STORMS AND FLOODS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 448, 5 March 1909, Page 7

STORMS AND FLOODS.

IN AUSTRALIA. EXCITING TIMES IN THE WEST. DEATHS BY LIGHTNING. (HX TILEQBAPK—PRESS iSSOCIATION—CorIBIOHT.I Perth, March 4. Tho storm reported on Tuesday night caused widospread devastation in tho Northam and York districts. Following four days' intcriso heat, rain, accompanied by largo hailstones and cyclonio wind, commenced suddenly to fall in cataracts at Northam. Then there was a lull, followed by another, oven worso, storm. It is estimated that seven inches of rain fell in 35 minutes. An arm of tho Avon Rivor overflowed, and a wall of water 200 yards wido and five foot deop, carrying fences, small structures, and all movable articles beforo it, rushed down on tho town and flooded the main stroet to a depth of four feet. Scarcely a houso in tho town cscapcd. Pooplc took refugo on chairs and boxes placed on tables. Thcro wero many narrow escapes by men engaged 'in rescue work. One was washed out of a buggy, but was saved by clinging to a hencoop. Th© constable in charge of tho lock-up, wading up to his armpits in water, released two prisoners who would otherwise have been drowned. To mako matters worso, the electric station was flooded, and tho town plunged in darkness. ■ Tho waters subsided at the end of throo hours. When daylight camo thcro was presented a remarkable picture. Tho streets wore everywhere littered with debris, dead iiogs, sheep, and thousands of fowls. Most of tho houses were filled with mud, and aro uninhabitable. The contents wero largely destroyed. Business poople aro tho greatest losers, their stocks being damaged by tho rain to tho extent, it is estimated, of from ten to fifteen thousand pounds. Tho Mayor has opened a relief fund. Tho railway and telegraphic services are disorganised. Tlioro wero many washaways at York, 77\ miles from Perth. The storm lasted two hours. Hailstones as large as pigeons' eggs fell, tho main street was flooded, and tho swing-bridgo partially washed away. Miles of fencing wero destroyed and great damago dono to property and orchards throughout tho districts devastated. At Kalgoorlie threo men wero riding on a'dray, when ono, named Swift, was struck dead by lightning. Tho others suffered severo shocks. Melbourne, Maroh 4. Thero havo been unusually severe thunderstorms in' various districts. Floods and monster hailstorms have caused extensivo damage.

SNOW IN EUROPE. A BLIZZARD- IN BRITAIN. ■ London, March 3. Snow has fallen heavily in Great Britain and on tho Continent. Fifty accidents occurrod in Borlin streets through tho ico.' HAMLETS ISOLATED. (Reo. March 4, 10 p.m.) London, March 4. Tho blizzard continues throughout Eng-' land. Thero is eight inches of snow in London. Many hamlets in tho- Midlands aro isolated. Berlin is snowbound. RESCUED FROM AN AVALANCHE. Vienna, March 3. Tho six Austrian Army officers and twenty-five soldiers who were overwhelmed by an avalanche near the Bronner Pass, on tho Holio Tauern AlpsJ were rescued.