Terrible Floods in Queensland.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 179, 1 February 1896, Page 2

Terrible Floods in Queensland.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. SHOCKING LOSS OF LIFE. WHARVES. RAILWAY SHEDS AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED. (Per Press Association.) Brisbane, Jan. '61, A cyclone broke over Townsville at I midnight ou Saturday and reached its height at six o'clock on Suuday evening. The steamisr Electric Light and schooner Lalla Rook are missing. The damage to the harbor works is estimated at 30,000, while tho total damage iv Townsville canuot be far short of half a, million sterling. Many people are ruined, and a relief fund is being started. Tbe steamer Jumna has arrived safely. The Guthrio lost three of her boats. The effects of the cyclone in Townsville are appalling, only a few houses haviug escaped damage. Twenty inches of rain fell in twentyfour hours. A number of persons were being taken iv a rescue boat from Ross Island when the little craft sank. Mrs Hunt and infant, Mrs Grin man, Miss Gertrude Rowc, and her elder sister, and a lad named Wallace were drowned. The West End is a scene of wrecked dwellings. While Mr Justice Chubb and family were being removed from their rcsideuce in a punt two of the servants were left behind to await the punt's return, but they became frightened and attempted to wade after the punt. Oao uatned Alice Hughes was drowned, but the other was rescued. The bodies of Mr and Mrs Baker have been found <°.t Ross Island. Several other bodies have been found iv the same vicinity. This Day. The river at Towusvillo is falling slowly. There is no rain excepting iv north where it is still showery aud threatening. At the Townsville railway shed a large quantity of goods were swept away. Tho beach is strewn with the bodies of hundreds of horses, cattle, dogs, &.o. At Ross, inland, the buildings destroyed include the Church of Englaud, Wesleyan Church and Oddfellows Hall. Woodstock township is coinjjletely submerged. At Rockhampton the river has broken its banks aud the town is parti}' flooded. The wharves are six. feet under water, which is still rising. All tho place lias the appearance ot a great sea. People outside the town are completely cut off, but are in no danger afc present. Tho railway and telegraph services continue demoralised. The railway bridges over the Reid river and Honghtou Valley are destroyed.