nasty about us so we ; are going to revenge them severely,” and with this threat the Rosy Dawn Clouds retired. “Now the feather clouds will speak,” said the king, and this is what they said: “When the Dawn Clouds disappear ! we stream forth bringing coolness and • peace with us but the earth people 1 never give us a word of welcome. In r fact they don’t even look at us, so < seeing tha we are never noticed we too are going to revenge the ungrate- t ful earth beings.” So as each group of clouds told King t Thundervoice their complaints (which , were pretty much the same as the first t ones) they grew more and more ex- r cited. " j When the king had heard them all 6 out he said, “Well, seeing the earth 1 people don’t like sunshine and bright I clouds the only thing is to give them s a great storm.” £ Accordingly the Dark Storm Witches prepared their cauldrons of lightning (

and wildfire, while fairies rounded up the Thunder Hounds. When all was ready the witches tipped out the lightning which shot over the sky in streaks causing the hounds to bay loudly so making the thunder. The fairies then poured out 1 hail, snow, rain, and mist till the great 1 storm was complete. When after ten ; days of it, the sun and the bright clouds j came out again the earth people had 1 learned their lesson and welcomed ‘ them with smiles. J —4 marks to Cousin Doris Baird (12), ‘ Dacre. —Commended—- [ The day of our departure dawned , clear, bright and crisp. Not a cloud marred the dark blue of the sky. As . our seaworthy ship the “Brittania” I skimmed birdlike over the billows we [ noticed that the beaches were crowded with numerous picnickers and bathers , even though it was just a little after ; nine. After we had sailed for about ten i miles Captain Hardy mounted the ; bridge and stood gazing -at the clouds which were beginning to blow up from the south. 1 “Brown!” the captain called to me, “the glass has fallen two points in an hour. Do you think that a storm is brewing?” I glanced towards the horizon. “It ■ seems so, sir,” I answered, “that small cloud over there doesn’t look too pleas- ' ing.” ; “Just as I thought. Ahoy there! lower the sails as quick as you can. A ■ storm is brewing!” ; Instantly sailors were aloft and ip less time than it takes to say the sails were furled and the ship scudded under bare poles, before the ever increasing gale. About half an hour later the full fury of the tempest broke upon us. Not a thing would remain stationary such was the tossing of the ship. Above the howling of the wind and the crashing of the waves could be heard the falling of furniture and the breaking of crockery. The waves in no time removed every article from the deck while the wind whistled among the masts. I had to grasp the wheel firmly with both hands to prevent myself from being washed overboard. For once in my life I had seen God’s furies set free.- After two hours of this fury we saw before us the guiding light of a lighthouse and in a quarter of an hour we were safely berthed in the harbour while the storm raged with unabated fury. —2 marks to Cousin Isabel Main (12), Marine Parade, Bluff. —Commended— Three days after our good ship the S. S. Dawn had left the Australian coast, she ran into rough weather as she sailed south. Night was falling and restless passengers feared a storm would rise. Later on during the night when everybody was in bed the wind began to howl round the boat as it rocked from side to side, and people thought the ship .would go under water any minute. Thunder and lightening soon arose and the sky was very black. Rain poured down upon the ship and everyone had to lock their cabins as water was washing over the deck. As the boat made her way across the broad expanse of sea that lay ahead of her, the sun rose and the storm died away leaving behind it just a refreshing wind, to cool the hot summer’s day. —2 marks to Cousin Dawn Reeve (10), Heyward street, Invercargill. —Commended — The sky was blue and the sea was calm when the ship “Elizabeth” steamed out of Sydney harbour. After the last goodbyes were said the people stood on the deck and watched the city sink below the horizon. The clear blue white topped waves, breaking around the ship, made them think what a pleasant voyage they were going to have. By four o’clock that afternoon, however, the scene was changed. They were well out to sea by that time, the air had become dry and sultry and a large black cloud hid the sun from sight. Besides this, the waves that had looked so peaceful were now huge and stormy looking. Bedtime came and 1 everyone retired to their cabins hoping they were not in for a bad storm. Presently a terrible crash of thunder was heard and the storm was on in earnest. The ship began to pitch and roll and everyone felt very nervous. In the middle of the night they were ’ awakened by a sudden shock. Rush- - ing up on deck, they found great confusion. Passengers were rushing round, women screaming and clinging to their children while the captain was trying to calm everyone and to assure them that there was no danger. He ordered the sailors to have the life boats ready . and to the lifebelts in case they were wanted. - Gradually the storm seemed to clear and the people were satisfied that they : were not going to be shipwrecked after j all, and to make up for the bad start, for the remainder of their voyage they i had beautiful weather so that by the time the “Elizabeth” reached Welling- ( ton everyone had nearly forgotten their fright and were saying what an enjoyable time they had had. ; —2 marks to Cousin Zoe Bates (9), Lilburn. —Commended— * Without a word of warning the trees . began to rustle and the birds stopped singing and flew away. The rain began to pour’, the lightning flashed and the thunder roared. The animals all made for shelter under the trees or gorse hedges. The children who were outside playing, all ran inside out of the pouring rain and ] the strong wind. i From inside the rain could be seen 1 patting on the window pane.. Every 1 now and then a flash of lightning would come inside and light up the j room followed by some peals of thun- j der which frightened the small children- ... i In the morning the sun was shining j brightly—the storm was over. —2 marks to Cousin Dorothy Hall I (9), Aparima R.D., Otautau. j 1 Commended. j One cold winters day just as I was going out to play it looked very black about the hills. Then a great storm arose. . ‘ All the children ran inside. Animals r ran for shelter. Then the thunder i started coming in loud peels and quick flashes of lightning—there was. chain and fork lightning, When the rain was i over everything was dripping wet. The animals’ coats, which were wet, were | all lying flat. 1 mark to Cousin El vie Pearce (9), Winton, Otapiri R.D. ® J —Commended.— The weather man was in an unfavourable moed, he caused a great hurricane. First came the wind bringing in its trail, rain, hail and snow. Everyone was running helter skelter c for shelter in to Cousin Betty’s Bazaar, n Of course it was very comfortable to sit in a hall and enjoy seeing pretty ® things. Still the storm raged furiously, the j rain was pitter, pattering on the roof F vigorously, the wind howled through h the buildings. The clouds massed to- p gether. Just then a roaring clap of thunder rolled across the sky, when a streaks of flickering lightning flickered here and there. Soon afterwards a i bright rainbow was seen clearly in the sky, which is a sign of good weather forthcoming. —1 mark to Cousin Catherine MeGillivray (12), Menzies Ferry. e