["Broome Cyclone", The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Friday 25 November 1910, page 9]
BROOME CYCLONE.
THE TOWN WRECKED.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
SHIPPING DESTROYED.
Perth, November 24.
Further telegrams from Broome refer to the recent cyclone as the most disastrous on land and water that has ever occurred in the north-west. Torrents of rain fell throughout Friday, and a gusty wind, which started at 10 p.m., increased to a hurricane, on Saturday. Throughout the morning the storm kept increasing in fury, and at noon the more flimsy structures started to give way. The wind continued to increase in force, and by 1 o'clock it had become so serious that people were fleeing in all directions from falling roofs and buildings. Sheets of iron were driven before the furious wind like sheets of paper, and, blinded by the drifting sand from the surrounding hills, women and children passing from one building to an other were in a precarious position. By 2 o'clock the storm was at its height, and the destruction of the town started with a vengeance. Roofs were lifted and carried bodily hundreds of yards away. Buildings fell in or were blown down, trees were uprooted or broken off, telephone poles were snapped off, bent, or blown over, and fences, stables, outhouses, and signboards went before the wind. Trees were divested of their foliage, gardens were uprooted and laid bare, and the once pretty Broome now presents a scene of desolation.
The telegraph line failed at 11 a.m. on the 19th, practically the whole telephone system was wrecked, and the telephone instruments were more or less damaged. A peculiar feature of the sunsets on Friday and Saturday was a yellow glare, giving a limelight effect. Shed on the ruins it lent them a weird aspect. The housing of the homeless is a difficult matter. People fortunate enough to escape have given every aid in this respect, in some instances three families have been accommodated under one roof. During the height of the storm the hotels, so far as meals were concerned, were closed, meat and bread being scarce, and it was not until night fell that anything could be obtained except sandwiches.
Many Shipping Disasters.
The effect on the water was even more disastrous. The extent of the damage done to shipping it is impossible to estimate at present. At the time of the hurricane hundreds of luggers and other boats were making for Broome, and had got as far as Entrance Point, about 1 1/2 miles from the jetty. About 70 sought shelter in a bay this side of the point, and anchored dismasted. Others ran ashore on the rocks and the beach, while about 26 luggers sank off the point and along the shore, in from six to ten fathoms. Captain Talboys, of Karrakatta fame, is a heavy loser. His fine schooner Eclipse and three luggers are smashed up on Cable Beach, about five miles out, and it is feared that about 27 colored men have been lost. Streeter and Co's fleet with a schooner sought shelter in Barred Creek, and are safe, as well as about 30 other luggers. There are still other luggers to be accounted for, I and it is feared that many lives have been lost. Other havens along the coast have been availed of, such as Port Smith, Bossut, Willie Creek, and Beagle Bay, but as yet nothing definite can be gleaned.
Word was received from Bossut late last night that some luggers were safe in the creek. After the storm had subsided the boats that were able to sail came up the bay to the creek in a pitiable plight. Their masts were gone, and some were in a sinking condition. Richards and McKay's schooner Bedout looked more like a whaleboat than a large schooner. Robison & Norman's fleet has greatly suffered, and Blackman Bros, are also heavy losers. Until Mr. Chambertin comes back from down the coast nothing will be known of his fleet. Nothing definite has been heard of Harper Bros.' fleet. One boat was seen to sink off Barred Creek, and it is supposed that five of the colored crew went down. There are numerous other casualties, but it is almost impossible at present to get a correct list. Six bodies have already been found, and it is feared that unless many of the missing boats turn up the death-roll will be large. At the present time it is safe to estimate that 40 lives bave been lost.
Lost Almost His Whole Fleet.
Captain Talboys said during his 40 years' experience he had never seen anything to equal the hurricane at sea. He was making for Broome at the time, having just missed the tide at Barred Creek by two hours. This bad luck cost him almost his whole fleet. He then made for Broome, and when endeavoring to gain shelter he was blown near Cable Beach, about six miles from the Ganthaume Point lighthouse. On his schooner Eclipse were his son and Walter Wallace. Mountainous seas were breaking over the boats, and they were being gradually washed ashore. Wallace and some of the crew long before it was necessary jumped overboard, with the result that they had a severe tussle. Captain Talboys and the rest awaited events, and the seas beating the boat ashore they were enabled to walk to safety through less than 3 ft. of water. The luggers Doris and Douglas were driven ashore, and were high and dry at low tide. The lugger Gracie and the schooner Eclipse were smashed and now lie on the beach in halves. The Doris is a total wreck, but the Douglas is intact, battened down, and practically in order. Another of Captain Talboys' boats, the Olneiys, has been brought in from this side of Barred Creek dismasted, but otherwise unharmed.
Looters at Work.
Salving operations have carried on at Cable Beach, and the whole of the wreckage belonging to Captain Talboys' five dinghys has has been recovered, as well as a quantity of shell from the schooner. As cases of shell are washed up they are placed in safety. It seems almost incredible, but it is a fact, that looters are already at work. Two cases have been chopped open and shell taken. One case was discovered being brought in by night in a butcher's cart, and the supposed culprit is to be prosecuted at the instance of the Customs authorities. Other instances of looting have been reported. Special constables have been sworn in and a patrol of the coast may check thefts.
No Lives Lost on Land.
Up to the present the biggest loser on land is Mr. R. M. Rubin, wrose fine store has been absolutely wrecked and stock worth £500 lost. The heaviest loser on water is Captain Talboys. Fortunately no lives were lost on land, but several narrow escapes are reported. One colored man was struck with a sheet of iron and had his arm severely cut. He will lose the use of it. It is marvellous that with the falling buildings and flying iron more casualties did not occur. Horses were turned adrift, and went scampering away half-mad with terror. In all directions birds are to be seen dead and maimed, their wings having been broken in the endeavor to battle against the fury of the wind. From the town to Entrance Point, by road about four miles, the bush is strewn with lifebelts, evidence of the struggle many a man had to make in order to reach the shore. A report gained currency that a man was seen past the lighthouse clutching a ship's hatch, but the lighthouse keeper stated that when he saw the hatch no-one was clinging to it.
Country Fares Badly.
In the country numerous houses and buildings were demolished, windmills blown down, and trees uprooted. The Japanese and Chinese gardens, about three miles out, have been laid bare, the windmills blown over, and the gardens practically ruined. Streeter's station, about 18 miles out, is reported to have been much damaged in many ways. Along the beaches the number of dead birds shows how severe was the hurricane.
The schooner Ena, belonging to Robison & Norman, weathered the storm in a remarkable manner, and gained port after having lost all her anchors. In the town itself all vegetation has been destroyed. The pretty ponceania trees, with their beautiful fanlike foliage and deep red flowers, now resemble dead bush trees. There is not a vestige of foliage left, and with innumerable street trees blown down the aspect of Broome has been entirely altered. Gangs of prisoners are now clearing the streets of fallen trees, sand, iron, and other debris. Telephone men are hard at work extricating wires from the tops of buildings and removing useless telephone poles, but it will be some time before the telephone service is again in working order. The telegraph linemen have done good work in restoring communication. Streeter's fleet are searching the coast from Beagle Bay to Broome, and also from Broome to Bossut. Captain Owen is also sending out search boats, and Mr. A. Chamberlain has gone out to Bossut Creek and elsewhere. The Pearlers' Association has received an offer from Mr. 0. W. Blackman of the services of the schooner Ena for the purpose of raising sunken or wrecked boats. Robison and Norman and Streeters have generously backed up the offer, and the schooners Ena, Mina, and S.P.S. will work in conjunction. Streeters have also offered to supply any gear or heavy tackle that may be required to assist.
Eight boats are piled up on the bank near Roe's station. Robison & Norman are heavy losers. At present eight or nine boats are missing, with approximately 24 hands. The whites drowned are Patrick O'Farrell, W. Street, and Alfred Mulliner.
The steamer Gorgon on arrival reported that the sea at Port Hedland was smooth, with a slight blow. When passing Wallal she picked up the dead body of a Malay. In the bay a great number of luggers and schooners were loaded with shell, and probably pearls, and the loss is very heavy. Mr. E. P. Badger lost one boat with 2 1/2 tons of shell, and many others are in a similar position. From 8 p.m. on November l8 till November 22 1095 points of rain fell.
Submarine Disturbance.
In last Saturday's issue of the Broome "Chronicle," news was published that various Australian observatories had reported that a tremendous submarine disturbance had apparently occurred within 2,000 miles of the Australian coast. The master of the schooner Ena reported having passed through millions of dead schnapper and other fish, and a great quantity of coral is strewn along the beaches. It is the opinion here that this is the effect of the disturbance.
