In December 1836, The Western Times reported:
"Exeter, in common with the whole of the West of England was visited on Tuesday last, by one of the most tremendous hurricanes from the N.N.W. that was ever witnessed. It had blown a gale of wind all night, but soon after nine, the wind came on in such fierce and overwhelming gusts, that houses were unroofed in the space of a few minutes, chimneys were hurled down, tiles and slates were flying like leaves, and lead was curled up and rolled up like tissue paper.
So sudden was the hurricane and so destructive its effect, that many houses were absolutely deserted, and people were running hither and thither, bewildered and amazed, just as we read of the panics which attend on earth-quakes.
Several stacks of chimneys were blown down, and many hairbreadth escapes have come within our knowledge, but the most miraculous we have heard is, that of the preservation of the only child of Mr. J. C. Wilcocks, jun., a promising lad, who was poorly in bed, when a stack of chimneys fell through the roof, and carried away the floor of the room in which he slept, but without doing him the slightest injury."
Was the lucky youngster Mr. Wilcocks junior or was he Mr. Wilcock's junior's child? It doesn't matter. The promising lad suffered not the slightest injury. Still, it's a bit much to have a chimney-stack pass through your bedroom - and that when your feeling poorly.
(Source, The Western Times, 3rd December 1836.)
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