FIRE AND FLOOD IN CHINA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 20 October 1915, Page 2

FIRE AND FLOOD IN CHINA.

More than 50,000 Chinese were drowned, and many thousands were left homeless and without food, as a J result of the flood which swept the suburbs of Canton in the latter part of July. "The flood was the worst that ever struck China,'' says. Mrs. Graves, a missionary. "To acid to the terror caused by the flood, afire started, which burned more than 1,000 ' houses. • It the first time in the history of China that both the North and West rivers overflowed together. The waters rushed over their banks in torrents, and swept everything before them. The bamboo and more substantial! houses in the suburbs of Canton were knocked down like houses of cards. The sampans and junks were carried on the crest'of the torrent for miles, and smashed to kindling wood." According to Mrs. Graves, the lire was started by the Chinese cooking on the lower floors of the houses. As the water flooded the lower floors of the houses, the people would move to the roofs for safety, and there cook their meals with charcoal fires. Fires started simultaneously in several places, aiic: the lire departments could not reach them on account of the water.