AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8038, 27 January 1906, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

'"■""■' LATEST CABLE NEWS.

OSITBB PBKSS ASSOCIATION. —BY RLECTHIC TELEOUAPH. —COPl'lillillT.

_« A BE AVE ITALIAN. WOMEN WANT TO MUSH L\TO THE FLAMES. Meluouune, January 2(1. The saving of Clemsou's family was largely due to the heroism of Clavarino, an Italian, who, when the house contiguous to a tank look fire, repeatedly extinguished the Barnes, although at each effort his own clothes became ignited.

The licat became so intense that, the wo'ivu became hysterical, and hud to be forcibly restrained from running straight into the flames. The fire is still burning in the valley of Little Franklin. In one instance a whole family was saved through taking refuge in a well. Thirty-two families are utterly homeless. These are authenticated eases, "but there must be others, as it is difficult, in the ehaos that exists, to get reliable news. The body of the n\au Butler was found. He was overcome while trying to reach a relative's residence. Round Daylesford the farmers are constructing (ire breaks. It is feared if the wind freshens the fire will come westward. A man named La Fraucoui was severely burned and died. At Xargoon a eucalyptus distillery was completely destroyed. At Marplake an army of 800 "sj been engaged all day fighting the fiL\J Along the roads heap-: of dead stoe*| arc fouud.

A GALLANT SCHOOLMASTER AND IiIiAVE BOl'S. ' SEVERAL BODIES IH'itXT. Mki.hoi uxk, January 2(1. The (T-uiilry from j fillenil to Xeerini li-is been laid waste. M Ou Tuesday practically M\ tin* settlers were homeless. J The heroism of a schoolmaster named Tales, at Toora, saved 28 childreu. He collapsed again and ;l ;am; he went through a veritable furnace to get water to pour 011 the blankets. Mr Vales, interviewed said the children obeyed him and lay flat on the ground. Another mail and he kept the blankets wet. He got / water from the burning school till jt collapsed and then went through tljt blazing scrub to a creek. The boys ( ' helped Uitn, and when the fire was at. its worst rail into Urge logs and covered themselves with net blankets, and as they (the logs) c-iugUt, they shifted to other logs. The school children stayed with liiin till night. Nine bodies were burned at Toora yesterday. Scales and a party of labourers, whiie scrub cutting at Biuginwarrie, were surrounded by fire. Their horses were ridden fiercely, but were so injured by the fire that they had to lie shot. The men found refuge in a ivaterhole, which gradually filled with Muruing branches. They were in sinter four hours. One man, who became temporarily insane, was prevented by force from suicide. All ultimately escaped, but were nearly blinded and scalded.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. Memiouuxi:, January 26. The Government is sending £'10i)O for the relief of the immediate necessities of the sufferers in Gippsland.