PORT STANLEY OVERWHELMED.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 3

PORT STANLEY OVERWHELMED.

A despatch from tho United States Consul at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, was receive 4 at Washington, August 17th, giving an account of the slip of peat which occurred on the night of June 2nd, causing loss of life and great destruction of property. Extending the entire length of the south shore of the harbour and at a slight elevation is q peat bed, from which the labouring people procure their fuel. There are no channels to drain the bug, and large quantities of water collect there during the long rains, which at certain seasons lost for days at a time. For three days previous to the disaster, a rainetoim had prevailed. At about eight o'clock in the evening, the bog began to quake, and finally, with a noise like thunder, it broke loose, rushing down upon the town, carrying everything in its way, bldcking up streets, in places to the height of six or eight feet. Solid porches and iron lampposts were torn away, and boatbouses disappeared before its inarch. The bewildered and terrified population believed their town waß being destroyed by an earthquake or an avalanche. It lasted only an hour, but its path waa one of ereat devastation. The mass of scattered peat # . amounting to not less than 50,000 tons, ''lay over the town. Two lives were lost The people feared another disaster, and were instantly on the elert.