THE WEATHER IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9340, 14 February 1896, Page 5

THE WEATHER IN AUSTRALIA.

HEAVY RAINFALL,

'AN APPALLING DISASTER.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

Pros Assertion—By Telegraph—Copyright

Sydney, February 18. Over seventy niilos of the Bourke Railway is impassable, and the flood is still rising.

Bhisbake, February 13. The flood in the river at Rockhampton is failing slowly. At Maryborough six inches of rain fell in twenty-four hours. The river is rising fast, and all the wharves and several of the streets are submerged. There are sis inches of water in the Grand Hotel. Gynipie had nine and a half inches of rain in twenty-four hours. The rivoi- is rising at the rate of fifteen inches in the hour, and encroaching on the town. Communication with Charters Tower is suspended, the railway line being under water for a long distance. It is raining heavily in Brisbane and the surrounding "district.

An appalling disaster happened this evening, owing to a quantity of the debris in the river from the flooded districts becoming impacted againsfc Victoria bridge. The authorities, recognising that the structure was thus rendered unsafe, stopped the traffic, and compelled people to use ferry boats in order to cross the river. A few minutes after 5 p.m. the steamer Pearl left the Queen's wharf for the Musgrave wharf, South Brisbane, with about IGO passengers. The flood water was running strongly, but not sufficiently to interfere with the handling of the steamer. The vessel had to drop down the stream for a short distance in order to pass between the steamer Normanby and the Government stsainer Lueindfi. While endeavouring to carry out this, the Pearl fouled the Normanby, and drifted broadside on to the anchor chain overhanging the stem of the Lncinda. The Pearl immediately turned over and, within ten seconds, disappeared from view, taking her living freight with her.

So sudden was the whole affair, that before the crowds of spectators who lined the river banks could realise that a catastrophe had happened, the river was dotted in all directions with men, women and children. Immediately, a flotilla of rowing boats put off to the rescue of the unfortunate people. Those on board the Lucinda rescued thirty-eight persons, and it is feared that the remainder of those aboard the Pearl have been drowned unless some may possibly have been picked up lower down the river.

A fireman of the steamer, who swam ashore, says he heard no screaming when the accident occurred, and thinks the vessel musb have carried the bulk of the passengers dowii with her. Owing to the excitement it is impossibles at present to ascertain the names of the victims.