ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 586, 27 November 1869, Page 2

ADDISON'S FLAT.

(from an occasional correspondent.) Some time has now elapsed since my last report from this locality. Many changes have occurred in the meanwhile. Of accidents and misfortunes our community has suffered more than usual; but as it ever has been " when sorrows come they come not single spies but in battallions," and upon the occasion of each disastrous event I have heard much gratuitous advice respecting the way to avoid danger. It is true we (miners) unwisely neglect many safeguards in our unsafe occupation, but truer still has the poet said—- " There is a Divinity that shapes our ends Rough hew them as we may." The latest and most marvellous escape from death or life-long injury was that of Patrick M'Enroe, who fell sixty feet down the prospectors' pumpshaft at the Shamrock Lead, and thereby sustained little or no injury. The recent and most engrossing topic is the whirlwind of yesterday. The first intimation of the approach of this " fierce courier " was a noise as of continuing thunder, with intermittent peals as of heavy ordnance. Looking

towards the sea the whirlwind appeared like a water-spout in form, tearing its way through the bush, snapping asunder and uprooting trees and tossing them aloft. Soon the bush was passed, and it came hurrying on in the direction I Btood. My companions and myself soon evinced a desire to avoid this ugly customer, and the cry was raised " Bun to wind'ard." Accordingly your humble servant with much celerity made tracks to windward, but, alas for human endeavor, we had run right in the enemy's way. Having a slight conception of the irresistible force these strange visitors possess (from the perusal of sundry narratives of American tornados) I laid down and got hold of a stump. While the storm was passing over it appeared a whirling eddy of sand, branches of trees, and other debris. I had a billy and bucket I purposed filling with water. These were by me when the wind passed over. After its passage I found myself bare-headed, without either of my cooking-tools, all of which have not been heard of since, except the bucket, picked up about fifty yards away, smashed and. scarce recognisable. Considering myself let off very reasonably I did not grumble. Two huts that happened to be " on the line of march" were cempletely smashed. One weatherboard establishment belonging to W. Champion, who was luckily not inside, was lifted up bodily and turned over two or three times and smashed to pieces. Mr Cole and party's hut was also knocked to "smithereens." These and many other such fantastic tricks were indulged in by this strange phenomenon. The width of the whirlwind, tornado, or other name more applicable, did not appear more than thirty or forty feet, and it travelled from west to east, a strong southerly wind prevailing. A satisfactory explanation of the probable cause of this most unusual phenomenon, I am sure, would be well received by the many witnesses of it. Mining matters here have undergone some change during the last few months, and I hope in my next to give you a resume of mining intelligence.