16 Star anfr Meatber Gossip 



of water. As may be imagined, these contending seas, 

 while adding to the general clamour, churned the 

 water into foam, which above the tide at this part of 

 the shore lay quite four feet deep. 



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Away from the sea, down in the ancient town, 

 desolation reigned. No vehicles were astir ; the shops 

 were closed and shuttered, to save the windows. The 

 storm was in absolute and undisputed possession ; 

 its tumult penetrated every corner of the homes of 

 the inhabitants, who, for the most part did not venture 

 out to run the risk of being blown off their feet or 

 injured by falling masonry. It was exceedingly 

 dangerous being out in the streets at all that day. 

 Slates were ripped from roofs and carried away on the 

 wind like so many pieces of pasteboard, as I myself 

 witnessed in various quarters of the town. The crash 

 of a falling chimney-stack continually broke on the 

 thunder of the gale. The shivering of glass was one 

 of the common sounds of the day. 



The main approach to the docks was deep in debris 

 torn from the house-tops. Passing that way was a 

 most hazardous proceeding. It was necessary to hug 

 the inner side of the pavement and dart from doorway 

 to doorway, taking breath and a glance aloft from 

 every place of refuge. I saw several slates blown 

 across the street to an opposite roof, and on one 

 occasion a chimney-stack fell with an ear-splitting 

 crash a few yards from where I was sheltering. 



This thoroughfare led to the ferries, which for so 

 many years have plied across to Middleton, but the 



