DISASTER AT QUEBEC. BURIED BY AN AVALANCHE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 413, 23 October 1889, Page 3

DISASTER AT QUEBEC. BURIED BY AN AVALANCHE.

A terrible disaster occurred in Quebecjon the night of the 16th of September, when several thousand tons of rock slipped from Cape Diamond, at the end of Dufferin terrace,' to Champlain street, 300 feet below, demolishing seven dwellings. The debris covered the road in a solid mass, some 300 ft. in length, and from 15ft. to 25ft. high. The landslide was caused by the hot weather of the past few weeks cracking the earth and rock, which were loosened and driven down by the heavy rains of the last few days. Those who witnessed the avalanche say that they heard a long, loud noise as of several cannon, and on looking up toward the terrace and citadel were horrified by the sight of an immense mass of stones, rock, and earth breaking loose and rushing down the declivity upon the doomed houses below. The air was immediately filled with dust so that no one could see ten feet in front of him, and breathing was made difficult. This was followed by sounds of timbers crushing and yielding to the immense power of the avalanche and the shouting and screaming of men, women and children in all the agony of despair. The site of the landslideis almost identical with that of one which occurred in 1841, when eight buildings were crushed and thirty - two persons killed. The mass of earth and rocks moved, roughly speaking, is about 600 feet frontage by 80 feet in depth. Some of the masses of fallen rock weigh nearly twenty tons. Cape Diamond is a huge promontory lying along the St. Lawrence River, with bare, precipitous sides gleaming with quartz crystals, from which it takes its name. The lower town is crowded on a narrow strip of land between the river and the bluffs and is a densely populated section of the city, being devoted to commercial pursuits, and inhabited by a large labouring population. Here* it is that the rocks came crashing down with such deadly force in the midst of a teeming population. The upper town lies on the crest of the promontory, and Duflerin (formerly Durham) terrace, which was endangered by the rock slide, is one of the popular promenades overlooking the lower town. The scene of the disaster was visited by thousands of persons, and most distressing sights were witnessed. The work of rescue was promptly begun, and the injured were removed to the Hotel Dieu, while the shipping offices in the Dominion Government building were turned into a temporary morgue. The danger from fire was added to the horrors, and the brigades turned out and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. A force of 600 men were engaged removing the debris, but slow progress was made owing to the stupendous mass of rock covering the ruins. Cries of "Help" could be heard from beneath, but none could be given. The funerals of the killed will be defrayed at the joint cost of citizens and the Government. Four days after the avalanche it was stated that ab least 200 bodies were known to still be buried by the debris. Numbers had then been interred. Some of those rescued are in a pitiable condition, owing to the very distressing injuries they had sustained. Some have been so disfigured that identification is difficult. It is feared that a large part of the rock adjoining the site of the slide will come down, as large crevices have appeared and the rain is still falling, and ib may repeat the operation which caused last night's disaster. The people moved out of the threatened houses, and the citizens are sending in money to relieve the immediate distress among the homeless women and children.