THOUSANDS OF HOMES BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19254, 17 February 1926, Page 11

THOUSANDS OF HOMES BURNED.

MANY LIVES LOST IN FLAMES. HOST OF DESTITUTE REFUGEES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. (Received 11.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 16. The latest reports to hand from the districts where the bush fires are raging state that the dead are known to number 32. The figures are as follows: —Powelltown and Gilderoy, including four missing and believed to be dead, 16. Big Pat's Creek, six. Neerim East, four. Nayook, two. Erica, one. Glengarry, one. Bunyip, one. Fumina South, one. The total is expected to be greatly increased when the search parties have been able to explore the smouldering regions. Survivors tell harrowing stories. Mr. George Worley, at whose mill at Powelltown 14 persons lost their lives, stated that the fire went through his house, which was at the rear of the mill, and reached the latter, which was in the hills. Late in the afternoon he could see nothing for the smoke. He entertained grave fears for the safety of the hands at the mill, but considered that if they had remained at the mill, which was in the open, they would have been safe. This is what they failed to do. Panic-stricken Millhamds Trapped in Bush. Theire were 20 persons living in the vicinity of the mill, and all but six of them perished. Two others were badly scorched. There were two large holes in a creek near the mill> which could have sheltered the party, but they became panic-stricken at the advance of the terrible wall of fire and fled into the bush among the thick scrub, where they were trapped. Four persons remained in the logging yard of the mill and were saved. Two others, after trying fco reach a clearing a mile and a-half away, turned back and struggled to a place of safety. Another survivor at Gilderoy said the fire began some miles away from that township, and a great cloud of yellow smoke was seen approaching. Suddenly the fire broke out about half a mile from his house. Soon the whole hillside was ablaze. The women and children were sent across the creek. Soon afterwards a gale began to blow, and the fire raged with intensified fury. Refugees from the Noojee area are still pouring into Warragul. It is estimated that thousands of homes throughout Gippsland, apart from the demolition of Noojee township, have been destroyed. Bain is now hoped for as the wind is blowing from the south. Dreadful Scenes Witnessed at Noojee. When some women and children were placed in a river and were wrapped in wet blankets the heat was so intense that the blankets quickly dried. Relays of men had to. keep carrying other wet blankets to them. Every inch of available space in Gilderoy is occupied by refugees. In the midst of the holocaust a horse dragging a blazing cart dashed through the main street of the township. The cart belonged to the local butcher, who had loaded it with all his money and valuables. /Half the inhabitants of Noojee are Buffering from temporary blindness. Little children suffering from horrible burns are being attended by women whose heads are swathed in bandages. After the fire struck Noojee, fanned by a 70. miles an hour gale, every house was alight in half an hour. The inhabitants rushed to the hotel, the only brick building in the place. One of the survivors describes the scene. He says: "We were waiting for the end. We prayed for a miracle that would save us. It came. It was a sudden calm at midnight, and then a change of wind. "After a terrible night relief motor-cars came through, the men iaving worked all night cutting a way through the burning logs." The State Government is sitting, considering means for relieving the sufferers. The railways have arranged to carry free all parcels of clothing for settlers, and a number of city firms have already commenced to canvass for clothing. Owing to this destruction of bridges it will probably be several months before the trains are again running normally. The Premier, Mr. J. Allan, has received a telegram from Mr J. T. Lang, Premier of New South Wales, conveying his sympathy and stating that his Government will be pleased to render any assistance, financial or otherwise, that may be necessary. Many Aqts of Heroism Performed. At a late hour to-night it wais reported" "that 20 bodies had been recovered at Warburton, and that only two persons were missing there. A party of 40 men, who had been searching for bodies in the Gilderoy district reached Warburton after cutting their way through burning timber for over three miles. The bodies which had been found were placed on stretchers, and the dismal procession, headed by expert axemen, cut a way through the blazing bush. At Powelltown the bodies of two women were found lying across the bodies of two children. They had apparently died in a forlorn fifcdravour to protect the little ones. At the same place a girl lay on top of two infant sisters, and although they were badly burned all three were saved. Many similar heroio acts are reported. At the Fumina South post office the postmaster, Mr. Mitchell, and his wife left home to seek safety. Mrs. Mitchell withdrew her hand from that of hef husband and returned to her home. As she opened the door the flames overtook her and she was burned to death. Many relief funds have already been started. Melbourne citizens are opening their homes to the homeless victims.

.Owing to the interruption of the timber supply for fruit cases, the growers are faced with difficulty in getting their produce to the citv and much lo3s -will probably ensue.