Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-25
[PROPRIETORS.
VARIETY,
Australia,
NO. l..

a Australia,
We select from a foIeign Journal the
| following fearful account OIL Sirocoo and
conilagrationin in Australia: II
Yesterday morning, from TIE northwest
ward, came sweeping along heavy cloud
accompanied by towering colums Of dust,
driven with n tcmpcstnous hot blast; SO
sudden was the change ,hat the fiery blast
might be felt on one cheek whilst the
southcrly wind played on the other. This
was about half past scven o'clock The
wind grew in fury and heat. The air was
fell. not only Of sand and dust. but of
small pebbles, which drove with incredi-
bic force. The heat increased every hour,
and the wind blew with resistless fury
1t swept the streets--it howled round the
angles Of the buildings, and fell with dead
ening heat on all that it came in contact
with-man was PROSTATE and helpless
business was stopped-the streets were
descrtcd-thc houses closed, and iormany
weary hours the blast and the sand-storrn
ruled supreme. The sun, where il struck
seemed 10 leave burning spot; but Q
worse than all, came the sutfocating dry
AIR that filled tho lungs with a rariied heat,
and choking thirst, and an nsaliable de-
sire to drink. The thermometer ranged
III IN the shade, sometimes rising, sonc-
tunes sinking, as the hot wind swept by,
or partially lulled. All were stricken, and
covered before it. The horizon was dim
med, and ever and anon the face Of heaven
was obscurcd with the thick murky clouds
OF sand and stones, hurled aloit and seat
tered by the sirocco, which now blew
with increased and increasing fury. The
will was powerless, aud sunk into a drea.
my torpor; men lay ON floors, couohes, aud
chairs, denudedof all superlluous clothing,
and on them, and on every thing else,
came the fine dust insidiously creeping
through every crevice, and spreading it.
sell over all, human and inanlnatc, dust 10
dust. Appetite was destroyed and in its
place came thirst in fearful usurpation, and
then sleep. The dogs had slunk to dark
corners, and lay panting--fhe fowls cow
cred ~ coyeys, with halfopencd heaks
and rulled ieathcrs---the bullocks hung
down their heavy heads, turned tail to the
driving wind, and lolled their tongues,
utterlng now and then faint b,low--nen
rushed desperately round the corners, and
plunged madly into the wliirlwind, IN the
hope to regain their homes--others, dead
beaten, turned their backs to the tempest,
and journeyed crab like. Towards even
ing, it would not only have been futile,
but dangerous to have faced the storm,
which hailed pcbblestones; and westward
Of Dam, the wind had drilicd the sand,
ankle deep, SO that the rise TO the west Of
the bay was one huge drift, out Of which
swayed by the wind, the trees rocked to
and fro, with threatening motion, and
groaned as their branches were thrown a.
bout iorthe sport Of the passing wind -
la the evening, the sun sunk, with ma
liSnant aspect, into dark bank Of clouds,
and then the wind blew furioss again for
while, bringing down upon the town,
thick dense vapour from the northwest,
which increased in density and volume as
the night wore on, until the pungency of
its nature but too truly demonstrated the
existence otlarge fires, accounts Of which
came fast trooping ie, with melancholy de-
scriptions Of the losses sustained, and the
fears entertained that further devastation
might result-rumors unhoppily but too
true. The day vii be remembered by
many with sorrow, and we trust by all
with commiscraiion.