TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1925, Page 4

TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE

GREAT STOCK LOSSES. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. Details of n terrible bush lire which rayed lor three days in the Kntanning district of Western Australia, about 120 Indies south of Perth, show that it was of a ferocity and destructiveness seldom unequalled. This-and the cyclone which swept over the far north-western port of Koebourne, in that State, a week or two ago, provide two striking instances of the appalling consequences of the forces of Nature let loose. Only now are the full facts of the Koebourne cyclone coming through, and they show that hundreds of head of sheep were killed by falling timbers, and settlers’ hollies were swept away like paper bags causing many bairs-breadth escapes and many thousands of pounds of damage. The Kataniling fires probably caused about the same value of damage, estimated at about £1(KL(K)0. though it is impossible after such disasters to arrive at even approximately true estimates.

The fire was fanned by a stiff breeze, and in the course of the morning of the outbreak it enveloped the* entire district, carrying homes, slock, trees, crops and everything before it. Eye witnesses say it was heart-breaking to see the frenzy of the wildly plunging cattle and sheep as they vainly sought to escape from the raging Haines. 'I here was little that the settlers could do to help them, the safety of their families and themselves being supremely difficult to ensure without any other preoccupation. One settler who had anparently been seeking to liberate some stock from a paddock and give them a chance of safety in the open country was found dead and charred beyond iecognilion. In another case a hid bravely sought to save some valuable stud sheep, and in doing so narrowly ! escaped death. On horseback, aided by I a faithful dog, which never deserted . him. despite the overpowering heat, he j rode frantically to and fro in an endeavour to hurry them to a position of . apparent safety, although none could ! sil y fur certain where safety lay. To the Cud some reached safety and some per- ' ished. but tbc lad. to bis horror, found I himself trapped, with the raging flames | sweeping down upon him. With great presence of mind he raced for the wnterhole about ball' a mile distant, and almost on the point of collapse, boy. horse and dog plunged into the water. Fortunately the stock had beaten down the grass around the hole so that the flames were kept hack ii'om it, and b> remaining for some time in the water, the lad was able to save the lives of himself and his horse and dog. Hundreds of men were rushed to the district from many miles around, help even being sent from as far distant as Perth. Put efforts had to be directed to rescuing imperilled settlers rather than to any efforts to stay the progress of the lives. These had practically to he

left to spend their force. Many women and children were cariiod from then doomed homes in motor-cars, which proved of invaluable assistance. Hu perils encountered are proved by the fact that many of the cars are masse* of blisters. Some of them used satur a led blankets in order to protect the

occupants from the scorching heat, ant at the end of two days, when the fire* started to abate, many of the worker* whoso heroic efforts h:ul undoiihtedlv saved many lives, were so singed am blackened that they resembled niggers