Church of England after 1911 cyclone in Port Douglas
Keywords: Cyclones; Buildings
Photo date: 1911.
Photo Location: Port Douglas.
Photo condition: (3) Satisfactory.
Photo ref.#: 487.
Original version: Photographic print: black & white
Subject: Cyclones; Buildings
Category: Natural Disasters
Photographer: Unknown
Copyright: Out of copyright.
Condition of Use: You are free to use without permission. Please attribute Series owner.
Comments: Courier Mail 22/3/1911 - A DEVASTATING CALAMITY. HE NORTHERN CYCLONE. ORT DOUGLAS PRACTICALLY DESTROYED.
TWO FATAL ACCIDENTS ; PERSONS SERIOUSLY INJURED.BUILDINGS AND LIGHTHOUSE BLOWN DOWN; KETCH RECKED.EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT MOSSMAN.
CAIRNS, March 21. ,The steamer Palmer arrived last night rom Port Douglas, bringing news of absolutely the most devastating calamity that could possibly overtake an already unfortunate township. The cyclone, which was of extraordinary intensity, struck the scattered buildings which constituted the town of Port Douglas on Thursday even-ing last, and now but few buildings remain. Practically none escaped damage. Throughout Thursday afternoon rainy gusts swept over the town, and towards 6 o'clock sheets of iron began to fly about. The veranda in front of Callaghan
Walsh s store loosened, and it seemed as if the top portion of Sampson's Exchange Hotel was in immediate danger. It was hard, indeed, for a pedestrian to make any progress against the tempestuous force of the wind, while the rain surged down heavily, and sheets of iron were blown from J. D. Crosbie's Court House Hotel. The Anglican Presbytery, which had been unroofed by a previous blow of a much milder nature, was now completely demolished. Water was dripping Caledonian Hotel on to the bread, on the dining-room tables, and it was hard to find any place where the water did
not come from the ceiling with most unpleasant persistency. People soon beganto seek refuge, the Government Bond being much sought after, on account of the apparent strength of this structure.
The faith placed in the stability of the building, however, was not justified, for the occupants (numbering 40) had just taken timely warning from its nerve-shaking tremors and emerged from the doorway to reach the fence round the Customs building, when the bond store collapsed. Fortunately, no one was injured. Two sample rooms opposite M'Lean's Hotel collapsed, also the Shire Hall. St. Mary'sRoman Catholic Church Presbytery wasblown to the ground, also St. Andrew's Anglican Church, the Oddfellows' Hall, and the Joss House. The fine ketch Iolanthe, belonging to Jerry Doyle, broke from strong moorings up the inlet, and was smashed in the harbour. The pilot cutter used for conveying rations to Low Island Lighthouse turned turtle, but S. B. Andreassen's oil launch sustained no damage. Walsh's steamer Dove did not fare too well, neither did his old vessel The Lucy. The lighthouse on the hill toppled over soon after the pilot had made his escape.
One of the saddest incidents of the cyclone was the deaths of Messrs. Andrew Jack and Timothy Joseph O'Brien. Mr. Andrew Jack, who was a member of the Douglas Shire Council, was killed by some
timber falling upon him at his residence at Killaloe, about four miles from Port Douglas, where for a number of years he had been engaged in cane growing. Mr.Timothy Joseph O'Brien was escorting his mother and sister from their falling resi-dence, when he was struck on the back of the neck by a piece of wood attached to some galvanised iron. His neck was dislocated, and the base of the skull fractured. A little girl, the daughter of Mr. William May, butcher, had her forehead severely cut, and Dr. Clarke had to put anumber of stitches into the wound; infact, her life was for some time considered
to be in danger. An Italian namedYaranoni was severely injured by a portion of his house falling upon him at the Mossman. He was brought into the hospital at Port Douglas in a most critical state.
DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE
Following are some details of the damage and losses sustained : -
Chas. Logue's residence completely destroyed.
Daniel O'Donohue's residence completely destroyed.
Mrs. G. L. Rutherford's residence destroyed.
Masonic Hall shifted from its blocks, porch damaged, and flooring slightly broken, and very much bent.
State School veranda stripped and other wise damaged. Residence of the school teacher (Mr. W.H. Trembath) completely demolished.
Q.N. Bank, a few sheets of iron blown off the roof.
Mossman Co-operative Butchering Company's branch shop completely demolished.
Callaghan Walsh's large bulk store and retail shop destroyed.
Sampson's Exchange Hotel, top balcony stripped of iron, as well as the greater portion of the roof and sides blown from the comer bedroom.
Geo. Smith's large hall, cordial factory, and residence on Flagstaff Hill demolished.
Chas. Finnie's residence shifted on the blocks. , J. W. Treacy's residence collapsed.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church absolutely wrecked, and the Roman Catholic Presbytery collapsed.
H. Nielsen's new shop a total wreck.
Anglican rectory collapsed.
Chief Customs officer's residence unroofed.
Pilot's house unroofed.
Government cottage, occupied by Percy G. Crosbie, collapsed.
Court House shifted on the blocks, unroofed, etc.
Customs office and post office, a few sheets of iron off the roof.
Customs bond store completely collapsed.
Shire Hall half destroyed.
Tramway station veranda stripped, posts broken, cement platform cracked, engine shed collapsed, and stores shed collapsed.
Jack and Newell's building, iron blown from the roof and back store.
Walsh's wharf buildings demolished.
Tom Rodkin's house swept from the floor.
M'Lean's Caledonian Hotel, upper bedrooms unroofed, sheets of iron torn off the kitchen roof, and brick chimney de- stroyed.
Mrs. J. D. Crosbie's Court House Hotel, sample room wrecked, bedrooms unroofed, and the walls of the bar demolished.
"Record" office collapsed
Hasenkamp's shops, a few sheets of iron torn off the roof.
Mrs. Tait's North Australian Hotel, bedrooms, kitchen, bar, and dining rooms unroofed, front walls of the bar demolished, and tenant's house considerably damaged and unroofed.
Lee Hoe's old shop demolished.
Mrs. Jackson's confectioner's shop destroyed.
Harry Barnes's barber's shop levelled.
Oddfellows' Hall a complete wreck.
John O'Brien's bootmaker's shop and residence demolished.
Jimmy Hook's old baker's shop demolished.
Mrs. Doddin's confectionery shop unroofed and otherwise damaged.
See Hoe's new shop unroofed, and side walls blown down.
Gun Kee's shop demolished.
H. F. Mahoney's residence, very little left standing.
Raynton's late residence demolished.
Hospital, a large quantity of iron blown off the roof.
Empty house, recently occupied by Mr. W. P. Wilson, C.P.S., iron blown off the roof.
Mrs. H. Blackshaw's house demolished. Harry Gliddon's cottage, owned by Pilot Matthews, demolished.
Joiner's shop, once occupied by the late Jas. Phillips, demolished.
Chinese Joss house demolished.
Chas. Gregory's house unroofed and otherwise damaged.
Edward Berzinski's house demolished.
Harrv Barnes's house demolished.
Reggie Huddy's house demolished.
Residence occupied by Mr. Gates demolished,
W.H. Moore's residence demolished.
Only about seven residences were partly left standing, besides the Q.N. Bank, the Customs House, the Post Office, and M'Lean's Hotel.
At Mossman the amount of damage done.though severe, is nothing to be compared with that which is everywhere visible at-Port Douglas.
Series: Douglas Shire Council
