THE HEAT WAVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 46, 23 February 1901, Page 3

THE HEAT WAVE.

COUNTRY DEVASTATED BY

EIRE,

PIVE LIVES LOST.

A TOWNSHIP DESTROYED. Melbourne, Feb. 19,

Bush fires throughout the State havo ravaged most districts worse than a tornado. Valuable properties have been swept away, and numerous families rondorod homoloss, whilst several people have fallen victims to fires that tho heaters could not turn back. Tho western district, which suffered so severely some timo ago, was again a victim to tho flames. Hamilton, onshrouded with smoke and black - oned with dust, was yesterday afternoon panic-strickon and desolate. A man ran terror-stricken here and there, only to find when the smoke liftod that ho had boon running in circles. Tho fire which caused all the alarm and confusion was five miles from Hamilton, and • fanned by a strong north wind, swept majestically along. Grass, fencing, trees, and stock went down before it. Houses were threatened, but escaped, some charred, some half burnt, some as though tar-coated, but not totally destroyed. The estate of A. J. Simpson, the well-known breeder of Shropshires, was entirely devastated. Tho wool sheds and sheep sheds were swept away, whilst the homostead was only saved by a miracle. A little further on a farmhouse was dostroved, and tho family saved only what they wore. They were found standing on the ruins of their homo terror-stricken and famished.

Byaduk, a fair-sized township, a few miles further on, barely exists. In Lower Byaduk three houses alone stand out of tho original 15, and mothors and families are dependent on hospitable neighbours. Nothing was saved, not oven a stick of furniture, and the women and childon who were driven out just in timo to save their lives, had to stand by and seo a mass of flames lick up the homes which had cost them years of toil and troublo. People with their clothing burning rushed to the creeks and dams, and many stood therein while, with hurricane force and. cyclonic speed, the tire swept against them, actually . singeing their hair.

To-day the smoking and charred ruins are horrible to look upon. On ono big station, 2000 sheep were roasted, GOO of which, all huddled in ono spot, stand out as a landmark of tho horrible devastation

A mile or two further along, on tho Miu-roa Estate, nearly 3000 sheep were roasted and charred, and the estate, excepting the homestead, which escapod, was cloaned as though an Amorican blizzard had passed over it. Fully 10,000 slioep, much other valuable stock and machinery, many shods, houses-and outbuildings in this district, havo disappeared. It is bleaker now than an outcroppod mining field, and moro harrowing in appearance than a wreck-strewn coast.

Castorton and the adjoining country are covered with a mass of smoko, banked up like a river fog, only more so. Tho firo which caused this started on Wednesday, and burned all night on Thursday, and then fanned by tho heavy northorly wind, swept along towards Condah, and is now covering thirty miles of country, and still burning fiercely. Old residents say that “Black Thursday” did not exceod in its fiorco iutonsity and devastation yostorday’s fire. Tho railway lino between Midkito and Branxholme is a wreck. There wore many hairbreadth escapes. The loss of stock, crops, and fencing, has been enormous. A train duo in Casterton at twenty minutes past eight on Thursday night did not arrive till this morning. Camperdown suffered severely, the railway bridges and culverts being burnt, and farms and stations devastated.

At Dundonnell, a newly-erected Prosbyterian Church was blown down, and the roof of houses and sheds were scattered by the terrific gale, which careered madly over this State.

Three sturdy little fellows were burnt to death in the panic and confusion. Two McCallum boys, aged 10 and 11, and young McDonald, aged 12, got separated from tlreir people. Subsequently the alarm was given, but it was' not until this morning that their charred remains were found. Blinded by smoke, and with flames all round them, they had struggled to the last, and then, hopeless and confused, they dropped down to die within a yard or two of each other, Beech Forest is still in flames, and the navvies at work on the railway there only succeeded in saving tlieir tents. A man named John O’Brien, while riding through Charley Creek, was overtaken by the fire. The horse plunged and threw him, breaking his leg. - He was badly burnt, and now lies in tho Colac Hospital.

The Birregurra district, near Colac, has suffered intensely. Not-only has property aud stock gone, but valuable lives have been sacrificed. A spark from a passing train caused a lire which has already accounted for fivo lives, with two others still hanging in the balance. The damage to tiro country at present is incalculable. The Yeo Vale homestead, sheds, and woolslieds were completely demolished. I; was at this spot that the plucky fire-fighters were so severely- burnt as to necessitate their removal to the Colac Hospital, Deep'Dene property was also destroyed, and the township of Birregurra had a narrow escape from total destruction. With a gale of wind behind it, the fire swept on. No man could stand before its fierce intensity. House after house was swallowed up, and* the manager of tho Colonial Bank had to place his wife and family in a tank to save their lives.