STILL IN DINGER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 February 1927, Page 7

STILL IN DINGER

LATE EDITION

. '• , v i .•*.. y r a l ,<( n VICTORIAN TOWNSHIPS. MENACED BY BUSH FIRES. FLAMES TRAVEL FAST. SY CABLE—PE.ESB ASSOCIATION-COPY RIG d l Received 11.00 a.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, Feb. 12. Bush fires continue to sweep many miles of the country between Kinglake and Croydon, leaving a. trail of desolation and blackened ruin. It is believed that Mr. Speed, who lost -his life at Oamperdown, after taking his children to the main read, returned in an attempt to save his house and was followed back by the children. Seeing them in difficulties on account of -smoke, it was -supposed that lie tried to return with them to- the road, when all throe were- overcome by heat and -smoke and died in the flames. Speed's other three c-ihildTen escaped without injury. Mrs. Speed was absent from home -at the time. The grass in the whole district its- long, and as dry as tinder and in the -strong wind the fire rushed across country at a rate which made it impossible for the firefighters to check its advance. The best they could do was to divert, to some extent, the flames from the settlers’ homes. Scarcely a man was to be seen in the townships in the affected area.

Many feats of heroism and endurance were performed. The to'wmshipis of Queenstown and Panton Hills are -still in great danger.

RAVAGES OF SECOND FIRE. THOUSANDS O.F ACRES COVERED. DANGEROUS SITUATION CREATED Received 1.1.1 n a.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, Feb. 12. The second fire, burning on a front of several miles, and driven (by a gusty hot wind, swept through thousands of acres of scrub and grazing grounds from the kangaroo grounds over the Yarra into Wonga Park. It is estimated that nearly 1000' men are fighting the flames, which are moving towards Croydon. The damage is enormous, and unless the weather changes the holocaust of twelve months ago, when 30 people lost their lives, may be repeated.,