Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Friday 4 March 1949, page 1


Cyclone . moves west fast

ARROWS on map indicate the sweep of the cyclone on Tuesday and yesterday, when it whipped several

Central Queensland towns. In a fast move inland, the cyclonic centre covered 400 miles in 24 hours yesterday, and is now petering out west of Tambo (450 miles north west of Brisbane). The Divisional Meteorolo-gist (Mr. S. Richards) said last night that he did not expect the cyclone to cause any more serious damage, but

general rain would continue in south Queensland. After pausing at sea for 18 hours on Tuesday, the cyclone hit the coast near Gladstone on Wednesday, swung north to Rockhamp-ton that night, and began its inland movement early yes-terday. Yesterday morning Its movement increased to more than 20 miles an hour. Baro-metric pressure rose, and towns in its path further, in-land reported heavy rain, but no damage.

Courier-Mail staff reporters, sent to see two cyclone-devastated towns, told these stories last night .... Gladstone starts to rebuild homes GLADSTONE, Thurs.— Bewildered and nearly exhausted, but dauntless, Gladstone gathered up its ruins to-dav to rebuild the wreck of 100

homes. With hammers, nails, and twisted roofing, the town forgot its 18-hour cyclone nightmare and set to work. By nightfall Gladstone's new look had appeared— patchwork repairs to keep weather out. More would have been done to-night but Gladstone was without light and power and will be for a day or two ac-cording to the Mayor (Ald. J F. O'Malley). The full extent of the cyclone damage has yet to be estab lished but Aid. O'Malley esti mated that at least £150,000 worth of damage, had been done to private homes and small justnesses. Thousands more was. lost in stock and dajnage ;o industry. Aid. O'Malley said that lardly one of the town's 1500 louses had not been damaged n some way, and that each of Gladstone's 6000 people had :een affected. 'Screamed in terror' The cyclone swirled in from ;he sea at 9 a.m. on Wednes iay Between 2 and 4 p.m. it :aged at its peak and con ;inued with gradually lessening severity until 3 o'clock this norning. There was no sleep last night tor thousands. ♦ Mothers said their children icreamed in terror as the wind lowled at 100 miles an hour, whipped off roofs and rafters with a crack and sent twisted ;alvanised . iron skimming hun ireds of yards. The two-storied 18-room

Gladstone Convent collapsed into rubble like a pack of cards ^The brick Presbyterian Church in Gondoon Street, was reduced to rubble and two walls. Mrs. H. J. Watts, aged 28 who was making tea in her home when the cyclone hit, said: 'My little boys Joseph, two. and Harold, five, were with me. The wind howled like empty tanks being rubbed to gether. 'Next thing there was a crack and the roof was lifted off the kitchen. 'We huddled in the lounge, raced to a neighbour's house for refuge and watched our roof blown, sheet after sheet, more than 100 yards down the street.' Nuns' danger The parish priest (Father J. McSherry) said: 'I was through the Napier (New Zealand) earthquake in 1931. Its ten sion was nothing like' this. Then it was over in a minute. We Just waited arid waited yes terday,' % ? Father McSherry said that 12 nuns were waiting in the Convent behind the school when its roof was whipped off. The roof crashed into the Presbytery 70 yards away. 'We hurried over to the nuns,' he said, 'and took them to the bottom story. Debris was falling around us but we thought we were safe. Then the worst became apparent. We hurried the nuns to private homes an hour before the con vent collapsed.'

Rockhampton desolation DOCKHAMPXON, Thursday.— All day tMs city of more than 30,000 people has been trying to re adjust itself to a way of life overturned bv last

night's cyclone. About 1000 homes and SO business premises have been damaged. This total takes in 55 buildings which were badly hit.' These figures were given .to me by police and council offi cials who have* made a close survey of the city. The'Mayor (Alderman H. Jef fries), shocked by the devasta tion, called a special meeting of the council to-day. He told me ;hat if necessary a fund would be established ? to help those needing relief. ''So far,' he said, 'few have asked for assistance. 'To-day our people need prac tical aid rather than, monetary

assistance. I know Rockhamp ton and I know volunteers will be there to help the needy.' To-day most homes were still withoufclectricity. The city was a desolate scene. Debris from wrecked buildings and trees littered the streets Black-out task Many shops were closed and athers operated with kerosene lamps. Electric power was restored luring the day to hospitals and essential industries. The Capricornia Regional Electricity Board manager (Mr. J. E. Martin) said to night be hoped to restore the supply within 24 hours.

This n-a» the route taken by the U.S. B50 bomber in Us necret, non-stop, roundthe world flight of 23,000 miles, which it completed in four days. It teas refuelled in the ' ? air at four . point*. . -

This n-a» the route taken by the U.S. B50 bomber in Us necret, non-stop, roundthe world flight of 23,000 miles, which it completed in four days. It teas refuelled in the ' ? air at four . point*. . -