STORMS AND LOSS OF LIFE IN ENGLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 720, 20 September 1870, Page 4

STORMS AND LOSS OF LIFE IN ENGLAND.

The extreme sultriness of the weather during the week ending July 9, ha 9 culminated in thunderstorms, which have during the last forty-eight hours visited numerous districts and covered a large area of country. Amongst the results, of which many accounts have come to haud, are the following :— At Eten a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain, broke over the castle and town of Windsor, Eton, and Eton College. The lightning struck the first of a stack of ornamental red brick chimneys above the roof of the newly-erected premises of next Barnes Pool Bridge, in High street, Eton. The electric fluid luving shattered the chimney, entered the upper rooms, and attracted "by the bell wires passed out; by the bell handle outside the house. A piece of handsome mosaic work filling the panel between the doore was burst right off into the street. At Burnley and Accrington, a storm burst over these towns which has never been surpassed in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The poured down in torrents, and with unremitting force, for upwards of two hours. The River Calder, which passes through Burnley, was very much swollen, and rose in an incredibly short time, something like four feet above its ordinary level. Men and women and children could be seen waddling through the water knee-deep, whilst hero and there were to be seen floating stray pieces of furniture. At Portsmouth which is about three miles from Burnley, the line was blocked up for a long time by the sediment washed from the hills, and the water on some parts of the line covered the steps of the carriages. The valley from Portsmouth toTodmorden was inundated. At Portsmouth two children were washed away, and one poor woman owning a cow had the misfortune to lose it in the flood. At this place there was washed down an engine-shed, a waavingroom, and several houses. The line was blocked in various places, and the traffic was suspended for several hours. A fearful thunderstorm visited Rhymney, and the rain fell in torrents for nearly five hours. About one o'clock a large reservoir belonging to Rymney Iron Company, and from which the town is supplied with water, suddenly burst, and a house, which stood just underneath, was carried away with the force of the flood. For miles down the valley articles of household furniture, carcases of sheep, pigs, poultry, &c, were to be seen floating down the stream. What was in the morning a comforUble home, well stocked with everything that could render the owner comfortable, was left a desolate ruin. The whole of the farm produce was carried away. Had the accident happened at night the loss of life would probably have been great, as from the peculiar position of the house, and the rapid fall of the river below, it would have been impossible for any person to escape. A rumour is abroad that one or two children and one man have been carried away, but as yet nothing definite is known.