#1027188 - 6/11/2011 10:29
Townsville Cyclone 1867
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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I've been trawling the Trove website, and came across some wonderful newspaper articles referring to the Cyclone which hit Townsville on 3/4 March, 1867. The BOM site makes the following reference to it ; BOM Tsv History 3 - 4 March 1867 The settlement of Townsville was not three years old when the inhabitants experienced their first cyclone. The cyclone "raged for two days and few structures withstood the onslaught"Windworker records it as such ; 2 - 3 March, 1867. Gale winds at Bowen with buildings damaged. Boats smashed. Townsville hit with ever third building blown down.Too bland for me, I went hunting, and found much more :-) (I've edited errors in the transcript as much as I could...anyone wanting to fix more can do so by going to the article at Trove and doing it themselves!)
Edited by boxsey (6/11/2011 10:32)
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#1027190 - 6/11/2011 10:31
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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TERRIBLE GALE AT CLEVELAND BAY. (1867, March 23). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 5. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1281894TERRIBLE GALE AT CLEVELAND
BAY.
(From the Cleveland Bay Express, March 9.)
IT is our painful task to have to record the disaster of last Sunday; it is also a difficult thing to know where to fix a base to raise a description of the fearful hurricane that caused such damage to the property of the inhabitants of this town ship-a flowing pen or of fertile brain is not re- quired in this case : too many miserable wrecks of property now lie scattered everywhere to testify to the truthfulness of this statement.
On Sunday morning a strong gale blew from the W.S.W., and to the weatherwise this gave a warning of some great disturbance of the at- mosphere that would be followed by something unusual in these latitudes. As the hours flew by so increased the anxiety of our townspeople. At 12 o'clock tho gale increased considerably, coming in fearful gusts accompanied by heavy rain, a lull now and then being allowed by the god of winds, as if taking breath for the full and mighty lungs to blast forth destruction and ruin on poor, weak, and vain-glorious man. Up to this time no damage of consequence was done to property, but now AEolus belched forth his mighty winds, and spread ruin and desolation around. The wind veering round to the | S.S.W., and continuing steadily to shift round the compass, increased the anxiety of all.
At 2 o'clock the hurricane seemed at its greatest height, now roofs began to fly, and not fall for a considerable distance. Pieces of eight feet galvanised iron were whisked away like feathers, making it dangerous to walk the streets from 2 to 4 o'clock. How can pen describe the effects of the wind between those hours ? Tents went first, then sheets of iron off roofs, then roofs, and then the houses. During these few hours this once promising town of the North was a complete wreck. No distinction between rich and poor-all suffered alike. Homeless and broken-hearted, each trying to secure a shelter from the merciless element to save life. Rain in torrents poured, adding its influence to the general havoc.
At 4 o'clock the storm was at its worst ; shifting round to the S.E. ; the homeless, rich and poor, who had taken shelter behind rocks, &o., dared not stir, the force of the wind being fully 40 lbs. to the square foot. Those who resided in Flinders-street, being deprived of their homes at an early hour, sought shelter in the Criterion aud Exchange hotels, these seemingly being the safest shelters ; but those
who dwelt on Melton Hill, and whose houses had been levelled to the ground, dared not leave their temporary shelter, the hurricane being so terrific that no one could face it. Men crawling on hands and knees, seeking a rook to place their backs against, waiting with anxious hearts for the wind to lull to enable them to ascertain the damage done to their places of business ; wives, with children at their breasts, happy with having saved a blanket to shelter their little ones.
Darkness now added to the general confusion, the wind still raging, and the rain coming down in torrents. Every place that afforded shelter -and these were but a few- were full of the homeless Townsvillians, wet and weary, young and old, who sought a dry place to secure even a few minutes of nature's sweet restorer. One o'clock ; the wind at N.E., seemed inclined to lull, and many a prayer was offered mentally to that Being who rules wind and waves for His mercy in sparing life. Morning came at last, the wind nearly gone down, wreck and deso- lation met the eye everywhere. Streets torn up by deep gullies, and ruin spread around past the description of this feeble pen.
Hamilton's Hotel, that welcome beacon to the weery bushman, was deprived of its billiard room aud bowling-alley, also of the roofs of some of tho bed-rooms. The main building stood tho gale and remainod intact. On we come to tho remains -of Messrs. Clifton, Aplin, and Co.'s store, which was built at considerable expense, and which was laid low-a total wreck. Indeed it was a melancholy sight to see pro- perty of all kinds lying smashed, destroyed the industry of past years gone for naught. Along Flinders-Street all the smaller tenements shared a similar fate, either being unroofed or Ievelled to tho ground. The large stores of Messrs. J, M. Black and Co. were unroofed, and a large amount of proporty damaged. The houses on the opposito Side of the street either partially or totally unroofod, while the lately erected artistic colonnade was completely des- troyed. Some of the goodsa exposed for sale in the shop window of Mr. Wray wore blown out into tho stroot ; and the roof and goble ends, together with the whole front of the office of this papor was, by tho force of the storm, driven inside, upsetting some cases of type, etc. The store of Mr. W. A. Ross, also that of Messrs. Brodziak and Rodgers were but little damaged. The Townsville Hotel was levelled to the ground. On you travel, and meet tho pleasing view of Messrs. Cartor and Co.'s store, remaining safe and sound, with not evan a sheet of iron off it. Tho only damnge, whioh was slight, happened to the wharf. A largo house in this street was lifted clean off the blocks on which it was built, and landed safe some six foot back.
All tho residences on Milton Hill were levelled to the ground, with the exception of those of Mr. Black and Mr. Clifton, which were more or less injured. The Criterion and Ex- change Hotels were also much damaged, the roofs being laid open to the rain, and the bed- ding and furniture much spoiled. The top verandah of the Criterion Hotel has suffered greatly, and the Masonic Hall totally destroyed. One side of the billiard room of tho Exchange was completely carried away, and the large detached kitohen blown ovor. Much praiso is due to tho proprietors of these hotels for their hospitality and endeavors to moke those un- fortunates who sheltered with them feel their loss as little as possible, by kindness and attention.
The only buildings which can really be said to have weathered the fury of the storm are, the Court House (which the Police Magistrate kindly opened for the shelter of those whose housos were destroyed, and of which shelter some fifty or sixty persons availed themselves), the residence of Mr. Gordon, P.M., the lock-up (where also a few were kindly allowed to shelter for the night), the cottage of Mr. Shearer, and a few humpies on the beach.
This account relates merely to the town, as to the damages done in tho bush, the informa- tion received of tho destruction of the extensive boiling-down establishment of Messrs. J. M. Black and Co., also of the cotton and sugar plantation of the samo firm, add additional gloom to tho picture already drawn.
The shipping of the port was not much damaged. Some small boats were upset, but have since been recovered. Some anxiety is felt for tho Eva, Captain M'Beath. She sailed some time on Saturday night for Rockingham Bay, and we sincerely trust that she reached there before the fury of tho storm commenced, as no vessel could stand the wind and no shelter was to be had, the wind shifting all round the compass. However, we can indulge in hope for the safety of the little craft, as there is a chance of her arriving in Rockingham Bay previous to the storm reaching its height.
From information received, it seems the hurricane raged with considerable violence a distance of 80 milos from this town. We imagine this must have been the centre of it, and, of course, its greatest strength was ex- pended here. The main road from the Range to Dotswood is impassable, covered as it is by largo trees that have succumbed to the storm. The same may be said of the road between this town and the Range. However, a horse oan travel this portion. The creeks are bank and bank, higher than ever known before. The oldest bushman up here-the proprietor of the Eureka Hotel-suffered considerable loss ; the wind whisked the iron off his house like sheets of paper, and water flooded its floors. One man narrowly escaped with his life, a large gumtree falling within a few yards of the dray, of which he was in charge.
The Bohle River over-flooded its banks and reached to within 20 yards of the same-named hotel, which also was nearly unroofed. The new road over the Range is blocked up by largo masses of rocks having fallen in from the side cuttings, and the old track is torn up with the water, which has left deep gullies. Mr. M'Millan had a wonderful escape, the horse on which he was riding being knocked down by the branch of a tree. The mailman was unable to cross tho Bohle on account of the height of the flood, so unavoid- ably our mail did not reach here at its ap- pointed time. A number of snakes now infest the bush, thoir homes having likewise suffered from the storm and rain, and persons travelling the roads now ought to bo vory cautious and keep an eye open to avoid those dangerous customers.
The following table, showing the state of the baromotor, may give our readers an idea of the storm we endured :
9 a.m....29-420
12 a.m ..29-240
1 p.m....29-100
2 p.m....28-890
3 p.m....28-840
4-30p.m..29-000
7-30p.m .29-340
9 pm.....29-420
At from 2 to 3 p.m. the hurricane was at its highest.
We have not heard of any loss of life, but, isolated as we are at present by the impassa- bility of the roads, we cannot for certain as- certain what may have occurred on distant stations.
Having now endeavored to give some slight idea of the ruin done to property in and about this town, it is at present almost impossible to give any correct account of the loss in a sum total. Some have estimatod the general loss at £10,000, but taking the damage done to the boiling-down establishment and the plantation, &e., &c., we fear £15,000 is nearer the mark. This is a large amount for a new township to lose, but we must cheer up and sympathise with each other in our sore distress. A town like this, possessing the advantages it does of central position to the vast cattle and sheep tracks of the interior of the North Kennedy District, must not be left in the state it is at present ; but on its debris must be raised up a city that will suit the requirements of the North, and show the world what British energy and perseverance can accomplish.
Edited by boxsey (6/11/2011 10:37)
Edit Reason: formatting
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#1027201 - 6/11/2011 11:14
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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This photo is circa 1870, 3 years after cyclone, taken from this website Bonzle It says "In this image, two men regard the township of Townsville from Melton Hill, overlooking the Strand and the mouth of Ross Creek. The buildings, streets, coast, mudflats and headland are featured in this panoramic view". Taken by Richard Daintree, who was geologist in charge of the northern division in 1870. 
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#1027215 - 6/11/2011 11:52
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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Posted this in the history thread, but to keep it all together, I'm reposting it here.... TOWNSVILLE. (1867, April 19). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 3. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1283016TOWNSVILLE.
We summarise from the Cleveland Bay Herald the following items of news :
The late cyclone has washed away all the buoys, beacons, and moorings in the creek and bay.
No tidings have as yet been received of the mail schooner Eva, which vessel left this port on the 2nd instant, bound for Rockingham Bay.
Carpenters are now in high demand and earning big wages, where before they were quite at a discount.
Large gatherings of the natives are taking place all along the coast. At Swanfield station they have mustered in such large numbers that the assistance of the native police has been ob- tained to aid in dispersing them.
We learn that the late storm and rains have done so much damage to the range, aat the rear 'of Rockingham Bay, as to prevent teams from having any access to that port.
The damage done to Black and Co.'s plantation by the late tempestuous weather is irre- parable. Instead of gathering from 1000 to 1500 bushels of corn, as was anticipated, about one tenth of this quantity will be the yield.
The prospecting party whom we fitted out to proceed to the Star River Diggings bring back with them a little, under an ounce of gold, while some Celestials who came into town this week havo added another proof of what may bo done at the Star if only proper men could be induced to make a fair trial. These Chinamen, three in number, came down with 24 ounces, which they
obtained 'in a very short time. One nugget weighed four ounces. These men are so sure of success that they themselves are not only going back again, but they are taking with them all the Celestials in tho neighorhood who are at liberty.
On account of tho boggy state of the country, the Burdekin and all the other small rivers being flooded,'we have been unable to gather much information as to the extent of damage occasioned in the up-country districts by the late hurricane.
We hear that the main range is rendered impassable for teams, large masses of earth and stone having been dislodged, leaving holes large enough to bury both bullock drays and bullocks together, and the main road in many places is blocked up' with fallen trees.
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#1027228 - 6/11/2011 12:36
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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And this next article tells the "adventure" of the ship the "Ethiopian" who was caught in a cyclone on the 17th Parallel on 7th March. The article presumes the storm to be the same one that "ravaged North Queensland". The dates is a bit iffy....but, I'm also presuming it to be the same cyclone until someone else can prove it's not! (I've found lots of dates in newspapers that are wrong, so this could be too?) NEWS AND NOTES. (1867, April 20). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 5. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1283070NEWS AND NOTES.
BY A Sydney MAN.
CLIX.
' Tuesday, April 16.
As the City of Brisbane takes the mail now hourly expected here by the Bombay, it must be my task to cut this epistle as short as prac- ticable consistently with a statement of the current news since Saturday. On the evening of that day a French war steamer, Marceau, Captain Galache, from New Caledonia, towed in the dismasted vessell which had been so long off this coast, and whioh proves to be the Ethiopian, a fine Aberdeen clippor, of 840 tons.. Sho was bound from Melbourne to Shanghai, and sailed from Port Phillip at the close of February last, but on the 7th of March, when on the seventeenth parallel of south latitude, she encountered a hurricane which
laid her for two days and nights on her beam ends, necessitated the cutting away of the masts, and very near sent all hands to the bottom.
As the perilous adventures of this ship, and the censurable conduct of the authorities here in connection with her, have formed the main subjects of conversation in the city during the day, and have excited much interest amongst the mercantile- community, those subjects must naturally form a great part of my letter, and first I givo the account of the hurricane on the 7th March, as recorded in the log of Captain Faulkner, of the Ethiopian :-
" At 1 p.m. : Sea increasing; ship rolling heavily, and shipping much water on board ; handed the foretopsail and foretopmast staysail, and hove the ship to under the close-roofed main topsail; ship not rolling so heavy, and shipping less water ; ex- pecting that we were going to have strong gale, put extra lashings on stock-house, spars, soils, and made all snug. At 2 p.m..: Wind N. ; barometer, 29"52. At 3 p.m. : Commenced to rain, and squalls getting heavier, and a tre- mendous sea. At 4 p.m. : Blowing a heavy gale; wind N.N.W.; while getting clear for clewing the maintopsail up, it blew clean out of the bolt ropes ; ship laying with her leg rails in the water ; put the helm up, but she would not pay off, being too far over. At 5 p.m.; Blowing a perfoot hurricane, with a tremendous sea, and every minute ex- pecting to see the masts go over the side. At 5.30 p.m.: An awful gust with a heavy sea struck the ship, which hove her right over on her beam ends, the sea half way over the deck, washing away stock houses, water casks, and everything off the deck ; floated the pinnace and gig off the skids, and cabin half-full of water; ship appearing to be settling down slowly, all hands standing outside the weather rails, expecting that they had only a few minutes to live. Ordered the mizen and main masts to be out away, whioh only required a few of the lanyards out, when they went over the side. Still blowing furiously, and tremendous sea ; no appearance of the ship righting; water up to the bell on the poop. Out away the fore- mast, which appeared to ease her a little. Called the chief officer, Mr. Anderson, but he could not be found ; he was last seen going to cut away the main rigging, when he must have been washed overboard ; other three of the crew were washed overboard, but suc- cceded in getting on board again. Sent the carpenter below to see the state of the hold, when he reported ' that the cargo had shifted, and that the water was up to the stringer of tween decks. Sent all hands below to trim tho cargo over, and found that the main- mast in falling had broken the stand of pumps. At 7, gale decreasing, but still a heavy sea. Ship still laying over, with the water over the comb- ings of the masts. Found that the water had got into the hold from the fore and coal scuttle hatches having been broken, and from the combings of the mast, which we secured with sails. Midnight-Wind from S.W., with very little wind, and quite clear, but still heavy sea ; baromotor going up fast, 29.50. During the hurricane the sea was one sheet of foam, and at 6 o'clock it was so dark that you could not see anyone standing alongside of you, with most awful lightning ; and with the sea, wind, and rain, you could not keep your eyes open a second, for it cut like a knife ; the heaviest of it lasted for about an hour and a half; and there is not one on board ever expected the ship to come up again ; and if the ship had not been a strong one she could not have stood it. Barometer, at 2 p.m., 29.51; at 4.30, 29'42; did not see the glass until before cutting away the masts, about 6 o'clock, when it was down to 28-70 ; at 7, 29.02, having gone up as suddonly as it had fallen."
There can be little doubt, I think, that this hurricane, or cyclone, was the same that visited Northern Queensland with such destructive effect. With all the exertions that could be used, it was not until the 10th that the ship got righted. She was then 1800 miles from Sydney. Jury masts were rigged and sail put on for this port. On tho 29th a sail hove in sight, but the lubber sheered off from the distressed ship, for which he richly deserves to be " cobbed." By the 8th of April the wreck was in sight of Syd- ney Heads, twelve miles distant, and the cap- tain stood in to within four miles of the shore,
but, as you are aware, no assistance was sent.
The Florence Irving was sent out, but could not see the vessel, which after knocking about off the coast, and in very great danger, until the 13th (last Saturday), was taken in tow and brought into port by the French man-of-war, which was loudly cheered by the Ethiopian on leaving. Great indignation exists here at the apathy and indifference displayed by our Government and the squadron of three ships of war in port, on this subject. Arrangements are being made to give some public recognition of the service of the French Captain Galache, who, I hear, had before distinguished himself in saving the lives of a crew wrecked on a coral reef near New Caledonia. At the same time it is likely that some strong language will be used with re- ference to those who have neglected their duty. With reference to the squadron, if it were not for peculiar circumstances, nothing could palliate the conduct of the commander ; but you will see by tho papers that Commodore Maguire is so ill that he is coming home imme- diately, and on Sunday resigned his flag to Captain Luce, of the Esk, the next in rank. It is very remarkable that this change took place the very day after the Frenchman brought in the Ethiopian, as several letters had pre- viously appeared in tho Empire strongly animadverting upon the apathy of the naval commander, and it is even reported that the Falcon was getting ready to go out, but was countermanded. The Empire of this morning has a severe article on the subject, but it meets with general approval. It is a crying shame that a number of fine, gallant officers should be brought into discredit through the necessity of yielding obedience to imbecility. As to our Government, there is no excuse for them whatever.
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#1027233 - 6/11/2011 12:58
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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And here, a pic of the "Ethiopian" by Thomas G. Dutton in 1865. Built in 1864 in Aberdeen, it did the China to Australia trade (sold to Norway in 1888). They built 'em tough in those days. "The Ethiopian, on her first voyage to Melbourne, went out in 68 days under Captain William Edward. She sailed her last voyage under the British flag in 1886. She was then rigged as a barque, and on her passage home from Sydney had a remarkable race with the iron Orontes, belonging to the same owners. The two vessels cast off their tugs together outside Sydney Heads, sighted each other off the Horn, were becalmed together in the doldrums, spoke the same ship off the Western Isles; and when the chops of the Channel were reached, the Ethiopian was hove to taking soundings in a fog, when the Orontes came up under stern within hailing distance. Finally the Ethiopian got into the East India Docks one tide ahead of the Orontes, thus winning the race and a considerable sum in wagers." reference to the Ethiopian 
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#1027281 - 6/11/2011 15:20
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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Just converted some barometer readings....the lowest at Townsville comes in at 962, and the lowest recorded in the ship was 972.
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#1027335 - 6/11/2011 18:42
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: boxsey]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 3/08/2011
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Cant use the term, "they dont build em like they use too" then aye.
Would have been epic surviving through cyclones back in them days with ya house built out of match wood.
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#1033964 - 24/11/2011 02:19
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: Fujiwhara_Effect]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 23/12/2010
Loc: Kelso, QLD
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Awesome thread. I'd be interested to read more on this and other old time cyclones. Very interesting read. And I just love the language!
_________________________
Erbiting the oarth....
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#1034259 - 24/11/2011 16:38
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: sookinhenri]
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Weatherzone Addict
Registered: 13/01/2002
Loc: Townsville - Queensland
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Aweome thread +1 Good to learn about local history. On a side note... I wasn't even aware of the website "Trove" good find. http://trove.nla.gov.au Found theres over 70 years of papers from Townsville
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#1034272 - 24/11/2011 16:58
Re: Townsville Cyclone 1867
[Re: Adamºc]
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Weather Freak
Registered: 13/02/2011
Loc: Aitkenvale, Townsville
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Glad you liked it....feel free to pick a cyclone from yesteryear and do one too!
Trove is brilliant! LOVE it!
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