BURSTING OF A CULVERT IN WEBB. STREET.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 21, 25 July 1881, Page 3

BURSTING OF A CULVERT IN WEBB. STREET.

? A HOUSE ENGULFED. OTHER PREMISES IN DANGER. The heavy rains of the last few days have resulted in serious damage being dona to property in Webb-street, and it is feared that the woret is not yet over. A culvert running under some housea in Webb-street, owned by Mr. P. Barron, collapsed from the pressure of water during the night, and this morning one five-roomed cottage, occupied by Mr and Mrs. Moir and family, sank into an enormous hole, worn by the stream, and is now standing almost end-on some 10ft below its former level. Tho story told by tho ocoupants is this : — Yesterday afternopn Mr. and Mrs. Moir heard a peculiar noise under their feet, and thought at tho time that a dog was scratching beneath the house. A little later on Mr. Moir wont out, and found a Bmall hole at the rear of the house, at the bottom of whioh ho could Bee water rushing. He concluded that a culvert had burst, and took no further notice, little dreaming that his honse was in tho slightest danger. The occupants went to bed early, and at 8 o'clock this morning, just aa they were getting np, were startled by the chimney falling to pieces with a loud orash. They had just time to rush out of the building when the scullory collapsed, and the whole building toppled end-on into an immense hole, whioh had been worn under and all round three sides of the house. It was exceedingly fortunate for the party that the crashiHg of the chimney gave them timely warning, for had they remained a few minutes longer inside the consequences would probably have been broken limbs, if j nothing more serious. As it was, they saved none of their household off eel a. The sudden I sinking of the houae Bmaßhed all tho crockery and moat of the furniture, while it is at present impossible to get at tho wearing apparel. The culvert which burst ran immediately under the house in question. It was only 2ffc 6in square — far too Bmall for the large volume of water coming down from tho hills during heavy rain. The ohasm which engulfed the residence of Mr. Moir has been gradually extending, and if the rain continvies it is feared the housea immediately behind, and one on the west side, will also sink beneath tho surface of the earth. The latter dwelling was occupied by Mr. Mann, but he wisely evacuated it in good time. It is now undermined for a few feet, and it iB impossible to enter except through tho front window. Up to 2 o'clock no effort was made to get the furniture out, and if not done before night it will in all probability be too late to make an attempt in that direction. The soil on whioh these housea stand is a rotten clay, and melts like sugar, and tho Corporation ought without delay to take every precaution to avert further damage.