RIVIERA IN RUINS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1975, 10 January 1907, Page 1

RIVIERA IN RUINS.

Tho talc of the damage done by the great storm on the Riviera is a fearful one. The storm was the most disastrous experienced for a quarter of a century (says a Paris message in the Daily Express of November 3), and the damage done along the

.Riviera. coast is estimated at £1,000,000. Off Toulon alone 40 fishing boats were driven on shore by the furious wind and dashed to pieces on the rocks by the tremendous breakers which came rolling in like moving mountains. It is a miracle that the men aboard were saved. During the height of the storm a number of submarines under the command of Lieutenant Pamard sought refuge from the fury of the elements by diving. They remained in calm water until the worst was over. The terrific force of the breakers is shown by the fact that all the beautiful promenades along the coast from Nice right away to Hyores—a distance of about 90 miles—are masses of wreckage. Great blocks of masonry from the sea walls are scattered about or piled up into heaps, and hero and there are deep holes in the roadway where the heavy blocks were

dashed by the waves, ploughing up the pavement as if it had been turf.

Throughout this large extent of coastline all the breakwaters have been torn like rags, and bathing establishments, garden walls, and even cottages and houses have been swept into rubbish heaps. The steamer S>t. Augustine, which crossed from Bizerta with the coffins of the Lutin victims, had a terrible passage. The captain and crew report that at one time they feared that the ship would not outlive the storm. She reached Marseilles six hours behind time. Mr. Gordon Bennett’s magnificent steam yacht Lysistrata is fortunately not lost, but was seriously ' damaged. She. broke loose from her anchorage, and was dashed against the Albert Edward Quay, at Cannes, but owing to the prompt measures taken by the captain of ship was saved. The mate and one of the sailors wore very badly hurt in their struggles to save the vessel.