REGENT FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 13

REGENT FLOODS

DAMAGE IN VICTORIA MOTORIST DROWNED HOLIDAYMAKERS MAROONED [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] MELBOURNE, April 27 Contrasting sharply with the trag bush fires' of throe months ago, terril thunderstorms and torrential rail caused heavy losses in many parts < Victoria, and marooned many l cent travellers by trains, which we halted by wash-outs and floods. At Seymour, 60 miles north of Mi bourne, where the floods-were especial severe. Mr. Kenneth Reid, aged 25, t West Footscray, Melbourne, was swe] to his death when attempting to drii his motor-car through the water of creek, which had risen above the ros level. There were three women passcnge in the car. The ear was swept like cork from the road and crashed in! the supports of the railway bridge which spans the creek. The womc clung to the bridge-work and wei rescued after harrowing experience Mr. .Reid, however, was swept away i the torrent and drowned. Washaways on Railways The flooding in the north and nortl west of the State was the worst fc 20 years. Serious wash-outs occurre on many railway lines, and 500 Eastc holiday-makers, bound for Melbourni had to return to Mildura. Others sper several hours in flood-bound train: Even the "Spirit of Progress," whic carries passengers for Sydney to tb borjder station at Albury, was delaye for five and a-quarter hours at Se;j mour. The "Spirit of Progress" and fou other trains, which were also haltet were carrying hundreds of enthusiast to the Sydney Easter race meeting, an tne delay meant that they failed -t see the running of tho Doncaste Handicap. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Manton an their five children were marooned .vhe flood waters, several feet deep, swirle round their home at South Heatheotc In a desperate efi'ort to obtain liel Mr. Manton rode a pony over a flcotle road. The pony stumbled when erossin; a creek, and Mr. Manton and th animal were swept 150 yards dow; stream. Rescue after a Struggle Mr. Manton, who could not swim grasped a tree trunk. Because of tli fierce current he was unable to draj himself to safety, but he clung to tb trunk for two hours. A party of mej attempted to rescue him with the ai< of a galvanised iron boat in charge o Mr. Harry Huggard. When a few yard from the tree the boat sank in thi strong current. Mr. Huggard, who is a strong swimmer, was carried 100 yard: down stream before he could clambei ashore. Constable P. J. Delaney thei struggled across the stream with a rope and rescued Mr. Manton. During the most terrific thunder storm ever known in St. Arnaud, 16( miles from Melbourne on the Mildun line. 460 points of rain fell in three and a-half hours. Within -SO minutes the main street of the town was completely under water, and residents with bare feet waded through the water, salvaging articles and erecting sandbag barricades in front of shops. Others formed teams to bail water from shops and homes. The flood-waters were increased by a breakaway in the bank of the town reservoir.