BAD FLOOD IN QUEENSLAND

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 4 January 1917, Page 5

BAD FLOOD IN QUEENSLAND

SIXTY-TWO BODIES FOUND. ARREST OF LOOTERS. FLOODS COYER WIDE AREA. BRISBANE, Jan 3. . Sixty-two bodies have been recovered at Clermont. The greatest distress prevails: Many homeless people are sheltering in a convent. Looting commenced immediately the flood subsided, but was sternly suppressed. Three men are awaiting sentence on charges of theft. Telegrams rceived by the Railway Department indicate that floods have occurred over the whole of the Great ; Northern system, not only in the coasI tal region, but in the middle area bei tween Charters Towers and the Hughendon Country. Five hundred square miles in West Cloncurry were visited. Light rain commenced to fall at Clermont about midday on Wednesday It became heavy at sundown, and was torrential throughout the night. A constable warned the residents of the low-lying parts that the creek was overflowing, but only a few moved across the lagoon. Before daylight the water rose with unprecedented rapidity, reaching the lagoon and bridge before 7 o'clock. It is believed that the first two fatalities then occurred. A man attempted to reach the bridge, but was swept down stream. A stock inspector named Young rede down, and attempted to cross, but met with a similar fate. An hour later the Clubhouse and Courthouse were swept away. incj flood rose so rapidly that none v. ere able to cross from the flat to (he south side within thirty minutes after the water first appeared in the main street. Meanwhile residences on the creek and the flat fared badly. Houses containing families were hurled a'ong bodily, and many were drowned. Others were rescued from roofs and trees. A terrible current continued f o sweep through the town until Sunday, gradually demolishing property until Clermont was almost unrecognisable. Miners are providing rescue parties and special constables. Owing to the shortage of food, supplies were commandeered, and a relief system organised. The weather is now clearing. AJI the northern railways were damaged by the floods, and there has been general dislocation of traffic during the past week. There is an average of 17 inches of rain in the Mackay district. It is estimated that owing to floods 100,000 tons of cane, equal to IO.OCO tons of sugar, will not be harvestable. Losses of live stock in the flooded districts are extremely heavy - . As the result of parties being sent out, numbers of people who were mari ooned in trees and elsewhere were I rescued. A big body of water is coming down the Fraser river and is expected to reach Rockhampton in a day or two. Precautions are being taken against the flood. All residents in low-lying areas are packing. BRISBANE, Jan 3. There are no further details of the Clermont losses. Heavy rains are falling, and the flood waters are again rising.