VICTORIAN HOLOCAUST

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 9

VICTORIAN HOLOCAUST

TRAGIC DEATH ROLL TOWNS WIPED OFF MAP The most appalling page in the book of Victoria's and .Australia's history was written tins week, when 'clisas trous bush (ires raged unchecked through the Gippsland district, razing towns, .cutting off and burning firelighters, incinerating stock, and destroying communication of all kinds (writes the Sydney correspondent of the Auckland ' Star,’ under date February 19). So far the death-roll has been placed tentatively at thirty-two, while it is admitted that as many more are missing, and thoir late may not bo known for weeks, perhaps never. The roaring bush fire responsible for this widespread holocaust has been burning, intermittently, since December. Beaten hack in isolated instances, it remained for a period of excessively hot weather to dry all the country, and for a high wind to fan tho dying liames into greater fury. Then, on a front miles wide, tho devastating dames swept backwards and forwards through Gipspland, the vagaries of tho wind, which never abated, decreeing where the lire would turn. From Warburton, forty-five miles east of Melbourne, came a story of terrible privations, telling of bouse after douse going under like matchwood. Harry King and Arthur Walker, two of a party of eighteen that took refuge in a sawmill at Gildoroy, were tho tale-bearers. For those two alono of the party have turned up to toll tho awful story. Of the others, twelve were burnt to death, and four are missing still. In brief, this was the burden of their tale;—

“ After a desperate, losing fight to keep the flames away from the township, eighteen of us took refuge in the sawmill. Flames came across, however, caught the building, and spread with such rapidity that the refugees barely had time to got out before the wails collapsed. Outside we found ourselves walled in by flames. Blazing trees were• on all sides, and the flames crept nearer and nearer. The creek was tho only place of safety. But everyone was forced tp retreat after tho first attempt to break through the inferno.” “ J made another dash,” said Walker, “ and I got through to tho creek, though it seemed hours before I did so. Then I saw King. Ho had done the same. “We lay in the water, burnt from head to foot. Wo wondered about the others. There was a woman and two children amongst them, and they would have bad no chance of escape. Wo waited there for hours, and when the fire had abated somewhat we went back. All we could find was ashes.

“All night we rested, foodloss, and agonised by our burns. Then at daybreak wo started on <i two-mile walk to tho nearest house left standing, haunted by the memories of those we had been forced to leave to die. Later, twelve bodies were found. Of the others, nothing has been since heard of, and it is presumed that their bodies too, were consumed by the flames.” The town of Noojoe had been wiped right off tho map of Victoria by the fire, which swept across the town and left nothing but a trail of ashes. All the male population, realising too late what had happened, worked all through one night in a determined, desperate effort to save the township and their homes. They ’night just as well have spared themselves the gruelling effort, for they had no earthly chance of checking tho flames. Firebreaks 100yds wide were leaped by the onrushing fire, and the sparks, carried high ,by the wind, started fires behind tho fighters. They ra;ed back to defend their homes, but eventually had to seek refuge in tho creeks, where they watched everything in sight destroyed. Special relief trains attempted to get through to the razed township from Warragul, but the flames had passed right along the lines and destroyed five high trestle bridges. It was estimated that 2,000 were homeless in the Noojec district, and special trains were later despatched from Melbourne with food and clothing, the crew having instructions to get through somehow. An old man named Fisk was burned to death at Erica while attempting to escape from tho fire. He had come from Yea to see his son, rnd went to a mill nearby. Tho flames caught him, and although ho tried to climb inside a boiler the fire overcame him. While helping to fight against tho blaze at Powolltown, Ernest Bull, president of tho Victorian branch of the Telegraph Union, collapsed and died. Jim Lang, at Traralgon, dropped dead from heat apoplexy, heart, failure, and over-exertion while in tho forefront of the battle.

In tho ruins of a cottage, at Ncerim East, just outside Noojeo, were found the charred remains of a man. a woman, and two children. They were Peter Olsen (60), Clara, Olson (481, Frederick (14), and Thomas (7). Only one of the family, Leslie, who stayed in the creek nil night, was saved. When the fire reached the town young Olsen rushed out to his home, with the flames racing along behind him. He reached home at tho sanlo time < as the flames, and he remembers nothing more, excepting that hy some means ho got into the creek. Crawling out in the morning, ho called for his mother and father. They did not answer, and later ih the morning !m was found wandering about the district hy a search partv. i'llr„ DOG SURVIVED. Mrs Oisen was ton net just outside tho door, her second son ciaspea to uer breast and mo eldest son iiiong-nuc her in a position chat would inmcate his last eiiorts to protect ms mouici from the flames, winch must have caught them as they were mailing a desperate clash for the sanctuary ol the creek. Tho body of the lather was found inside what had been ttio cottage. Doubtless he was in the act of collecting a few of his moat valuable belongings when he, too, was overcome. The property presented a gruesome sight to the rescue party. Pigs ami lowls, roasted alive, were till round the place. There was one living animal, Olson’s dog, his hair scorched, crawled from the water tank when the, party arrived, and srood guard over his 'master’s body, refusing to allow anyone near it. Escaping from the flames with a mini her of others on a motor truck along the Seville road, near Wooriyallock, Sydney Leeman was badly burned. A huge flame shot across his face, and lie fell face downwards on the road. The truck continued on its way through the flames—it meant death to all the others to turn hack. Blinded by heat and smoke. Leeman stumbled across n burning log, and was fortunate enough to stagger into the arms of two fire-fin'll tor®, who rescued him. Arthur William Buchanan, fire-fight-ing in tho Noojee district, twelve miles from his home, started off across country to get home and see how his family had fared. Ho was crossing some country through which tho fire had already passed when the wind changed snddenlv, bringing the flames back on him. With difficulty he reached the river, and, though on the point of exhaustion. kept on. Once he tripped and fell into the glowing asflies of what had been a large tree. Ho had barely enough strength to draw himself out, suffering awful burns about the hands and legs. Eventually he reached Noojee. to find that his wife and family had been saved. HALF OF THEM BLINDED.

Terrible stories of sufferings and, privations arc still coining in from the Noojee district, refugees arriving in

Wnrragni in all manner of vehicles at all hours of tho day and night. When the rest of tho township was blazing hundreds of women and children were rushed to the railway station. But when this, too, caught fire they were all taken to the hotel, the only brick building in the district. Here most of them were housed until the worst was over. The remainder of the women were placed under the bridge over the river, with wet blankets thrown over them to 'protect them. But, so great was the heat that tho blankets quickly dried, and began to smoulder, and a line of men was kept busy taking fresh blankets to them whenever tho flames would allow of their passage. Half of the men and women of Noojee are temporarily blinded. Children, suffering from horrible burns, their faces cracked and dry, and their lips scorched, are being attended by women whose heads are swatehed iii bandages. Many stories of remarkable heroism, too numerous to mention individually, have come from tho afflicted areas. One girl lay across the bodies of her infant sisters until the fire had passed. They were all saved, though the elder girl was frightfully burned.

This is a typical story. In another of the worst-threatened parls. a man stood in a creek turning his children and other refugees over and over in tho water to prevent them catching fire, lie died from exhaustion. RELIEF MEASURER.

Many funds have been started for relief "of the distressed, which must follow such extensive fires. Relief trains have been despatched everywhere to afford immediate assistance, and tho Federal Government is considering various schemes for the rehabilitation of the families left homeless. Large sums are pouring into the funds, and many Melbourne homes have been thrown open to refugees, thousands of whom are housed in the city now. _ Other States have offered whatever assistance may be found to be needed