LINCOLNSHIRE DISASTER

Southland Times, Issue 18836, 1 June 1920, Page 5

LINCOLNSHIRE DISASTER

CLOUDBURST AND FLOOD. TOWN PARTIALLY DESTROYED. MANY LIVES LOST. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 30. As the result of heavy rain the canal bank at Louth, in South Lincolnshire burst and the town was flooded. A number of fatalities occurred. Twenty bodies have so far been recovered. The disaster was due to a waterspout causing the river Lud, running through the centre of the town, to burst its hanks. The flood largely destroyed the residential quarters. Many people saved themselves by mounting rnols ami trees, from which they were rescued.

The flood quickly subsided. The number of fatalities is not known. NO WARNING OF DISASTER. VICTIMS TRAPPED IN GROUND FLOORS. LONDON, May 31. (Received May 31, 7.40 p.m.) Louth is a pleasant Lincolnshire town lying at the foothills on the edge of a Hat, marshy plain. The cloudburst occurred on the hills a few miles distant, and most of the townspeople were driven indoors by the rain. Many were at tea. There was no warning of the disaster, ns the rainfall locally was not excessive. The flood waters burst in the doors and windows of the houses, and many of the victims wore trapped on the ground floors. One woman escaped by climbing up a chimney. Ihrec children wore having tea with their mother. They mounted higher and higher to avoid the rising water, ontil they were compelled to cling to a curtain pole, Then they cither dropped from exhaustion or the pole collapsed. All the children were drowned.

The chief police officer attended the telephone continuously for three hours, standing in four feet of water. The flood waters swept away bridges, houses and walls in a few minutes. It is estimated that the death roll totals fifty. Parties are now searching the debris. Only one survivor was found among the occupants of a terrace of twelve houses destroyed. The fatalities include four firemen, who were swept away with their engine.