TERRIBLE LANDSLIP AT BOATMAN'S.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2456, 7 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE LANDSLIP AT BOATMAN'S.

(Inangahua Times, Much 12.) Onk of the .saddest, o:it isSrophes that has occurred in the district happened at. Boatman'* yesterday morning. Sliortly after 7 o'clock a loud crash reverberated over i.he township, and startled Uie slumbering inhabitants "as though a volcano had burst into activity in their mid-it. The few persons who wore un at the time rushed into the street, and at once raised the al'inn that the mountain in front of the town was coining down. A *oene of the wildest excitement ensued; half-dressed ueoplo rushed out. of their houecs nni[ crowded into the street, fearing that the whole town was about to he swallowed up. Tho noise is described as perfectly appalling , , exceeding tho loudest thunder ever heard. After >i few seconds the terrified people were able to realise what had happened. It was seen that :in enormous mass of the mountain side above the Welcome Company's tailings site had slipped away. Thousands of tone of stuff, bearing heavy musses of timber, came crashing , down for a length of nearly half a mile, sweeping everything before it. Suddenly the cry arose, that Hooper's houso had beon swept away. Hooper with his wife and five children lived in a cottage on the hill-side near Coghlan's coal mine. It was at once seen that the house was gone. By this time the people had gathered from all quarters, and no sooner was it known that theie was need of help than everyone rushed off to the spot, though the roar of the terrible avalanche had not yet died away. Reaching the base of the slide, the rescuers floundered up the soft ooze, sinking almost waist-deep in the still moving debris, and in momentary risk of their lives by skidding timber and rolling xtones. The first shout of joy resounded as one little child was found, bruised and bleeding, among a mass of stones and timber. The little waif had evidently been borne down on the surface of the slip, as it had sustained no serious bodily injury. The party pressed on, and soon came into view of the demolished building. It had been swept 30ft or 40ft down the hill, over-turned and nearly buried. At the moment of the relief party arriving Mr Hooper wag emerging, half smothered, from near the house. The rescuers set to work franctically to recover the othor members of the family. Every second was precious, as a large quantity of water streamed down tho slip and threatened to drown nny of the entombed inmates who had escaped being crushed to death. After almost miperhuman exertions four of the five children were rescued alive, but two of them art so badly injured that their recovery is doubtful. The wall plate of tho house rested on the feet of one of them and across the stomach of the other, pinning both down, and in this position they were found more dead than alive. The search for the body of Mrs Hooper, as well as for the remaining child, was a long and anxious one. It was several hours before the lifeless body of the unfortunate weman was reached. It was buried under eight feet of debris, and the dead child was lying nenr her. The scene which ensued was heartrending. Tho resellers completed their work at about 11 o'clock. The inhabitants acted nobly throughout. It seems that Hooper and his wife heard the first sound of the slip, and each rushed to the door, the former carrying the child from the bod. Directly after, the slip struck the house, when he saw her no more. It is supposed that she went back to the bedroom to arouse the children, and while eo engaged was overwhelmed. Those who witnessed it say that the house was carried down bodily for some distance, then toppling over, and becoming buried.