BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1416, 29 March 1905, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

TRYING EXPERIENCES.

In regard to tho bush fires in Dannevirke district our telegrams did not convey the full strioumess of the outbreak. A lady who had just left Gisborne as a bride (Mrs W. 3F. Cash), in a letter to her purents, Mr aud Mrs M. Morgan, gives some of her first experiences in her new home :

“ I no voir had such an experience in all my life. Someone set five to a bush ou‘ here (Matamau) yesterday (March 24). The wind came up and set all one aide of Matamau in flames. We had to boat the flames from our house with wet sacks and buckets of water. Walter and Arthur were at work and know nothing of the fire, but coming homo they had to run a mile through fire and smoko, the tram they oarno on was burning under their feet whilst running, and when they reached home they could nut see ; their eyes were so soro, and they were eiDged all over. About 2 o’clock the fire lessened but shortly after the wind camo up, and we all had a terrible timo of it ; poor M. was ill in bed and was so upset about the fire that we had a task to get her out of the house. Walter and Arthur had to put her and the nurse in a gig and pull them to safety as quickly as possible; it was 3 o’olock this mprning wheD wo leit tho house, I am at a boarding-house, and M. and the nurse are up with Mrs Martin. lam perfectly safo here. Our house is not burnt down yet—it was tho smoko that drovo us out. Mro Sonthie’s and ours are tho only houses slauding on the block so far, the other three houses being burnt to cinders, and no insuraneb. The only hopo wo now have is for the boys to stick to- it and beat the flames ; but the poor fellows are nearly blind with tho smoko, tbey fought the flames from tho house all last night, and never got a wink of sleep. Walter dug a big pit in the ground and put a box in containing most of my glassware, covering it with wet EOil, so I am hoping that will be saved if nothing else is. I would go up and get some things out but you can’t see whero you are going for smoke and flames. I have never seen anything so dreadful

j before, Mrs Soutbio and family (five) are I all hero at Mrs Goodall’s t,oo, and wo are j expecting another poor unfortunate family

I soon. The fire has not burnt out yet, and [ is travelling across the railway line a | hurricane, but as lcDg as there are no { lives jost is the main thing, so we must I not worry, but do our best. Walter’s eyes | are a'l swollen with the smoke, and yet he I sticks to it ; a lot of young men came out j to assist but the smoke being so dense they I I had to leave it clone. I cannot undor- | stand how our house is not dowD, for I I when I left this morning tho flames were I right round it and the mill and sawdust I

heaps bad caught ; that was just on tho left of our place ; we caught the fire first. This is the first time I have had to run through firs, and I hope it will be the last, i However, I must not complain, for from

one of the houses which was burnt the lady was away on a trip,, and.her husband was not home, so they have yet to learn that they have lost everything. Diamonds blbo never eaved anything, and they have 1 a vory largo family."