TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN QUEENSLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 29 March 1887, Page 3

TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN QUEENSLAND.

Via Melbourne, under date March 16, news comes from Buiketown, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, of a fearful cyclone of a kind which is not unfrequeutly reported from the States, and which did very serious damige, and caused the loss of seven lives in all. Ir. occurred on Saturday, March sth, when abou. ten o’clock in the morning a torr fie cyclone commenced blowing, accompanied by heavy rain from the S.E. The wind gradually increased in violence till 2.30 o’clock in the afternoon, when fearful destruction commenced. The river rose two feet in half an hour, and ultimately reached a height of eight feet above the summer level. The storm continued for twelve hours, and every building in the town was more or less injured, except Ihe Customs and Court-houses, soma being completdy wrecked. In spite of all efforts two women, two children, and a Chinaman perished, ihe loss of houses and stock was very great. Telegraph poles were smashed like matches, and the whole of the line was seen to be totally destroyed as far as it is possible to travel along it. The Post and Telegraph Office was wrecked, but the instruments sod mails were saved by the Postmaster at great personal risk. Many distressed families have been Succoured by the postmaster and the sergeant of police, and great hospitality was sdown to many sufferers by the manaser of the Queensland Bank. Many of the business people are hopelessly ruined. Xhe loss to Messrs Alpin and Brown is variously estimated at from £12,000 to £20,000. Two men with a team perished on tba road.