["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.
