Fine waterspout spotted over moor

From this newspaper 150 years ago. – A waterspout at the High Force. – E J Lowe writes from “High Force Inn, Durham, Sept. 4th”, to the Times, of a fine waterspout which he has witnessed in his rambles in that picturesque neighbourhood. He said: – “Sir, a very fine waterspout was seen today by myself, Capt A S H Lowe, and a guide (George Tallentire, of Haghead, High Force, Durham). We were crossing Widdibank Fell, from High Force to the Cauldron Snout, and the waterspout was over Cronkley-moor (about 1 1/2 miles off). The morning had been exceedingly fine and hot, with a brisk NNW wind. From half-past ten o’- clock there were many thunder clouds round the horizon, which increased much in size after the waterspout had disappeared. The waterspout was formed in a small cumulus, which afterwards became a thunderstorm, from which thunder was heard at 12h.5m east of us. This storm passed down the valley of the Tees, being violent at Middleton, Langley Beck, Barnard Castle and Darlington. The waterspout was first seen at 11h.13m am lasting to 11m.19h.15s, when it became hidden by the clouds. The motion was easterly, passing from Cronkley-moor (and Car Craggs in the far distance) across the Tees to Langdon Fell. It was somewhat white and very opaque, having exceedingly well-defined sharp edges, around which was a fog-like vapour, having a direct motion. Its great singularity was its rapid changes in form which it underwent at first, nearly straight, then curved, and afterwards wavy and snake-like, at one time not unlike a flash of forked lightning. For the first 1 1/2 minutes the waterspout almost touched the ground, after which it became higher.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – A motor car accident, which unfortunately had fatal consequences, occurred at the North End of the town on Monday night. It was the Harrowgate Hill Feast, and Mrs Catherine Conlan, in company with her husband, Mr Thomas Conlan, labourer, of 18 Brunswick Street, as walking towards the Hill when a motor car, driven by Adam A Barker, of Craig Street, came on the scene just as they were opposite the White Horse Hotel. Mrs Conlan was obviously very nervous of the car for she stepped from her husband’s side right in front of it. The driver did his best to avert an accident, but the car struck the woman and the nearside wheels passed over her body. She was immediately attended to, and bleeding profusely from wounds, chiefly on the head, was taken in the car to Greenbank Hospital. On arrival Dr Hunter found that she was dead.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – Richmond Town Council General Purposes Committee on Tuesday turned down an application by Vaux and Associated Breweries Ltd for permission to install a fruit machine in the Castle Tavern, Richmond. Following earlier consideration of the matter by the Council, Messrs Vaux were invited to send a representative to put their case before the members of the Council, and on Tuesday, the firm’s pubic relations officer, Brig J Connolly spoke to the meeting. He said: “We believe it is legal, and we believe we are introducing an amusement and an amenity into our pubs to enable us to compete fairly with social clubs which already have these machines.” In answer to questions, he agreed that if the application were granted, others would follow.

The committee chairman, Coun F W Woodall, told members the matter would go to the North Riding Quarter Sessions on appeal, when the council would have to state a case for turning it down. It was agreed that grounds for refusal were that prizes from the machine would be in the form of vouchers to be used in the public house, and it was felt that this would be an incentive to young people to drink, which was undesirable in a garrison town.