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The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864-1933) (about)
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Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3666094
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BUSH FIRES IN VICTORIA.
CONTINUED SPREAD OF THE FLAM3S.
FURTHER SERIOUS DAMAGES.
(By Telegraph from Our Correspondents.)
MELBOURNE. February S.
Although the weather is now cool In Mel- bourne, Intense heat stilT prevails In many parts of the colony Inland. Bush fires have been raging on the Grampians Hills Tor over a fortnight, and the fires, after sweeping an Immense tract of country, have reached Wonwcondah station. Alarming news has also been received respecting the bush fires from Toombullup, Lima, Toorour, and Boho, near Benalla. The area affected extends over sixty miles, and a number of selections have been entirely destroyed. Should the present strong southerly winds continue for a few days the flames will be carried into the rich flats, and the results must prove disastrous. At Taraljon several settlers have lost everything except their lives.
The cool change lu the weather is to some extent disappointing, on account of not being accompanied by rain. Not only is rain wanted to cool the atmosphere and put out the bush fires, but it is needed In copious quantities to produce a growth of grass. In the districts visited by the fires there is great danger of fodder and root crops being spoiled, while the productive- ness of the dairy herds has been reduced in many instances to vanishing point Several creameries are already closed.
SYDNEY, February 7.
Bush fires are reported from different parts of the colony, but no extensive damage.has occurred so far.
GIPPSLAND BUSH FIRES.
MARVELLOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
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The Melbourne correspondent of the " S. D. Telegraph," wiring on Thursday night last, says :
Heartrending reports of suffering and ruin from bush fires comes from Warragul to- night Scores of homesteads have been razed to the ground, and families are Hock- ing alto .the township from all directions. Many are almost naked, and urribly blistered by the fierce heat and blinded by the smoke. A terrible account of suffering comet from Lardner, which adjoins South Warragul. An enormous body of flame was seen to come up to the homestead of Mr. Henderson, who has a wife and nine child- ren. The house Instantly became a prey
t-> the flam«, and Henderson imniEdia'ely ' set about to secure the safety of h.s family. Placing the children'on the horses, Hender- son and his wife led them with n'A possible speed through the bush to the residence of Mrs. Simpson, a mile away. On arrival there they had scarcely recovered from their fright when the fire bore down on them again, and both families were compelled to again advance as. the flames picked up Mrs. Simpson's homestead. Additional horses were secured, and the children placed on them, and the party fled for their lives. They made for Ho'yburtcn's homestead, half a-mile away. The smoke was suffocating, and the roar of the flames could bs heard behind th'em. When half-way several of the party sank to the ground exhausted, and while In this state, the flames came upon them with the noise of a tornado. A fear- ful scene followed. The women stripped off their skirts, and desperately fought the flames to save the children. They were dreadfully scorched and blistered, but with gieat heroism managed to get the children on the horses, and after a most terrible ex- perience they succeeded in reaching Holy burton's, more dead than alive. They had scarcely time to relate their experience when the relentless enemy closed on the homestead, and the two families, joined by Holyburton's; were'compelled to flee to Mr. Monaghan's, who also joined them. The four united families included twenty-four children, and they set out on a perilous journey for Reilly's homestead. Tbe fire here veered in its course, and passed the house, leaving the homestead safe. Reilly's home and sheds are now sheltering over thirty-five refugees. Amongs: other*, W. Hicks, J.'Alkins, Michael Walsh, Higgins, Brocks, and Box lost everything ; several of them had their dairy herds roasted to death. Michael Dwyer, formerly Mayor of Collingwood, had a trying experience. He lost everything except his home, which was saved by the heroic conduct of his daughters. At Nyora the country presents a scene of inconceivable ruin. Many resi- dent? ha,ve been rend rsd temporarily blind froni ilW smoke and heat. The wind, how- ever, has gone down, but ihe district is st'flng with smoke.
From -all directions in the Korumburra district comes news of destruction and desrlstion, and numerous instances of heroism are recorded.
A man named C. Cook, while riding in a bullock-dray, was overcome by the heat and smoke, and rolled off. He fell under th« wheels, and died from the Injuries he re-
ceived.
A visit to the various farms, taking in some twelve miles of M'Donatd's track in the Korumburra district, reveals a most heart- rending state of affairs. At Phillip Hill's farm ¡be scene of desolation baffles descrip- tion. In a one-roomed building, the only placsf saved, eighteen persons-men, women, and ch.ldren-are hudd ed, al! more or less 3mok" blind. Hill had a handsome dwell- ing, and all that his famiy has left is what they have on, and in some cases children were without boots. Four homesteads owned by Adkins and Sons were destroyed. The old people and their daughter-in-law and children sought refuge in a dam, the tere overtook them. The carcasses of roaete'i horses, cattle, sheep, ard other stock are lylnsr in all directions, and the sufferings of partly roasted animals are pitiable.
At Jumbunna a young ÎPKOW sought for his Brother, -who had gone to assist a neigh- bour in saving his house. "He went th-ough a burning house, and found his brother and the owner of th» property so overcome with heat and smoks that they had become in- sensible to all danger, and Wf>re laughing at their jeopa'dr. It was wirh g^eat dlffi ii-'t? they were g"t out. Their ¡Ives were saved, but how Car the. terror o£ the day
way have injured their minde no one can | t»l¿ Mr. Lemprler» has not been seen slues the fire reached his p-opertr, and fear» are entertained for his safety.
At the South Brisbane Police Court, yes-
terday, before Messrs. John Garsden and J. W. Hill, JJ.P., Kate M'Gill pleaded guilty to"" being drunk 'and disorderly on the Ipswich-road, and was fined £1, or one month's imprisunment. Three boys named Arthur Smith, Sydney Jones, and Harry Smith were charged with the larceny of a quantity of cakes and hop beer from the shop of Miss Tillie Eichmann, Stanley street, on the 4th instant. The boys pleaded guilty, and were each fined 5s., or twelve hours' detention. The bench fur- ther ordered the parents to flog their re- spective sons. Thomas Miller and Herbert Carter were summoned-for having at Oxley on 29th December last assaulted Constable R. W. Henderson. The defendants pleaded guilty, and were each fined £5, or one
month's Imprisonment.