29a["The Recent 'Willy Willy At Condon", The West Australian, Monday 06 April 1896, page 3]

THE RECENT 'WILLY WILLY' AT CONDON.

FULL PARTICULARS OF THE STORM.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £5000.

THE RECENT "WILLY-WILLY'

By the steamer Albany, which arrived at Fremantle from the North-West yesterday afternoon, full particulars are to hand respecting the terrific hurricane which passed over the township of Condon on Friday, 27th ult. The first warning of the storm was given at noon, when the wind commenced to freshen and was accompanied by heavy rain. At 5 o'clook the glass stood at 29.10, at 9 o'olook at 28.70, and at half-past nine the glass was at the lowest reading, viz., 28.30. It was at this time that the severest blow was experienced, which continued till midnight, when it somewhat moderated. At 10 o'clock Traini's Condon Hotel waa unroofed. The walls of the building were nearly all carried away, together with the goods shed, kitchen, stables and other out-houses, which were completely destroyed. Timber and iron were flying about in all directions. Mr. Paton, traveller for Sandover & Co., together with his wife, were staying at Traini's hotel. They were cooped up in one corner of a room with no shelter from the wind, rain, and sand, and were in this position for three hours, no-one being able to render them any assistance, athough several attempts were made. They were eventually rescued by Messrs. Traini and Matthews.

Rayner's Hotel, some twenty yards away, received a severe shaking, but remained intact. The store and goods shed near the Royal Hotel were partially damaged. No doubt the greatest damage was done to Messrs. Traini and Rayner's premises. The tide also came into the hotel, the water being knee-deep in the rooms, but on the wind changing it soon turned. Mr. Steele's verandah was blown to pieces. The roof was lifted, but was not carried away. The kitchen was unroofed and the outhouses destroyed. The stores were greatly damaged.

Tiffany's jetty was totally destroyed. The deck of it was carried fully 100 yards away, and the piles snapped like glass. Much damage was done to stock in the sheds. The town is a complete wreck. The damage is estimated at £5,000.

The outside merchants at Marble Bar and Bamboo suffered considerably, as their receiving sheds were almost all totally destroyed. The house owned by Mr. Matthews, near the post office, and occupied by P.O. Crockett, was totally demolished, and Mrs. Crockett and family have removed to the post office. Mr. Crockett was away at Bamboo, and all the household goods were destroyed, including a piano, which was smashed to pieces. It was taken bodily by the wind and dashed against the post office. Then are no tidings from outside stations, but no losses are expected. The schooner Maggie Gollan arrived on Monday, having experienced a dreadful voyage, one man being washed overboard. The telegraph line was blown almost flat for miles, and the country is flooded. The total rainfall for Friday was 9.20 inches.

29b["Willy-Willy at Condon", The Daily News (Perth, WA), Saturday 18 April 1896, page 5]

WILLY-WILLY AT CONDON.

SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

THE MAGGIE GOLLAN IN THE GALE.

A MAN LOST OVERBOARD.

A severe willy-willy occurred at Condon on Friday, March 27, doing considerable damage and laying the township almost in ruins. The first warning of its approaoh was given on Friday at noon, when the wind commenced to freshen, bringing with it heavy rain. At 5 o'clock the barometer stood at 29.10, but at 9 o'olock it had dropped to 28.70 and was still falling. It reached its lowest reading (28.30) at 9.30, when the severest part of the blow was experienced, and from then up to midnight the wind blew with full cyclonic force, moderating after that hour. At 10 o'clock Twain's Condon Hotel was unroofed and the contents entirely ruined. Nearly the whole of the walls of the building were carried away, together with the goods sheds, kitchen, stables and other outhouses which were completely destroyed. Timber and iron were flying about in all directions. Mr. Paton (commercial traveller for Sandover and Co.) and Mrs. Paton were staying at the hotel at the time. The wind having dislodged the roof of their room, they were obliged to remain cooped up in one corner for three hours with no protection from the wind and rain. Owing to the dangers which threatened during all this time, no assistance could be rendered them although several attempts were made, until Messrs. Traine, Matthews and others eventually rescued and housed them in the Royal Hotel, which, though considerably shaken, remained intact to the last. The store and goods shed near the Royal Hotel were partially damaged. Traine and Rayner are the heaviest losers. The tide rose very high and came into the hotels knee-deep, but upon the wind veering the tidal waters subsided. Steele and Co.'s premises suffered greatly. The verandah of the main building was blown away and the roof lifted. The kitchen was unroofed and an outhouse razed to the ground. Their stores sustained much damage. Verandah posts, 8in. x 8in, were twisted and tossed over the roof. One was thrown heavily on the roof, damaging it somewhat and causing the rafters to snap like matchboard. Tibany & Co.'s jetty was totally destroyed. The decking of the jetty was carried 100 yards away, the piles snapping like glass. The verandah parted company with the receiving sheds belonging to this firm, leaving a large quantity of fodder to the mercy of the elements. Much damage was done to the stock in the sheds and store. A house owned by Matthews near the post office, and occupied by P.C. Crockett, was totally demolished and the contents spoiled by wind and water. The house was taken bodily by the gale and dashed to pieces. Mrs. Crockett and family removed to the post-office for safety early in tho evening. Mr. Crockett was away at Bamboo. The town generally is a complete wreck. The post-

office is the only building which effectually resisted the powerful force of the wind. The estimated loss is £5,000. Outside merchants at Marble Bar and Bamboo have suffered considerable loss by the destruction of goods in the receiving sheds. No tidings are to hand from outside stations. The telegraph line is blown almost flat for miles and the country is flooded. The total rainfall on Friday was 9 inches 20 points. The Maggie Gollan arrived on Monday, having experienced a dreadful voyage. The skipper reports one man having been lost overboard.