Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 6 January 1902, page 7


A TERRIFIC CYCLONE.

DAMAGE IN THE NARRABRI

DISTRICT.

LOSS OF LIFE.

A MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

HOUSES DEMOLISHED.

BUSINESS PREMISES WRECKED. MANY BUILDINGS UNROOFED.

DETAILS OF LOSSES.

NARRABRI, Saturday.

One of the most severe cyclones—almost equal to that of last year, when it was estimated that £4000 worth of damage was done—passed over the town this afternoon. The weather throughout the day was oppressive and the sky overcast. About 3.40 p. m. there were indications of a severe storm in the west, and lightning accompanied by heavy claps of thunder, followed almost immediately. The residents became alarmed, and windows doors, &c., were securely fastened down, preparations being made for

the worst.

Immense clouds of dust were noticed coming from the west and the roaring of the wind and the peals of thunder almost made many of the residents panic

stricken, some people taking refuge in places that they considered were the safest.

When the full force of the storm reached the town it carried before it almost every conceivable article that was movable. Hail fell with terrific force, and rain amounting to almost 60 points fell within a short

space of time

Houses were unroofed, some being completely levelled to the ground.

THE RESIDENTS ALMOST PANIC

STRICKEN

The storm only lasted about five minutes. People were almost panic-stricken. At the northern end of the town many places suffered considerably, in some instances only chimneys being left. This portion of thoetown also suffered terrible damage during the cyclone of 1809.

Mr. E. Rooney's residence, a four roomed cottage was completely wrecked, also his detached kitchen

and store

Mr. W. T. Ground's residence of four rooms suffered considerably, the roof being blown off and the furniture destroyed. The fencing, outhouses, &c., were also blown down.

Mr. T. Nation's residence suffered considerably, all the windows being smashed and the outhouses

blown down.

Mr. F. Tribe's place was damaged to a great ex tent, the verandah being completely carried away, The whole of the structure was twisted a good deal.

Mr. A. Tindall's premises suffered considerably, the doors being completely blown away.

Mrs. Knight's had a roof blown off, and her furniture

was ruined.

A house, the property of Mr. G. Smith, was com pletely demolished, besides many trees in the

street.

Mr. Henry Perrett suffered the loss of a chimney, a verandah &c. Another place belonging to the same person was completely unroofed, the chimney and kitchen being levelled to the ground.

A hayshed of Dr. Segol was blown down. Nearly all of the telegraph posts and wires at this portion of

the town were also blown down.

Mr. H. G. Spencer had the roof of his house blown off, damage to the private residence and shop being estimated at £150. A good deal of fencing was also destroyed

Mr. E. W. Carrington's store suffered consider- ably , tho windows being broken tho verandah blown down, and most of the stock destroyed.

Mr. F. W. Tranter's business premises and stores suffered to a great extent. The roof was blown off both places. The estimated damage in this case is

£300

Mr. J. Fardill, grocer, had the windows of his premises smashed, the roof was partly taken off, and considerable damage was done to the stock. A house on the opposite side of the street was almost com pletely wrecked, the roof and verandah being de

molished.

The workshops of Messrs. Boake Brothers, coach builders, were blown down, several sulkies and bug-

gies being destroyed.

Mr. H. Panton's residence suffered considerably The chimneys and the roof were blown down.

Mr. H. Locke's blacksmith shop was partly blown down and his private residence was unroofed.

DAMAGE IN TOWN

In Narrabri proper a good deal of damage was done Mr. E. V. Coleman s shop, a two story building in Maitland street, had the roof completely blown away. The windows in the shop were smashed, and considerable damage was done to the

stock.

The roof of Mr. M. Hardy's business premises was taken off. The old buildings at the side of Mr. C. Wall's Commercial Hotel were completely unroofed Mr. J. Turner's stables were unroofed and Mr. E. H. Wall's premises were partly unroofed.

The Commercial Hotel occupied by Mr. W. Con-way had the roof partly removed and the chimney blown down, the estimated damage being £150.

The windows in the local post office were blown in. Mr. W. H. Coleman's hotel also suffered con- siderably, the stables at the rear being blown down.

The goods shed at the local railway station was blown down and a couple of trucks were removed

from the rails.

Mr. S. Faulkner's premises were damaged con-

siderably.

Reports from the outlying districts are not yet to hand. The telegraph lines along the railway line on the eastern side of the town are blown down and greatly damaged.

A MAN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Mr. W. Herbert, a man employed by Mr. E. H. Wall, was killed near Narrabri by lightning.