FLOODS IN SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12231, 28 March 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

FLOODS IN SCOTLAND.

WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION ON THE CLYDE. RIVER BANKS BROKEN DAMAGE. Exceptionally serious floods have occurred in Scotland, and enormous damage has been caused. Almost all the rivers have overflowed their banks, flooding large areas, and riverside towns have suffered considerably in their low-lying parts. The Tweed, running in high spate, bore trees and other material seawards. The Avon in Linlithgowshire rose to such an extent that the paperworks were stopped and about 100 tons of coal washed away. In Fife and elsewhere work had to be abandoned in several places awing to the pits being flooded by surfacewater, and in some cases great difficulty was experienced in rescuing the pit ponies. Several branch railways were submerged in parts, and traffic had to be diverted. There was a greater amount of water on St. Andrews links than there had been at any time during the past 30 years. A large portion of the links on either side of the Swilcan Bum was completely submerged, whilst all over the links the hollows and bunkers were full of water.

The River Carron, in Stirlingshire, rose 15ft above its normal level, and a bridge at Denny was washed away. For miles along the valley of the Avon the water extended like an inland sea. Roads and hedges were submerged in places to a depth of several feet. Some houses were quite surrounded. the current rushing round them at an alarming rate. At Galashiels the Tweed overflowed the roadway, and the local butchers had to wade knee-deep into the burgh slaughterhouses to get out their stock. The most serious flooding, however, occurred in the centre of the town, and was the cause of considerable damage to property. The Lint Burn, which at ordinary times is a tiny stream, became so swollen by the heavy rains that it brought with it large quantities of stones, sand, and other debris, which blocked the way at the Burnside Engineering Works, and turned the torrent from its regular course. About one o'clock in, the morning the torrent got completely out of bounds, and rushed into the engineering works and through the protecting fence on to the roadway. Great damage was done to the shops in the centre of the town. One shopkeeper in the Highstreet was assailed by water from the rear of his premises, and on getting out of bed to see what was the matter, went over the ankles in water on the room floor. By daylight the flood had subsided somewhat, and the water wan diverted into the dam by means of beams of wood laid across the roadway at the top of Roxburgh-street. The streets, however, presented a strange sight, being completely covered with a thick coating of red mud several inches deep, while great banks of 'stones and sand lay at various points. The flooding of the River Cart at Pollokshaws was unfortunately attended by loss of life in the forenoon. Two little boys, named James and John McCallion, were amusing themselves at the Royal George Buildings, where they resided with their mother, when both fell into the water. An attempt was made to save them, and James was rescued, but John sank and was not seen again. Perhaps the most serious flooding was that in the upper reaches of the Clyde at R,utherglen, where the swollen water, having reached to within tun inch or so of the top of the bank, burst through, and inundated the adjacent land for many miles, and to a depth in some cases of 10ft. The spectacle presented was a.n extraordinary one. As the disaster occurred without warning, it is little short of miraculous that there should have been 110 lives lost. The burst occurred at the " elbow" on the river to the east of the Farms Colliery, the waters rushing down the incline, completely inundating nine largo works, which at the time were all in full swing. The chief damage was done to the tube works of Stewart and Lloyd. First the Rivet, Bolt, and Nut Company's Works were iiooded, and the water took but a- few seconds to reach the adjoining works of Stewart and Lloyd, causing a somewhat serious explosion there, the roof of the galvanising tank being blown completely off. So suddenly were the workers here caught that there was an immediate rush from all parts of the establishment to the doors. Finding their escape blocked, they returned to the building, and ascended into the top storey to await rescue. There they were penned in until the arrival .of a rowing-boat, when they were carried from their uncomfortable position to the greater security of what still remained of dry land in the near vicinity. The cause of the explosion was water reaching a tank of molten metal. The flood was as if a tidal wave had burst over the district, water coming down m huge volumes, sweeping everything before it.

A man and boy, who attempted to cross Dalmamoek Bridge, which connects Glasgow and Rutherglen, were rescued by policemen in boats, a horse and van being carried away by the current. In all 6000 men will be temporarily thrown out of employment, and the damage to public works cannot be less than £60,000. The flooding was not confined to tlie Clyde side. In the south residential districts erf Newlands and Lang:side, Glasgow, the river Cart overflowed, and many houses were converted into islands. However, the depth of water in these districts did not exceed a few inches. Some business men setting out from the city had to walk along garden walls, and one farmer 1 was so completely cut off that lie had to utilise a hastily-constructed raft to take his family to dry land. The public works at. Pollokshaws, Glasgow, which use the River Cart for water-power, were flooded, and business suspended.

A boy of ten was drowned in the rush of waters in the northern part of Glasgow. The Kelvin overflowed, and the adjacent lauds were submerged.

The anniversary of the birth of Burns was fittingly celebrated throughout Scotland and in many parts of England and elsewhere on a ; recent Saturday by Burns Clubs, at whose gatherings "The Immortal Memory" was toasted, and speeches were made -in praise of the National Bard. In many places " Burns concerts" were also held. , The Town Council of Dumfries visited the Burns Mausoleum in St. Michael's Churchyard in the course of the day, and placed a wreath on the poet's grave. ; The horse had tangled himself in barbed wire—torn ■ fetlock—Phormicine put him right very quickly. His owner will give any testimonial wanted.W. F. Tucker's First Aid and Handy Box, 2s 6d, Swanson-street. . SULPHOLINE SKIN LOTION. , -The only effective remedy for SKIN TROUBLES. Sulpholine quickly drives away j Eruptions, Pimples, Eczema," Acne, : Black.heads, and all Disfigurements, developing a fair, spotless skin - ana beautiful complexion. I'rv,, Rulpholine lotion, the English Skin Remedy. . .j. . . r-.-: --.: