Volume 47: Issued Friday 16th July 2010
STORM IN SUBURBS. WORKMAN KILLED.
Property Damaged.
Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 24th November 1926
One workman was killed and his companion seriously injured when a flash of lightning struck them at Killara yesterday afternoon, during a storm which swept over tho metropolitan area, causing damage to property, particularly In the northern suburbs.
The men were:
KILLED.
John Mercer Baxter, aged 39 years, of 102 Alfred-street, North Sydney.
INJURED.
Jack Seeny, aged 39 years, of the same address.
The two men were working as labourers on a large bungalow being erected in Springdale road, Killara, by Mr. C. A. Millyard of Milner- crescent, Wollstonecraft, and only that morning they had been engaged to commence work.
When the sky became overcast, and it seemed that a storm was brewing, Mr. Mlllyard. with his workmen, sheltered In a nearby shed. Little rain fell, however, and they returned to work.
Mr. Millyard was with his foreman, C. Brown, of Granville, and Baxter and Seeny, although only a few yards away, were obscured by a corner of the foundations, which were about 8 feet high.
"Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion," said Mr. Mlllyard, in relating his experiences, "and we were amazed and shaken. We were nearly knocked off our feet, which were tingling strangely as if the ground was charged with electricity. We both saw a puff of smoke rise from the place where we believed Baxter and Seeny to be working, and sensing that they had been hurt, we ran round the corner of the foundation together.
"Baxter was lying on one side of the foundation and Seeny on the other. The former was lying very still and inert. There was a red mark, like a bruise or a burn, on the side of his face, and his hair had been singed. His trousers were hanging in shreds, and the heels of his boots had been torn off.
"Seeny was prostrate, and was groaning as if in pain. He was unconscious, though as we touched him he moaned, 'Lift me up,' and later again lapsed into unconsciousness."
Medical aid was summoned, but Baxter was found to be dead. It was ascertained last night that Seeny had regained consciousness.
FIRE AT PYMBLE.
NEWSAGENT'S SHOP.
Sydney Morning Herald Friday 15th October 1926
An outbreak of fire, which occurred In the chop of Henry John Drosten, confectioner and newsagent, in Lane Cove-road, Pymble, yesterday morning, caused severe damage to the contents.
On discovering the fire the occupants made vain attempts to extinguish it, but were driven out of the shop by the heat. The building was of two storeys, but the Gordon fire brigade confined the outbreak to the ground floor.
The premises, which were insured, were owned by Mr. Roy Mitchell, also of Lane Cove-road, Pymble.
TOLL OF THE STORM.
Eight Lives Lost.
ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
COASTAL SHIPPING CEASES.
Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 20th April 1927
Tragic accidents occurred during the storm that swept over
Sydney on Monday night. Eight lives were lost, and enormous damage to property was done.
Great areas were submerged yesterday morning.
Mountainous seas were running off the coast, and interstate
shipping was abandoned.
At Pymble and Enfield a large number of buildings were severely
damaged.
Residents of Manly were in a serious plight. Owing to the heavy seas running through the Heads the ferry service ceased, and the tram service failed. Buses were the only means of transport.
The storm centre is now between Newcastle and Lord Howe Island, moving east. Further rain and southerly winds today are predicted.
BIG ELECTRIC STORM
Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 4th November 1943
Tramway Shelter Struck
The tramway waiting shed at Central Square was struck by lightning during a brief but severe electrical storm over the city and suburbs last night.
Houses at Pymble, Bondi and Marrickville were struck and the motor of a tram near Mosman wharf was burned out.
Lightning struck electric cables in the city and suburbs causing power failures for brief periods.
Several persons were sheltering in the shed in Central Square when it was struck. Some of them were enveloped in a blue glow but no one was injured although some suffered from shock.
The roof of the shed caught fire but the fire brigade extinguished the flames.
HOMES STRUCK
After having struck the top of a big gum tree in Bungalow Avenue Pymble, one vivid flash of lightning struck the tiled roof of the home of Mr K C Hardy in Merrivale Road 100 yards away. Several tiles were shattered.
Mrs Hardy said that she was having tea with her son Richard aged 7 when the roof was struck. There was an explosion which shook the house. The electric light faded out and then came on again. She and her son ran outside but found that apart from tiles no damage had been caused.
The top of the gum tree was completely shattered and pieces of timber and bark were hurled hundreds of yards.
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