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Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 152, 26 January 1906, Page 2

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Tetagraph Brns JiMMtittoa. Oopytfcht Melbourne, January 25. Old residents of South Gippsland, who have had many experiences of bush fires, describe 1 tfre present outbreak as the most terrible ever witnessed. While not as widespread as the great fire of 1898 or as destructive of property, it transcends all others in the appalling loss of life entailed and the awful swiftness with which it swept over the country. It rushed over farms and clearings in an avalanche of fire, the flames shooting 150 ft. It licked up forests of giant trees and dense scrub like magic. * : It was only a Providential change of wind that laved the township of Clemsbn. The President of thp Shire Oounoil had a thrilling experience, and it is only typical of many others. He was working some distance from his house when be saw a wall of fire bearing down on htm. He rushed home, but the flames bad hold of the homestead almost before the inmates could get oat. Ijlight of them took refuge in a galvanised iron tank, and with the aid of wet blankets they managed to survive the fiery ordeal, although their stock dropped dead around with the intenseheat.