TERRIFIC STORM AT BRISBANE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1208, 17 January 1878, Page 3

TERRIFIC STORM AT BRISBANE.

The Brisbane correspondent of the “ Sydney Morning Herald” writes on 20th December : —“ Brisbane this morning presents a remarkable spectacle. Roof's are torn off wholly or in part, windows are smashed, the streets glisten with broken and pounded glass, and the shrubs and trees are stripped of their leaves, while the boughs are either denuded of their bark, or are themselves hanging in shreds. Such a hailstorm has not occurred during the past seventeen years, and will not probably occur again for a long time. It is calculated that a thousand pounds will not pav for the glass which must be replaced. During the half hour in which the storm raged the uproar and force of the tempest were terrific. About half -past four o’clock the storm rolled up, as is usually the case, against the wind, and the inky clouds were split in all directions by red forked lightning of the most vivid description. At one time I counted six of these fiery arrows descending almost simultaneously. Then, almost without a moment’s warning, the wind shifted round from northeast to the opposite direction, and for the space of five and twenty minutes the city and suburbs were bombarded by a storm of hailstones varying from the size of a hazel nut to that of a, lien’s egg. The wind at the same time assumed the proportions of absolute hurricane ; and while it raged, what with its roaring, and the clatter of the hail upon the roof's, walls and windows, people had to shout at the top of their voices directly into their friends’ cars to make themselves heard. The majority of folks were taken unawares. Elavelle and Roberts, the jewellers, had put up their shutters before the storm burst, a precaution due to the scientific knowledge of Mr E. Macdonnell, who is, as well as a member of the firm, the Government meteorological observer. A few of his neighbours followed his example, but as a rule the window panes rattling in fragments upon the floor gave the first intimation of what was happening. The plate-glass as a rule was strong enough to resist the assault, but high and low windows of ordinary glass were smashed in pieces, and in some instances blown wholesale into the dwelling places. Thus a silversmith in Queen street lost his windows and show cases at one blow. The stained glass windows of the Town Hall were smashed to pieces, and the Supreme Court, Parliamentary buildings, and Government House shared tire general fate. The public gardens are a deplorable sight. Years of patient labor will have to be gone

over again in the Botanical Gardens and Acclimatisation Grounds, which, revived by the recent thunder storm, were in splendid order. In (lie course of a short walk last evening, when the hurly burly was over, and only a feu plajful (lashes of sheet lightning remained, the lingering rear-guard of the tempest, I counted twenty balconies in various stages of demolition. Some had merely the corner exposed to the line of wind blown oil!; others wore stripped along the entire front ; others had disappeared. Sheets of galvanised iron were torn off roofs, and whirled, circling, high into the air ; in two instances, to my own personal knowledge—and doubtless such instances were common enough—galvanised iron roofs were riddled by the hailstones. This is no iigure of speech ; the metal was pierced with holes as clean as if they had been made by a bullet. Four of the stones I noticed were perfectly round and smooth, while others were jagged pieces of ice, and all as hard as iron. It is not possible yet to ascertain the extent of the damage done, especially as, the lamps in the streets having been demolished, the town was in darkness Inst night. But damage of a serious nature there must have been. During the height of the storm horses were galloping about with broken Harness dangling after them, and the lightning continued to be of the most dangerous character. As for the thunder, the uproar caused by wind and hail stilled all but t lie very loud claps. We had a bad hailstorm about a month since, and it was considered remarkable because amidst the stones a few were seen about the size of pigeons’ eggs. Yesterday that was average size, and they fell very thick, and were driven with appalling force by the tempest. In a few minutes drifts would be formed a foot deep. I saw several hailstones as largo as hens’ eggs. The volleys, pitching first on the ground, bounced six feet in the ah', and then ricocheted furiously until stopped by some obstacle. The river resembled a boiling cauldron, ships were blown over on their beam ends, and several boats and vessels went adrift. A good deal of tradesmen’s stock is s polled, and, unfortunately, as you might expect, the smaller shopkeepers, who can least afford it, suffer most. Amongst the accidents and incidents reported in this morning’s papers, I may mention the following:—One of the walls of a two-story brick building, known as the Brisbane Assembly Rooms, was blown clean out by the wind rushing through the opposite windows, broken by the hailstones ; a gentleman entering the Brisbane Club had his leg cut to the bone by a jagged hailstone ; a telegraph messenger was struck on the temple and knocked off his horse; a piledriving machine at Hayward Point was overturned, breaking the arm and otherwise injuring a man who was seeking shelter near ; two draymen were badly hurt by a falling wall, which was a very clear specimen of how' rascally modern workmanship may be. One firm this morning finds that 300 panes of glass have been destroyed. Churches, clubs, schoolbouses, present a unanimous array of empty sashes and damaged interiors. A threc-rooraed wooden cottage was lifted bodily off the stumps, and at first it appeared as if it would have been whirled away ; but it finally settled down in an unsafe position, where it still remains. Small buildings and outhouses have been razed everywhere. The damage however is chielly superficial, bringing a harvest to the glazier rather than to the builder.”