TERRIFIC STORM

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1933, Page 7

TERRIFIC STORM

DEATHS FROM DROWNING TOLL IN NEW SOUTH WALES FIVE OF ONE FAMILY DEAD FLOOD OVER WHOLE STATE WORST FOR SEVERAL YEARS ■ ' I By Telegraph.—Press Association. Rec. 8.10 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 23. During the terrific storm which lashed the New South Wales coast from 2 a.m. until dawn seven people were drowned and others were gallantly rescued when the flood waters rushed on a valley at Stanwell Park and overwhelmed camping parties. The dead include a father, mother and three children and two brothers of another family. They are Vincent Davis, aged 40, his wife aged 38, their sons, Vincent aged 13, Leslie aged 9 and Clifford, aged two, of one family, and Jack Phyllis, aged 12 and his brother Allen, aged 8. _ Following torrential rain the beach lagoon near to which the tents were erected overflowed. Some of the campers fought their way up a steep hill to seek shelter at the railway station. The Davis family and the Phyllis brothers were left marooned, but suddenly their tent was blown down. Mr. Davis then used a rope which formed a part of the tent fastenings to tie his family by the wrists to a tree.

'The two Phyllis boys, whose camp was washed away, sought shelter with the Davis family, and Mr. Davis also tied them to the rest of the par<y. Then, strapping his baby Clifford to his shoulders, Mr. Davis plunged into the water in an attempt to reach land 50 yards away and thus secure help. Neither he nor the baby was seen again. The force of the water was so great that the rope holding the other members of the family to the tree snapped, and they were swept towards the sea. The rope around Laurel Davis’ wrist became entangled in a fallen tree and saved her life. Gordon Thompson, aged 17, made five attempts to swim through the broiling torrent before he finally dragged her ashore. The island meanwhile became completely submerged. The body of Mrs. Davis was recovered, and those of two of the others have been seen in the surf. HUNDREDS OF HOMES FLOODED. The results of last night’s rain were the most serious for years. Hundreds of homes were flooded in Waterloo,’ Alexandria and neighbouring suburbs. People awoke to find their beds almost awash. . . A cyclonic gale added to the miseries of the situation. A number of large shop ■ windows near the Central railway station was smashed. Tram services were delayed on many lines by accumulated water in low-lying spots and the railways were interrupted both on the southern and the Illawarra lines. The Illawarra line was badly affected for 15 to 20 miles. The Coogee and Kensington ovals were turned into lakes, the water enterping neighbouring houses. The Nepean River rose 14 feet at Penrith, t where the water was three feet deep in th main street. Liverpool was isolated as* far as road traffic was concerned. Coastal shipping movements were hampered during the early hours. The weather bureau warns shipping that wild weather is still expected around the New South Wales coast. , Six campers were rescued from a flooded island in George’s River by a boat rushed from Liverpool on a lorry. Many camps were washed away and their occupants spent a perilous time awaiting daylight. A whole family was trapped in a cottage which was engulfed in a landslide at Helensburgh, a small mining town on the Illawarra line. A boy of 15 was smothered and rescuers are working feverishly to save others. Damage in, the city and suburbs to homes, shipping and other property is at present inestimable but will probably exceed £50,000. Two small children playing in a stormwater channel at Canterbury were swept away by the onrush of water. A man fully clothed rushed in and brought them out barely conscious. RIVER SETTLERS ENDANGERED.

The Randwick racecourse is submerged to a depth of two feet. The Hawkesbury River rose 18 feet in eight hours to-day. Richmond settlers were warned of the dangers of flood. . Damage to the South Coast,railway is so severe that it will be four days before the through service can be restored. A man named Headway, one of a group standing in the yard of a house at Young, was killed and the rest were knocked unconscious by” lightning this morning. Very heavy rain continues in the Young district. The heavy, downpour of rain brought relief on the north coast, where the butter producing districts have been anxious. Clarence Heads reported a fall of five and a-half inches in 24 hours. The soaking was general throughout the State, though a few areas are still untouched. The grass fires were mostly extinguished. Severe electrical storms caused much damage at many centres in the Riverina and northern border districts. Thunderstorms between Adelaide and Fremantle disorganised telegraphic communication. Railway reports show' that extensive damage was caused throughout the State and many services interrupted. The Brisbane mail train and the Glen Innes mail were held up at Werris Creek owing to wash-outs, the line being swept away in patches over a distance of 11 miles. The following are some of the rainfall readings for the 24 hours up to nine o’clock to-day-. Waterfall, 24in., largely between 2 and 5 this morning; Randwick, lOfin.; Bexley, 8 Jin.; Earlwood, over BJin; Mascot, 6in. The State meteorologist forecasts further ■ heavy to. flood falls of rain with the danger of floods in all coastal rivers. Light rain continues at Sydney to-night.