THE TERRIBLE STORM AT ROEBOURNE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8401, 15 February 1894, Page 2

THE TERRIBLE STORM AT ROEBOURNE.

The following additional particulars have beon received of the terrible " willy-willy " which oocurred on the 9th instant at Boebonrne, Wostern Australia. Many outbuildingß wero demolished, verandahs were carried away, and picket fence? destroyed. The shipping at Cossack suffered to a very great extent by the tide and heavy floods, which caused the creek to riBB above itß i embankments. Nearly all the luggers were | carried amongst the mangroves. The Emerald Empress sank, and two men wore drowned. Tho Silvia Verona was carried lon to the top of Vampire Island. The achoonor Harriet and lighter Cossack, were carried across the roads. The Treepas Sair was carried on to the top of Vampire Island, but was blown back into the stream again. The Dawn was saved through being dismasted. Tho Diamond, which was fully loaded and ready to sail, was carried two miles up the creok, and stranded on the mangroves. The Prospector, Gem, and Amyhur3t were blown on shore. Tho Maud was carried against the new goods shed, of which she bent three upright, and was ! totally wrecked and swept out to sea. Tho pearling lugzer Annie eanlr in Flying Foam Passage, and MrZ. B. Erickson, the owner, and his wife and child, Messrs Denman and flayward, and crew of nine colourfid men were drowned. A man named Green went out; to take provisions to a Chinese on a ' small island, and was drowned. In all, 27 I lives were lost, so far as is known at prosont - The aoa-wall has been carried away in many places, and the tram line completely destroyed for two mites noross the marsh. It is estimated that it will take three months to repair it. All traffic i» suspended, as all the bridges are damaged and impassable. The telegraph lines have been injured, but now, except those to the eastward are working again, lhe stations suffered soveroly from tho floods. At Woodbrook, the property of Mr Burgess, tho homestead was destroyed, and a Ohinaraan drowned. The manager and tha rest of the employees lrod a narrow eßoape. Sherlock station, the property of Messrs Meares and Withnell, was completely ruined, the house, stables, stockyards, and ontbuildings being all swept away. The residents of the homestead, including women had to fly to the hills, wading up to their waists in water. One white man and four natives were drowned at Middle Creek. All the stations have lost numbers o? sheep, but nothing definite will bd known aB to the exact losses till the misstating is finished, A Chinaman - who attempted to cross tho river at Koeburne was drowned. The natives on the station say that this is the biggest " willywilly " ever seen, but the general impression is that the 1882 "willy-willy" was heavier. Twenty six inches of rain fell at Croydon, and 3J at Woodbrook. The Boabourne gauge was blown awa^.