Incidents of the Greymouth Flood

Hastings Standard, Issue 274, 18 March 1897, Page 4

Incidents of the Greymouth Flood

The tug Westland was for a time in a very precarious position. Several heavy logs floating down stream caught between the bow of the vessel and the wharf. These in turn caught more timber, trees and debris, until there was a tremendous heap piled several feet above the water, and many feet under. The rush of the torrent increased the pressure upon the little boat greatly, and rendered the use of every available rope and chain necessary to prevent the Westland breaking loose and drifting over the bar. When the river moderated it was a verydifficult task to clear the material away, axes, cross cuts and block and tackle being freely used. Early in the morning Constable Simpson while assisting to remove some goods in Tainui street fell into a hole, and later on the same officer was swept off his legs while passing Tidd's corner and carried by the current- running in Boundary street till he was picked up by a boat near the Fire Brigade Station, in a*somewhat exhausted condition.

A young man was cautiously making his way down Boundary street, at the butcher's corner where the current ran strong. He was swept oil' his feet and must have been drowned had not Mr George Osborne, who, holding on to one of the verandah posts managed to get hold of his clothes and succeeded in getting him into shallow water.

The Rev. Mr York had a lively experience. Not thinking that the Hood world reach his residence he made no preparation against it, but was awakened by the water bursting into his room, and for three hours he and his household had to avail themselves of the services of tables to keep them out of the water until they we"re rescued about seven o'clock on Wednesday evening.

The police rendered good service all night and next day. There was no " Government stroke " about the men. They one and all toiled, not as if they knew they were policemen, but as if they felt and realised that the lives and safety of many depended upon them. Truly Greymouth can be well proud of her Police Force. Constable Simpson especially risked his life times out of number, and cnce the risk was nearly proving fatal. Sergeant White unfortunately was unable to take part in the rescue during the night. He and Mrs White had a \ery trying time of it standing in over three feet of water in their own house till six in the morning when a boat rescued them from their perilous position. Then the worthy Sergeant'went to work like a Briton to save others. Mr Lutz, who had a Hock of prime fat sheep in Victoria Park, lost the greater portion of them. A number that were got out required great attention for some time. " But," said Mr Lutz, "by the aid of good Scotch gruel with a little good whisky in it I saved a few." " Oh, yes," he added in reply to a question, " the sheep are quite right now and perfectly sober. One of the more comical sights was that of a Chinaman complacently wheeling or floating a perambulator along the Hooded street. In the vehicle sat a child contentedly sucking from a feeding bottle, while the mother of the infant trudged alongside, apparently enjoying the novel situation. The Celestial was smoking a cigarette quite contentedly.—Star.