A CLOUD-BURST

Evening Star, Issue 17367, 1 June 1920, Page 7

A CLOUD-BURST

DISASTER IN LINCOLNSHIRE. Preas Association —Lry Telegraph—Copyrighi. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 31. The cloud-burst occurred on the hills a few miles distant from Louth, a pleasant Lincolnshire town lying at the " .foot of the hills on the edge of a flat, marshy plain. Most of the townspeople were driven indoors by the rain, and many were at tea. There was no warning of the disaster, as the rainfall locally was not excessive. The flood waters burst in the doors and windows of houses, and many victims were trapped on tho Ono woman escaped by climbing tho chimney. Threo children who were having tea with their mother mounted higher and higher to avoid the rising water until they were compelled to cling to a curtain pole. Then they either dropped from exhaustion or the pole collapsed, all the children being drowned. The chief police officer attended the telephone continuously for tlu-eo hours, standing in 4ft of water. The flood waters swept away bridges, houses, and walls in a few minutes. The death roll is estimated at 50. Parties are now searching the debris, but only one survivor lias been found among tho occupant* of a terrace of 12 houses destroyed. The fatalities include four firemen, who were swept away wi'h their engine.