CABLE NEWS. THE BUSH FIRES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9002, 26 January 1906, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

THE BUSH FIRES.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT.]

"MOST TERRIBLE OUTBREAK OF ALL." APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE. THRILLING EXPERIENCES. CATTLE DROPPING DEAD. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received January 26, 1.16 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 25. Old resident in South Gippsland who have had- many experiences of bush fires describe the present outbreak as ,tne most terrible; that they have ever witnessed. While not as widespread as the great one of 1898, or as destructive of property, it transcends all others in the appalling Ices of life, and in the awful swiftness with, which it 6wept over the country. It rushed over the farms and clearings in an avalanche of fire, flames shooting 150 feet in the air. It licked up forests of giant trees, and dense scrub, like magic. It was only a provident change of wind that 6aved the township of Clemson. The President of a Shire Council had a thrilling experience, and it is typical of many others. He was working some distance from his house when he saw a- wall of fire bearing down on him. He rushed home, but the flames had hold of the homestead, almost before the inmates could get out. Eight took refuge in a galvanised tank, and with the aid of wet blankfte managed to survive the fiery ordeal. Stock are dropping dead with the intense heat. AN HEROIC ITALIAN. 33 FAMILIES HOMELESS. FIRE STILL RAGING. (Received January 26, 9.37 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 26. .' The saving of detason's family . was largely, due ■to the heroism of Clavarino, an Italian, who, when the house contiguous to. the tank took fire, repeatedly extinguished the flames, although at each effort his own clothes were ignited. The heat became bo intense that the women became hysterical, and had to be forcibly Teetrained from running straight into the flames. • The fire is still burning in the valley of the Little Franklin. In one instance a whole family were saved through! taking refuge in a well. Thirty-three families are utterly homeless. These are authenticated, but lucre must be others as it is difficult in the chaos that exists to get reliable news. The body of a man named Butler has been found. He was overcome in trying to reach a relative's residence. Around Daylesford the farmers are constructing fire breaks. It is feared that it the wind freshes the fire will come westward. A man named Lafrancom wag severely

burned and died. At Nargoon, the eucalyptus distillery was complfitely destroyed. At MortJake an army of 800 were engaged ,'all day fighting the fire. •Along roads heaps of dead stock are to be fotttjd.