RUIN AND DESOLATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 119, 6 February 1918, Page 6

RUIN AND DESOLATION

, THE DISASTER AT MACKAY STORY OF THE VISITATION TERRIFIC TORNADO AND DOWNPOUR Recent Australian files give full details of tho appalling disaster which visited Mackay, in Queensland, as tho result of a ''cyclone and downpour of unprecedented intensity , and extent. The Mackay "Standard" of January 26, after detailing a previous happening of a like nature, and punting out that this transcended all previous experiences, stated that the weak in the line weather 011 Friday, January 4, was responsible for 20.94 inches of rain up to 9 a.lll. on Saturday, January 19, 13 inches being recorded in the first 24 hours of this period. A strong coastal blow was a feature of the week-end weather, it becoming a gale of intensity at times until, at- about 10 p.m. on Sunday, the abnormal conditions, presaged by the heavy fall in the baronioter and forecasted by a special message from the Weather Bureau in Brisbane 011 Sunday evening, suddenly developed into a blow certainly deserving the name of "cyclone." At 9 p.m. 011 Sunday tho telegranh office barometer recorded 29.371, and -it 11 o'clock the lightkeeper at Flat Top reported: "Gale had a velocity of 70 miles per hour." That was the last report received from Flat Top, communication having apparently been interrupted immediately. The blow continued, and acquired additional force, thick rain squalls adding to tho terrors of the disturbance, the general feeling of alarm being testified by tho unextinguished light in numerous houses. Hour after hour passed without diminution of the forco of tho tornado, and there was a general belief that the coordination of wind and tide would bring the synchronism of the blow and tho full tide between 5 and G a.m. On Monday at i a.lll. the post office barometer showed a reading at the lowest possible point 011 the instrument, and opposite the mark indicating catastrophe.

At this time it was seen that some residences had been totally wrecked, and although a couple of fatalities were caused by falling structures it is a wonder that tho death-roll from this agency was not larger. Buildings which might have been icgarded as proof against any storm were, often the first to succumb. Till shortly after daybreak the direction of the cyclone had been from tlio south.; but now it came.direct from the east, and litter veered round until its front of attack was due north. To these variations was doubtless <lue the great extent of the damage; Discomforts were accentuated when it was found that 110 gas or water wero available through the mains. No one could venture out of doors. Before tlio gale sheets of galvanised iron were hurled like scraps of paper across the road, while the terrific force of tho wind impeded progress, and the,rain cut like a knife. Relief Parties. Members of the police energetically tackled their emergency duties, and wero assisted by tho ambulance and fire brigades and numerous volunteers for tho dangerous work entailed by the flooding of the low-lying areas where many persons had to bo rescued. It was necessary to provide accommodation for refugees, and many were established in the. Town Hall, Red Cross rooms, Technical Collego. P.R.F. Society's rooms, Post Office, School of Arts, Pioneer Shire Hall, and other places. Tho stocks of the Red Cross Society were utilised, and the rescued people wero provided with socks and pyjamas in place of their saturated clothing. The State schools at the west end of the town were rendered useless for refuge, their roofs having been so damaged that tlio interiors wero flooded; and although tho drill shed was used for some time it eventually became untenable. Tho storekeepers displayed much generosity, especially in lending blankets, and lfelp was forthcoming from all quarters. At 10.30 p.m. the cyclone had eased off considerably, the barometer indicating 29.123, and a number of sightseers inspected the damage done to tho main portion of the town. It bad been transformed almost beyond recognition, for scarcely a building bad escaped, and many were in ruins. All kinds of debris, galvanised iron, building material, telephone wire, branches of trees, and contents of buildings littered the streets, and the fine banyan trees in Victoria and Sydney_ Streets had suffered greatly, many being torn up by the roots, while those standing were, mere skeletons. Surrounding all this litter was water, the roads and paths being covered so that they resembled an unbroken stream.

Shocking reports were about of disaster and loss of lifo in the low-lving localities at the eastern and southern ends of tho town, contiguous to the river on one side, and the tide-affected flats oil the other, were about. A catastrophe at this place occurred early ou Monday morning, when the full tide forced the river to break itc banks, inundating places that had been thought perfectly safe. Some families mado good their escapc, but others were out off, and surrounded before they could retreat, and in rescuing these conspicuously brave work was done by rescue parties. Nevertheless, it is regrettable to record that families were washed awav, and there was an authenticated death roll of 19.

Disaster was met with by the steamers Tay, Brinawarr, Pelican, and Osnrev, and tho Government- steamer Relief, while a great portion of the Sydney Street bridge was carried away. The Tav fouled tho bridge, and then went ashore_ on the north side of the river, opposite the convent, being apparently in a hopeless position. The Pelican grounded on the down stream side of the bridge, near the site of tho Cremorne Hotel, but later improved her position. The Brinawarr sank above tho bridge, and the Osprey below, while tho Relief pank at her moorings. Steam launches were also thrown high and dry, and. sent to the bottom. Considerably expenditure will be entailed in rebuilding the Sydney Street brdge. Between tho river and Barnes Greek all the buildings, including the Cremorne Hotel, were completely wrecked.

Tho cyclone, after continuing with unnhntcd force for fourteen hours, bepan to ease off after 1.30 p.m. 011 Monday, but some fitful gusts occurred, and the final blow did not take place till 8 o'clock, an electrical disturbance breaking over the town in the oyoning with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. On Tuesday rain was still falling heavily, but in the orthodox fashion Peculiar to the wet season in the north. Then the Rain. The came the rain. The Melbourne "Age's" special correspondent at Mackay writes: An idea of the heavy nature of the rainfall accompanying tho cyclone may be formed from the fact that from 8 p.m. Sunday, 20th, to 9 a.m. Tuesday, 22nd, the gauge at tho post office showed the phenomenal fall of 2-1.00 inches. Nearly four feet of rain fell in 18 (lays. There was more thunder during Tuesday forenoon, and, if anything, tho rain was heavier than at aiiy previous period of this eventful month. Also it was continuous, and, as tho result, tho streets aro now feet deep in water. Standing at any of tho

intersections nothing but ail unbroken sheet of water meets the eye of tlio pedestrian. Nothing approaching this yolumo of surface water has ever lielore been witnessed in jWackay. The lainfall from Sunday ftight, when the disturbance started, to 9 a.m. Friday was 56.20 inches, which, added to 21.46 inches_ from 4th inst. to Sunday evening, gives tlio record for the month of 77.68 inches, equivalent, roughly, to the whole of the rainfall in a good year. Some families made a speedy and safe escape, while others not so fortunate were out off and surrounded by water before they could retreat. It was in the rescue of these people that conspicuously brave work was done by relief parties, but in a fe.v cases families were washed away, and to material damage inflicted by the storm was added the loss of many lives. The extravagant reports which gained currency on tho first day were, happily, not realised, but-, the authenticated dea'th roll of 19 was, nevertheless, shocking to the imagination and one of the most tragic features of this terrible catastrophe. THE STRICKEN TOWN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION. Mackay, built on the hiside of a bend on the Pioneer River, has suffered many inundations. The land is low-lying and monotonously Hat, and a' tide that runs up higher than usual flood the backyards. All the places aro built on piers, and generally speaking they consist of wood or iron, with wide verandahs to the dwellings. On the south sido the river bank is .several feet higher than the town. In timo of flood tide the water rushes into tho town through tho culverts, inundating all the lowlying parts - behind the raised banks. Just above tho town is what is known as the Devil's Elbow. Tho rise of the tide is 18ft. or 20ft., which means a very strong current in the river, according to whether the tide is making or running out. When tho tide is out the river is practically dry. Tho torrent strikes the Devil's Elbow, where a low island serves as a sort of trainingwall; and, rebounding, is thrown with terrific force on to the opposite bank vjust above the Pioneer Bridge. AYhcn the tide is helped by flood waters from the back country, bringing down hundreds of tons of debris, the bridge serves as a blocking point. Hugo stacks of timber and wreckage from the farms pile up against the piers of tho bridge, ami the waters pour into the town. The refuse swarms with snakes, crabs, spiders, and all sorts of creatures seeking refuge from tho Hood.

The business centre is confined to Sydney Street and Victoria Street. Running at. right angles, Sydney Street ends with the I'ioneer Bridge, about a quarter of a mile long, giving 'access to tho country lying to the north of the river. Tho Customs House is tho last building 011 the south side of the river fronting Sydney Street, and a thoroughfare that skirts tbo-river bank. Further along tho bank is tho Post Office, which occupies a site near Wood Street,, the next parallel roadway to Sydney Street. Tho ocean beach is about a mile from the bridge, and the town is bidden from tho occan by a dense mangrove grow.th.

Torrential rains are of frequent occurrence in Mackay, and violent storms aro often experienced. On one occasion the rainfall amounted to llin. in liino hours. When one of tlieso downpours occurs tho town swishes about in a waterhole, and people climb down from their houses, perched up on piers out of ordinary barm's way. The whole of the land lying eastward of Sydney Street is subjected to flood with very little provocation. In many cases the land that has been built on, including tho sites occupied by shops, is considerably below tho level of the road. Even when the town is mostly under water, therefore, business proceeds along dry roads as if nothing out of tho way had happened. The population of Mackay is about SODt). while the whole district has a population of from 8000 to 10,000 people. IN THE HEART OF A CYCLOKE . A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. Cyclones conic and cyclones go, and North Queensland towns are continually being rebuilt.. There is scarcely a settlement from Thursday Island to Broadsouwl (says a Sydney "Sun" writer) that has not been blown down. Eowen has disappeared on several occasions. A dozen years ago Townsville experienced two cyclones in a couple of years. Tbe.v were introduced by tbo redoubtable Mr. Clement AYragge, who announced their coming under tbo names of Leonta and Sigma. It is still a disputed point among old North Queenslanders as to which roared tho louder and did the most damage. Experience bad taught people in Townsville to detect tho coming of a cyclonic blow. When the barometer commences a fall below a certain figure, those of the population who aro not seeking a safe place underground go out and tighten up the props of the house.

•. There are some tense moments hefore the blow comes. It darkens. There is a stillness in the air. as though the world's heart has censed to bent. A creepy sensation steals over the stoutest heart. Then, as if switched 011 by means of an electric button, tin* wind shrieks like 10,000 devils, and tlie earth rocks. Round and round it goes, snatching up everything in the way, ripping sheets of iron from roofs as though tearing paper from a pad. Sometimes it takes the whole roof at once, and then, getting inside tho buildinrr. blows the walls out flat. The roof will nrobablv go soaring away for miles, alone with many other -roofs, and all the domestic poultry flying before the storm. This is a mere prelude. The safest- place in the absence of a cellar—which is certainly not a part of a Queensland house—is under a barricaded table, on top of which the debris falls, and makes the inmate even further secure, until the flood-gates open and rain falls, not in inches, hut in feet, at a time. Townsville, after the great cyclone, looked as though iL had pushed over. Whole streets of houses—tiie wooden houses so familiar in the north —were either lifted up and deposited long distances away, or blown flat. Brick buildings fared no better. They were not toppled over into a heap of broken material, the top story was cither broken off or ripped up and twisted round out of shape. Curious things happened. Tho terrific, blow struck Cleveland Bay with such force that it whipped the ocean back, laying baro the bottom of the sea. Horses, made frantic by tho storm, making a dash for the open, galloped ou to this firm land. It was only for a moment; tho storm took another turn, and the ocean came back, and engulfed them. After all, the idea of the Children of Israel crossing the Red Sea is not a fable. It only needed a cyclone to enable them to do so. , |

The bush outside tho township formed a good playground for the knife of the storm. Coming with a dash, it cut roads through as though with a knife. Hugo gum trees were cut off close to the ground like the hair 011 a man's chin underneath a razor. This was done by the outward blow of tho storm. The cyclone, after it has completed its circling, bursts outwards like a shell, and that is why the present storm lias been felt as far west as Boulia. TIIO blow outside the locality is not cyclonic, it is only a kind of percussion, a pressure of tho wind outwards, which carries everything before it until it is spent.