A CYCLONIC STORM.

Western Star, 3 February 1922, Page 4

A CYCLONIC STORM.

Coastal shipping was dislocated as the result of cyclonic disturbance off the New' South Wales coast on January 2, and the ferry service to Manly, Sydney, had to be discontinued. Tremendous eeas running, made it a day of close vigil' for shipping, and tor tents of thousands of people it completely marred the , Heavy seas, . lashing themselves into a frenzy, thundered all day on beaches which were deserted, and which, ordinarily, would have been crowded with holiday-makers. At Newcastle, and at. South Headi also, the wind reached a velocity of (JO mi lee an hour during the day. In Sydney it swept along at 40- miles an hour in the morning, reaching 48 miles at 8-5 pan.

During the height of the storm, the six-masted barquentine E‘. R. Stirling, which was lying in A.tlioL Bight, to drag her anchors, and: for a few hours the vessel was in peril of being driven ashore., Earlv in the evening Captain Carmichael, the master of the vessel, becoming alarmed, signalled for aid. The pilot steamer, Captain Cook, was in Watson’s Bay at the time. Owing to the heavy seas running at the beads, and the probable. danger to shipping outsijile, it was considered inadvisable to allow the pilot steamier to leave her station, and a tugboat was sent to ‘ her assistance. Towards' 9 o’clock the storm: increased in violence, and, although strenuous efforts were made to hold the vessel, the barquentine .at times was driven toward Taronga Park. About this time she was less than 200 yards from the shore. As the wind abated, however, she was pulled out again. After struggling hard against tlif? elements for about two hours further assistance was sought, and at about 10 o’clock a second tugboat was despatched). (With the tugboats at her side all danger of the vessel being driven was past. Writ ilia from Newcastle on January 2 the . correspondent of a Sydney ■paper saws: A terrific south-easterly rale has raged all day to-day at Newcastle, and is., blowing to-night, with unabated fury. ' Mountainous ••eas are. running, along tlie coasts, and all shipping is held up. There have been no arrivals at or departures from the port all day. During this morning the wind was blowing w;ith ;v velocity of GO miles per hour, while occasional squalls blew' at the rate of 7C miles. This afternoon, however, .he sale increased, and the wind vvas blowing at the rate of 80 miles per iour. ° One heavy squall registered 3C miles. # To-night the wind ha? veered round to the south an ell southwest, and is still blowing strongly. Huge seas are breaking across the entrance 'to the port, and the “ bar •dangeroussignal is being displayed at Nobby’s. ' Heavy rain is falling, and is being driven on furiously by tne wind. i

The signal-master reported to-night that it was impossible to see more than 100yds. from the lighthouse. Nothing further has been seen of the steamer Iron Baron, which arrived off the port yesterday morning, but later stood out to sea. It is probable that she '.is hove to some little distance away. Even if -the vessel approached' the coast now it Word'd be impossible for her to enter, ,because it is doubtful whether «ny ship.. could cross the bar in* the sea which is running at the present timie. The iscene from the ocean front at Newcastle to-night is magnificent, the whole” b/ing one mass (if white foam. Huge waves are breaking over the baths and promenade, and spray isbeing flung high over the houses near the beach. In rspite of the weather a large number of people are gathered on the beach watching the storm’s play. /