VIOLENT GALES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 75, 25 March 1912, Page 6

VIOLENT GALES.

MUCH DAMAGE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. SEVERAL DEATHS RECORDED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Perth, March 24. There was a terrific storm at Sialla Balia on "Wednesday. Tho ship Crown of England bioke to pieces, and eight men are missing. Tho ship Concordia.is on the beach intact, and there is a fair chance of refloating her. Several lighters were wrecked. Wednesday’s gale swept the northwest coast from Broome to Rocbourne Telegraphic communication is interrupted and details are meagre. It is known that four dead bodies, including the mate and steward of the Cicwn of England, have been Avasncj ashore. Seven Avitncsscs in a murder trial wore returning to Balia Balia in a lugger, when it capsized, and two, McGilnness and Hill, perished.' There was torrential rain, accompanied by a gale. Nine inches v. ore recorded at Roobonrne. This caused serious floods. A NEWFOUNDLAND STORM. St. John’s, March A violent gale is raging along the coast of Newfoundland. Three persons were drowned in a small boat. A member of the crew of the steamer Portia was washed overboard and drowned. The steamer Erna, bound from Glasgow for St. John’s, is twenty days overdue. She carried a crew of 27, and is believed to be lost. Several vessels of the fishing fleet are missing. ELEVEN BODIES FOUND. ' (Received 25, 9.10 a.in.) Perth, Marcn 2f Further details show that tne storm lasted from Wednesday to Friday. Another body, that of a Greek fisherman, has been■found. The steamer Bullard arrived at Cossack roadstead three days out from Port Hedland, ordinarily a ten-hours’ runv She encountered the full force of the gale. Her funnel was carried away (and crashed through the deck. The vessel drifted'; notwithstanding that full steam was up and both anchors down.

•Twq . Japanese reported that the luggey Clara was /wrecked /at Dupuch Island. They swam ashore. They state that four coloured and one white men are still missing. The lugger Karrakatta and another supposed to he tho Brittania were/ anchored close to the Clara. No trace has been found of them. It (is ‘supposed that they sank. Two unknown luggers also disappeared, during the blow. ~ Tho captain and portion • of | the crew of the Crown of England’ l "have arrived at Ballaballa. They reported that they buried six of the crew on Dupuch Island, making a total of eleven bodies found. At Perth the damage ashore extended over a'wide area. * The town of Roeburne was flooded. A portion of tho Point Sampson jetty and also the tramway between Point Sampson and Cossack was washed away. Two- hotels were blown down at Ballabqlla and . .other buildings were damaged. lAll telegrahic lines north of Geraldton were blown down. It is not likely that there will be further' news to day. The BallabaJhv anchorage is recognised as dangerous, lying between Dupuch Island and the mainland and being swept by strong high tides and open to storms. Last year the steamer Glcinbank was lost there with only one survivor.