The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-17 00:00:00

TERRIFIC GALES.

A furious south-westerly gale which blew from an
early hour on Sunday increased in force during the
afternoon, causing great destruction of property in
South London, Surrey, and sent. About 60 feet of
hoarding 20 feet in height, surrounding the new
schools in connection with St. George's Cathedral, St.
George's-road, Southwark, was carried away by the
force of the gale, and several persons who were pass-
ing at the time had a narrow escape from the falling
timber. In the vicinity of the Crystal Palace, and
especially at Dulwich, the gale raged with fury, tear-
ing away large branches from the trees near Dulwich
College. A heavy gate leading to a residence was
blown down, as well as several feet of a brick
wall. Fortunately, no persons were injured.
A deal of damage had been caused by chimney
pots and tiles falling on conservatories at Sydenham,
Penge, and Bromley, Bent. At Brixton and Lambeth
the gale has caused considerable damage, and several
of the streets were strewn with fallen chimney pots
and tiles. At 12 o'clock on Sunday morning, during
the height of the gale, a number of barges and vther
craft in the Thames were torn away from their moor-
ings, and drifted up river on the flood tide.
At Aldershot and neighbourhood the gale sprang up
about two o'clock on Sunday morning, and raged
with increasing violence throughout the day. Roofs
were blown off, gates, palings, and sheds overturned,
trees broken, and other havoc wrought. In the town
several serious accidents were occasioned by the fall-
ing of tiles and chimney pots. Rain fell in torrents.
The gale raged with considerable violence over
Portsmouth on Sunday, resulting in much damage to
property ashore. The steamboat service with the
Isle of Wight was carried on with great difficulty, and
telegraphic communication was disorganised. No
boats were allowed to leave the harbour for Spithead,
and even the ordinary patrol boats which watch the
ships in harbour were unable to perform their duties.
A terrific gale, accompanied by a heavy rainfall,
commenced on Saturday night in West Berkshire and
North Hampshire, and continued with more or less
violence throughout the whole of Sunday. The wind
blew in fearful gusts, and a good deal of damage was
done t 3 property in different parts of those districts.
A great quantity of rain fell during Sunday, and up to
a late hour in the evening the storm showed no signs
of abatement.

The storm visited Eastbourne with remarkable vio-
lence.

At half-past ten on Saturday night the Lizard life-
boat crew were summoned to go to the rescue of the
crew of the barque Lady Dufferin, of Plymouth,
which had stranded in a thick fog on one of the Stag
rocks. The vessel was in a very dangerous position,
and there was a gale of south-westerly wind and a
very heavy sea running. When the lifeboat reached
the vessel it was found impossible to go alongside,
owing to the tremendous sea. Part of the vessel was
submerged, and she was fast settling down. The
crew were saved by means of We-lines, which were
thrown from the lifeboat to those on board the
vessel, the men then being pulled on board the lifeboat
by the lines. The crew consisted of 17 hands, all
told, and were all saved. The Lady Dufferin was from
Newport for Montevideo with a cargo of railway iron
and sleepers, and was putting back to Plymouth. She
is a total loss.

During the gale at Exeter on Sunday two houses in
different parts of the city were unroofed, trees in the
neighbourhood were blown down, and many of the
streets were strewn with slates, tiles, and other
fragments of house property. There was no injury
to life or limb, but several narrow escapes are re-
ported.
A severe sale prevailed on the South Devon coast
from Saturday at midnight till Sunday evening. The
wind blew strongly from the south west up to the
afternoon, when it veered to west-north-west, but
with undiminished force. A large number of vessels
took shelter in Torbay, but no casualties were re-
ported. Direct communication with London by wire
was stopped, telegrams having to be sent by way of
Exeter.

On Sunday a Brixham trawler foundered in a
heavy sea off Gurnard's Head, near St. Ives, the crew
of four being drowned.
At Scarborough the gale commenced about six
a.m., increasing as the day wore on. In the evening
the wind gained almost the violence of a hurricane.
A coasting collier was driven ashore and wrecked, the
crew being rescued by the lifeboat. Several vessels
have arrived reporting casualties and injuries to sea-
men.

Along the Northumberland and Durham coasts the
gale has been very violent. Several vessels have run
into Shields for shelter.

Great damage is reported from many other parts of
the country.