SYDNEY IN A GALE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 58, 10 March 1913, Page 5

SYDNEY IN A GALE.

WILD AND WATERY TIME

(By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) (United Press Association.)

Sydney, March 9.

There was a strong gale with torrential rain in the city yesterday evening. The streets were Hooded, and considerable damage was done. Sailing boats in the harbor had a rough time. A member of a yacht’s crew was swept overboard and drowned.

All races and sports meeting were postponed on account of the ram.

THE CITY—THE STORM CENTRE

IN THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND

IN RAIN

(Received 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, March 10

The storm was one of the worst on record. The Metropolitan area had the misfortune to be the storm centre. From a moderate north-easterly gale, it developed into hurricane force in a couple of hours ,accomopanied by deafening thunder, vivid lightning, and a deluge of rain. Altogether, rain fell for 28J hours. In the city 759 points were registered. The streets were transformed intc streams, which swept the_low-lying areas and quickly submerged placet many, feet deep. The tram services were dislocated through debris blocking the rails, and long stretches were under water. Sixty cars were derailed but none was injured. The ferry services were discontinued. Moored vessels and smaller craft had a rough handling.

The only harbor fatality was the om previously cabled. The drowned 'man was named Moore, who was a prominent yatchman. TWO UNFORTUNATE FATALITIES. A peculiar fatality occurred at Waterloo. An electric wire broke, and falling curled round the neck of a man named Clifford, who was electrocuted.

The cabman who was drowned at Leich-handt was named Stockley. Ht was driving in the darkness on the road, and at a deep dip which was filled by Hood water, the horse stumbled. The man’s body was recovered in eight feet of water. The horse was also drowned. VIEWING THE DAMAGE. The damage all round the city, particularly in the western suburbs, is very severe. Streets are torn up, garden destroyed, trees uprooted, fences and houses washed away, houses flooded, and hundreds of fowls anc domestic animals destroyed. Round Marrickville.it is estimated that the water encroached in six hundred houses, greatly damaging the furniture, and in some cases washing away portions. The houses along Cook’s river were invaded and the inmates had an exciting time* taking refuge on the tables and roofs.

A PLUCKY RESCUE. A man swam the river for a quarter of a mile, secured a boat, and rescued twenty-two men, women and children. There were several’cases of the flood being too high to enable rescuers to enter the doorways, and iron roofs had to be removed before the inmates could be rescued from their perilous positions. At Homebush the roof of a house occupied by Mr Cameron (.secretary of the Civil Ambulance), and his wife and four children, collapsed. The wife was pinned to a beam when in bed but she was rescued uninjured. Two sons received severe scalp wounds.

RESCUED AND RESCUERS

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

(Received 10.5 aim.) Sydney, March 10

The troops at Liverpool were flooded out. The whole camp was underwater at Bankatown. Water kicked against the railway and took possession of a number of houses.

A couple of families who took refuge on roofs were rescued by the aid of a raft which also took off otherfamilies, who had spent the night on their tables, refusing to abandon the furniture.

At Carnpbelltown the flood caused serious damage to houses and shops. Many live stock perished.

At Newcastle there was a heavy storm, which caused a flood. Ten draught horses belonging to the Australian Agricultural Company were being driven in the street when an electric light wire broke and fell, and the animals were all killed. A man named O’Donnell fell down a storm-water channel and was drowned. Another man named Worthington was drowned while crossing a flooded creek. At Clifton the Imperial Hotel roof was carried 100 yards and dropped on and wrecked another building. Other buildings were unroofed and damaged. Some of the sleepers and customers in hotels were residents or adjoining places and had miraculous escapes. Owing to a number of railway washnways, trains were held up, and telegraphic services seriously blocked. The steamer Queensland, from Melbourne to Newcastle, anchored off Wilson’s Oromontory, has broken down, and asked for immediate assistance.