BUSH FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1926, Page 3

BUSH FIRES.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.j

H AI! R OWINO S'l'O U TES. MELBOURNE, Fob. 10. Latest reports slate that I lie dead now total thirty-two. 'I hey are made rip as follows: Big Pat’s Creek— Six dead. Nee rim East—Four dean. Moyook—Two dead. Erica—One dead. Fomina South—One dead. Glengarry—One dead. Bmivip—One dead. The total is expected greatly to increase when the search parties arc aide to explore the smouldering regions. Th survivors' tell harrowing stories. George Worley, at whose mill at Pmvelltown fourteen persons lost their lives, stated that the lire went through his house at the rear of the mill, and reached the mill in the hills in the late afternoon. “We could sec nothing for smoke,” he said. Tie entertained grave fears for the safety of the hands at the mill, hut he considered that if they had remained at the mill, in the open, they would have lieen safe. This was what they failed to do. There were twenty persons living in the vieinity of the mill, and all hut six of them perished. Two others were hadly seorched. There were two large holes in a creek near the mill, which would have sheltered them, hut they became panic stricken with the advance of tiie terrible wall of tiro and fled into the hush among thick scrub, where they were trapped. Four persons, however, remained in the logging yards of the mill, and tlics,? were saved. Two others, after trying to reach a. clearing a mile and a-half away, turned hack and struggled safely to the yard. Another survivor from (lilderov. said the fire began some miles away from the township and a great cloud of yellow smoko was seen approaching. Suddenly fire broke out about half a mile from his hoti-o. Soon the whole hillside was ablaze, and the women and children were sent across a crock. Soon a gale began to blow and it caused the fire to rage with intensified fur.v.

Refugees from the Xoojce area are still pouring into Warrngal. It is estimated that thousands of homes tlu'oughout /liippsland, apart from the wiping out of the Noojce township have been destroyed. Itain is now hoped for. as the wind is blowing from the south. When the women and children were placed in the liver, under wot blankets, the heat was so intense that the blankets dried quickly, and relays of men had to carry wet blankets to them.

Every inch of available space was occupied by refugees. In the midst of the holocaust, a horse dragging a blazing cart dashed through the main street of Nooiec. The cart I clanged to n local butcher and he had loaded it with all his money and valuables. Half the inhabitants of Xoojce are now suffering from temporary blindness. Little ehihli}?i) are suffering from horrible burns, and arc being attended liv women whose heads are swathed in

bandages. After the lire struck Xooice, il was fanned by a sevcnty-milc-an-hour gale, and every house in the place was alight in half an hour. The inhabitants rushed to the hotel, the only brick building in the place, and one survivor described tlve scene. stating: “We were waiting for the cud! We prayed for a miracle that would save us! It canye. It was a sudden calm at midnight and then a change in the wind, and then, after a terrible night, relief motor cars came through. men having worked all night cutting their way through burning logs. The State Government is sitting and considering means for relieving the sufferers.

Tl;i? railways have agreed to carry free all parrels ami clothing for the settlers, ami a. number of city firms have already commenced a canvass for clothing.

Owing to the destruction of the bridges, it will probably be several months before the trains arc again

running normally. The Premier has received a telegram from Mr hang, N.S.W. Premier, conveying New South Wales’ sympathy, and stating that his Government v.ill he pleased to render any assistance, financial or otherwise, that may he necessary.

Twenty dead bodies have been recovered at Warlnirton, aiul only two

are now missing there. A party of forty men .'searchmg for bodies in the Gildorov district, have reached Warhnrtnn, after cutting their way through limning timber lor over

three miles. The bodies were placed on stretchers, and a dismal procession, headed Inexpert axemen, cut their way through the burning timber, 'At Powelltown a girl lay on the top of her two infant sisters, and, though badly burned, all three were saved. Many similar heroic acts are. re-

ported. At the Film inn smith post offue, the postmaster, Mr Mitchell, and his wife left home to Sock safety. Mrs AI itched jerked her hand from her husband and returned home. As she opened the door, flames overtook her, and she was burned to death. Many relief funds have already been started, and .Melbourne citizens are opening their homes to the homeless victims.

Owing to dislocation in the timber supply for fruit eases, the growers are faced with a difficulty of getting their produce to the city, and much loss will probably ensue.

TRAGIC SCENES WITNESSED. MORE BODIES RECOVERED. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Fob. 17. Reports from the chief fire area show that thirty bodies so far have lieeu recovered, while a number of other people are believed to be dead. Twelve are seriously injured. The fires are still smouldering, hut as the wind has dropped further alarming extensions are not at present anticipated. Further loss of life is reported, but in a number of reports coming to hand there are conflicting statements and it is difficult to estimate the actual extent of the fatalities.

One resident of Nayook. John Armour, previously reported missing, was found burned to death in the ruins of his home. Unconfirmed rumours from the Noojee area suggest that a- number of additional bodies have been found. Another body has been found at Powelltown and there are still a number of people unaccounted for in the more outlying settlements. Communication with some of these isolated parts has not yet been restored. The material damage throughout the state has been incalculable. A number of timber mills have been destroyed and the extent of the (lamage and the interruption of the milling industry will result in serious unomplovment and the position is accentuated by the fact that many of those thrown out of work are married men with families, who have lost everything hut the clothes in which thev stand. Supplies of clothing, bedding and food have been rushed by the State Government to the areas where the refugees are congregating,

1 Cabinet has appointed a snKcommitIco to report upon the question of the rehabilitation of the settlers who have I tee 11 burned out. Many tragic scenes were witnessed amid the blackened ruins ot the hollies and village's. Women and children, with eyes still strained with the terror ot their auliil ordeal, were to be seen tragieally v jewing the remains of their homes, clinging to some cherished possession which they had managed to salvage from the welter of destruction. Reports have been received that mi additional twelve bodies were recovered in the Warragul area, but this has not yet I kwh continued. T he list of dead i- :—E. -L Walker. .Mrs Walker and two sons aged A and o respectively; Car! Hay, Lindsay King. S. Johnson, 11. Johns Hanson (or Anson), E. Roll, a. boy Duncan aged .‘i. A. Liiinson, V. Wnl-.h. L. Roberts, A. Kandham, TTins. Donald. Mrs Mabel Donald. Leslie Donald aged four. William Donald aged six. John Donald aged eight. Allan 11 nine Olsen. Mrs Of-.eit and sons, Walter and Thomas, aged II and (I respectively; Janies Dung. .Mrs E. Mitchell, Thomas Franklin, John Armour. William Fisk. The missing are:—Jospeph Johnson. W. Collins and ID Rcnnent. The seriously injured are:—Arthur (T. Widker, Harry King. Florence Hodges, Sidney Leman. Vera Hodges, Dorothy (D Hodges.