A TERRIBLE STORM.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 975, 22 December 1882, Page 2

A TERRIBLE STORM.

A terrible lightning .storm passed over Victoria on the 27th nit. At Sandhurst its appearance was magnificent. At 7 o’clock the lightning burst forth—not in flashes, but for several minutes in almost continuous sheets of flame. At a quarter past 7 o’clock there was one terrible explosion. Doors and windows and articles on shelves trembled, as in an earthquake ; houses even shaking, and women and children in some instances fainting or screaming with fear. The tower of Bt. Paul’s Church was struck, and one of the pinnacles 6ft in height was thrown down, the bricks falling along the street 25 or 30ft off. The tower is 100 ft in height. Quite close at hand the electric fluid made a passage clean through a weather-board cottage* tearing away some boards, and laying the roof open. A woman at the tea table had a cup dashed out of her hand, whilst other articles were thrown off the mantelpiece. The canvas lining of one of the rooms was ignited, but the occupants, aided by the now fast decending rain, were able to put out the flames. The escape of the family was almost' miraculous* On the Marong road, about two miles from Sandhurst, a cordial manufacturer named Thos. Davies, and another man naned ffm, Trezise were sitting in a concord waggonette ■when Trezise was struck on the back by lightning. He afterwards described it as like a blow from a sledge hammer. Davies, in helping his companion, who was then senseless, out of the waggon, was struck by the next flash, and also fainted away. Assistance being at hand both men were taken into an hotel, and soon gained their senses, though both ai - e still suffering from- nervousness. Coming in from Shelbourne in one of Cobb and Go’s traps, the horse, which was driven by a man named Penglase, was knocked down, and the driver was scorched on the left leg through a thick rug which he had over his knees. All this occurred about a quarter-past seven o’clock. In about fifteen minutes from this time half an inch of rain was registered. Towards eight o’clock the lightning and thunder moderated.