Floods in Queensland,

Manawatu Herald, 14 February 1893, Page 2

Floods in Queensland,

A large residence At Hill End was swept away, and it is believed that the family j^erjisjked. Erpm'Hnl^Ena to Stanley street whole terraces and streets of houses were fesi&ey&L.

The South Brisbane gasometer capsized, and the streets are covered several inches deep with foul -smell* jngaaud.

The people are almost heartbroken by ike ruin in which the city is involved. The misery and suffering of the homeless are most distress-

mg.

Women besmeared with dirt, and almost naked, trooped into the Municipal Buildings as soon as the rooms were set apart for the supply of provisions.

Many sensational escapes from death are reported.

A man was standing on the river bank, wheu it gave way, and he was drowned before the very eyes of the crowd* who had to look helplessly on. At Kangaroo Point, on the south side of the river, nothing is left but piles of bricks and iron.

Button's foundry and shipbuilding yards and Peacock's jam factory were entirely destroyed.

A large amount of looting is going on among the wrecked and abandoned houses -

Some anxiety is felt about a large quantity of dynamite stored down the river, which is in a dangerous condition owing to the wet. A detatchment of military is being despatched to destroy the damaged position. It is roughly estimated that the damage to public and private property will amount to two millions sterling. The Marquis. of Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has cabled his regret at the disaster.

The relief fund collected locally amounts to £8000, of which £1500 was "subscribed at Bockhampton. Funds are being started in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Tremendous explosions were caused by compressed air in the mines at Gympie, in many cases wrecking the buildings at the mouths of the shafts.

Sixty-seven inohes of rain fell in three days.

A man named Hogan was washed six miles down the river. Eventually he managed to climb a tree, but he was so severely bitten by scorpions and centipedes, which had taken refuge in it, that he died after reaching the shore.

The whole of the coastal districts in the south are being devastated by floods. The country between Bockhainpton and fiarcaldine, in the interior, is in a serious condition owing to drought.

It is estimated that £10,000 worth of damage was done the powder magazine by tht flood.

The Government have distributed 2000 pairs of blankets, and a large quantity of provisions among the distressed.

Fifty -two houses ware washed away at Ferndale, and many narrow escapes from drowning are reported . Torrents of rain are again falling, and four inches were registered in the last 24 hours.

Several houses in Stanley street, South Brisbane, are again surrounded by water.

A hurricane, accompanied by a terrific rainfall, has bean experienced at Bundaberg, 270 miles north of Brisbane, and a rainfall of four inches was recorded in 10 hours.

At Ipswich, too, there was a heavy rainfall; and- the Brisbane Biveris rising 2ft Gin per hour. .. Painful scenes have taken place at the Eclipse 1 mine, where several miners were entombed by the rushing water, and wives of the perished miners are endeavoring to dig through into the mine.