THE FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 35

THE FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND.

♦ . Bv Electric Telegraph. Copyright. {PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, February 15. Sir J. F. Garrick, Agent-General for Queensland, denies that thero is any intention of raising a loan on account of the losses by the floods. The Queensland Committee has cabled to Brisbane a sum of £IOOO, in aid of the sufferers by the flood. London, February 20. The Queensland RGief Fund has reached £2OOO. , * Brisbane, February 16. It is again raining heavily, and the rivers are rising. Brisbane, February 17. Among the phenomenal rainfalls recently was one of 35 inohes in 24 hours, reoorded at the;Blaokall Ranges, about 625 miles north west of Brisbane’. This is believed to be the world’s record. Heavy rain is falling at Toowoomba, and at most of the Darling Downs stations great floods are expected. Tremendous floods are anticipated in Bundaberg, 272 miles Dorth of Brisbane, and trains are in readiness to oonvey the inhabitants from North Bundaberg. Sydnev, February 17. Telegraphio communication with Brisbane la again interrupted. The Barwon and Namoi rivers are in heavy flood, and the Clarenoo Is rising with alarming rapidity. Wide stretohes of agricultural land are inundated, and many farmers are rained. A portion of Lismore e under water. Sydney, February 19. All the northern rivers are In a high state of flood. • , T , Communication with Grafton and LDmore 1b snspended. When last beard from, the water was rushing through the principal thoroughfares of the former, while the whole of Lismore was flooded to the extent of several feet. Latest intelligence from Queensland, via Bourke, reports that Toowoomba is in a fearful condition, and that tho floods have surpassed the last one. The Brisbane people are abandoning their residences and seeking high ground. Brisbane, February 20. The floods yesterday almost reached the level of the preoeding one. Heavy rain fell all Saturday, acoompanied by a terrible easterly gale. A fall of between Bin and lOin wa3 reoorded In 24 hours. A large portion of the city and suburbs is again under water. Most of the business plsoos in South Brisbane are submerged, and there is water in many of the warehouses on the north side. The town was in darkness at night. The Defence Force and the police combined to rescue life and property,. Telegraphic communication is confined to a few stations. The railway coal supply is almost exhausted. There is plenty on the south side of the river, but it is inaocessible. Most of the stations betwoon Brisbane and Maryborough report from sin to Ilia of rain. The merchants mostly took precautions against another flood, and their loss is not so heavy as before, but a large number of people who had made their houses habitable have again been driven out, and there will be much distress on this score, Several cases of drowning have been reported. The gunboat Palumah and other vessels Btranded in the Botanical Gardens a fortnight ago were floated off by yesterday’s flood, and are now safely moored. Ipswioh is again inundated, and the publio buildings are orowded with refugees. The Beenes of distress are most pitiable. The railway to Toowoomba has been washed away. Starving people at Goodna, near Brisbane, were relieved by a boatload of previsions sent from Ipswioh. The flood at Toowoomba is reported to be now subsiding. A man named Cahill was swept away, and had bis skull smashed by coming into contact with a bridge. Several large houses were washed down the stream against Sadler’s Bridge, at Ipswioh. The Eclipse Colliery is again inundated. February 20. It Is anticipated that tho bulk of the maize crop of the Clarence district will be destroyed. The country for ten miles from Grafton is an unbroken sheet of water, but no soilous casualties are reported. No further information re the floods has been reoeived from Brisbane. Sydney, February 21. The floods are reoeding at Grafton. Reports from the neighbouring dlatrlota

state that the maizs crop is noarly all destroyed. The young sugar oanes have sustained much damage. Brisbane, February 21. The flood waters aro slowly subsiding. The loss, as compared with that of a fortnight ago, is comparatively Bmall in Brisbane itself. The country between Ipswich and the city, howover, is in a terrible condition. The railway is considerably damaged, and many small bridges have been washed away. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INDOOROOPILLY BRIDGE. A special telegram to the Sydney Morning Herald describes the destruction of the above bridge With the destruction of the Victoria bridge the telegraph and telephone wires went down, so that all communication will have to be oarried on by moan 3 of boats. Seven distinct crashes wore hoard and as span aftor span collapsed the water was thrown a great height. As the bridgr fell the telegraph linos snapped with such foroo as to shatter tho insulators. Small portions of the bank at the north end of the bridge a’so fell. Od Saturday, when it was seen that tho flood was to eclipse all its predecessors, special means were taken tooombat the tremendous force of water which rushed down on the lodooroopilly railway bridge. A loaded train was placed upon the bridge, and under the direction of Mr H. C. Stanley, tho Chief Engineer of Hailways, the rollers on the top of semo of the pier oolusons, which provided for the expansion of the bridge, were blocked with steel wedges to prevent swaying. Before nightfall on Saturday it was seen that the chanoes of the bridge standing the strain upon it were hut small. The evil hour was, however, deferred until a quarter to six o’clook on Monday morniDg. At that time there was a great crash and a roar like thunder, and one of the 80ft spans of the bridge canted over down stream, and then disappeared under the seething flood. The sound of the collapse was heard distinctly nearly a mile from the sits of the bridge, and very soon nearly all the residents of the locality were on the spot. Not only was the 80ft gap noticeable, but it was seen that one of the piers, 160 ft from the Chelmer side of the river, had gone. The great span of 100 ft, with its arched back, was cut of line, being forced down stream, and with tho southern end left without the support of the pier there was an oscillation of fully 181 n. Up to 1 p.m. the remainder of the bridge stood, bnt the spans which had boon left were assailed by a mighty rush of water far beyond anything anticipated when the structure was designed. Right up almost to the level of the floor the waters dashed, coming with a cross sweep from the south side. Occasionally down the stream would come a large log, a wrecked building or other floating mass, and be hurled with terrible foroe against tho girders. From the columns of the piers the yellow water recoiled and reared, roaring and showering its spray over the side rails of the doomed structure. Finally the ends of the girders were caught by the flood and swept downwards, and at 1 p.m. the unsupported end of the 160 ft span, with its beautifully de. signed aroh, was seen to move gradually down the stream. It had gone a few feet only when there was a mighty report ; the span quivered for a moment In midstream, and then fell over and down in the surging water. Mr Stanley seemed to feel the loss very muoh, as one of the monuments of his work bad gone. FOUR MEMBERS OF A FAMILY DROWNED. A THRILLING EXPERIENCE. UP IN A TREE FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. One of the saddest calamities in connection with the flood is the drowning case of the Jackson family, which occurred at Blaokwall. The Toowoomba Chronicle gives the following graphic account: The residence of Mr Peter Jaokson, the well known engine-driver, is situated on the bank of the Brisbane River, at Blaokwall, about five miles distant from Ipswioh, and the bank is a steep one. From Miss Jaokson and Mr George Siemon, a brother-in-law of Miss Jackson’s,our reporter learned that on Friday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, Mr Peter Jaokeon left home for his work. Some time after Mr Jackson had left home the enoroaehlng element rapidly advanced to the house, and so dangerous was the position at day dawn on Saturday that Miss Katie Jaokßon and Mr John Rowe (a labourer on the farm) urged Mrs Jaokson to quit the house and seek safety on the hill, but Mrs Jackson, never dreaming that the water was going to attain the height it did, lingered on until exit became compulsory. Having a boat near by, Mrs Jackson, with Miss Katie Jackson (18 years of age), a son, Harry (nine years of age), and two other daughters, Elizabeth Beatrice and Ada (aged seven years and five years respectively), left in it for the shore (the house then being completely surrounded), whilst Miss Mary Jaokson (the eldest daughter) and Mr Rowe (a labourer) remained in the house, it being arranged that the young woman, Katie, should return for them, she being a good rower and a splendid swimmer, while her mother steered the boat to the shore. Unhappily, when within a few feet of the bank, the craft struck against a woody projection and oapsized, depositing the occupants in the water. The mother and the daughter Beatrice struck out for trees, and succeeded in leaching thorn, and were subsequently rescued. On the boat upsetting the three children clung to Miss Katie, and screams from them, which were heard plainly by those left in the house, are said to have been most heartrending. The four must have gono under together, and it is doubtful now if tho bodies will ever be recovered. About 8 o’clock, two hours aftor tho boat had left the house, the water was getting so high in the domicile that matters began to look very blaok for those within, and, after oon<

sultation, it was agreed that tho roof of tho house must be reached somehow. Accordingly Mr Rowe secured a rope, and from oue window threw it across the house. Miss Jackson oaught it at a window on the opposito side, and held it while the former climbed on to the roof, on reaching which ho In his turn held the rope fast while hla companion gained the roof Here, it was hoped, they wouid be safe until the rescue party could get to them, but, unfortunately, this was not to be. Messrs H. Hills, G. Graham and another man named Webb made desperate efforts to reach those on the roof, but the current was running with such t9rrifio force that it was utterly Impossible to do so, As far as oould be judged, within an hour and a half after reaching the roof the building was lifted off Its supports and getting into the stream was carried at a fearful speed down the river for between two and three miles, when it crashed against a tree and broke into hundreds of pleoes, tho noise being like the report of a gun. Miss Jaokson and Rowe, by a supremo effort, succeeded in reaching the tree aud clambered up to a couple of forks some four feet or five feet above the rushing water. The position was a somewhat uncomfortable one, Miss Jackson being unable to sit down, although her oompanlon was a little more fortunate, being located in a fork whioh admitted of his taking a seat. There was soon a big orowd of people on the bank. The house had originally been situated on this side of tho river, but, in the journey, had gone towards the opposite bank, from which the tree in which the two poor unfortunates were was not more than 30 yards. A boat having been seoured, Messrs H. Mills, G, Graham and >S. Webb went towards tho tree and threw a rope to those upon it, whioh Miss Jaokson very pluokily caught, and Immediately fastened round a limb, but the force of the stream was co terrific, that as soon as tho full length of the line had been reaohed, It snapped liko a piece of cotton. Another attempt was made by the same party, but this time the rope was not accurately dircoted, and missed its mark. Con stables Murray and Sangster then tried, and succeeded in gettiug a rope to the occupants

of the tree, but it again snapped like a piece of thread. In doing this those in the boat had to start about a mile up the river, as the ourrent was so strong. Other attempts were made,but proved no more successful than the preoeding efforts. Presently the boat in which the rescue party were struok against a tree—Constable Sangster and Sydney Webb then being tho only oocupants. The boat was immediately swamped, and Sangster caught a tree and clambered on to it, whilst Webb olung to the boat, calling to his companion to do likewise. Presently he was oarried into calm water and succeeded In gaining the bank. Constable Sangster’s perch was bub a slender one, and was swayed to and fro so much by the current that it threatened every minute to give way. Many attempts were made to resoue him by those from the bank, but proved futile. About 6 o’clock the limb on whioh he was looated broke, and he sank quickly below the surfaoe, before the eyes of dozens of persons on the bank, who were powerless to save him. With the objaot of keeping up the spirits of the man and woman in their perilous position, an immense fire was kindled on this side of the stream, and was kept going all night by Messrs R. N. and J. Summerville and G. Holt. About midnight, Constable Murray, from the opposite bank, ‘ oooeyed ’ to those on the tree, and receiving a response, he immediately lighted a fire there also, and kopt It going till morning, calling out, at intervals, enoouraglng words. It might be mentioned that Miss Jaokson and Rowe had, before dark, lashed themselves to the tree with the rope they had oaught from the rescue boats earlier in the day. On Sunday morning a large beat, belonging to Messrs Hancock Brothers, brought by Mr F. A. Kingston in Mr G. Ware’s oart, arrived on the scene, and, af .or having bored a hole through near the top of the Stem, through which the rope waß passed, so that when it was thrown round the tree, instead of going under the boat woul-l be raised, it was manned by Messrs John Jeffrey, G. Brosnan, F. A. Kingston, and G. Graham. Having crossed the river, A rope was made fast to a tree on the bank

somo distance above the tree which was tho object of all those endeavours. Tho rope was then lot out by those in the boat as they proceeded down the stream, and after a while the occupants succeeded by oooircling the tree with a rope in getting underneath Miss Jackson and Mr Rowe, who were then some 16 feet above the boat, tho waters iu the meantime having fallen some 14 feet. The boat was also held fast by the rope which MrG. Harris had some time previously thrown over the tree. Miss Jaokson, as well as she could, lowered herself by means of the rope with whioh she had been lashed to the tree, and was oaught as she dropped by Mr Rroßnan, and placed safely in the boat. M? Rowe then let himself down similarly, and was ass-iated to the boat by Mr Brosnan. He and Miss Jackson were than taken to the bank, and provided with dry clothing and refreshments. The feet and logs of tho two, more especially those of the plucky girl, were in a terrible state from exposure, and they could only walk with assistance. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, February 16 The directors of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company forward on Monday a bale of blankets and hosiery for distribution among the sufferers by the late flood. Auckland, February 16. A telegram has been received from the Premier stating that the resolution carried at the meeting in Auckland asking that a sum of money from the oolonial revenue should be devoted to the Queensland relief fund, will receive the attention of tho Government as soon as possible. Auckland, February 17. Subscriptions for the Queensland Disaster Fund now amount to over £IO3O. The Auckland Trotting Club contributed twenty guineas this afternoon to the funds. Auckland, February 20. The Queensland Floods Relief Committee decided to-day to send a further sum of £650 to the suflerers in Brisbane, per the Bank of New Zealand, making £IOOO so far forwarded. The Queensland relief fund now amounts to over £llOO.

Nelson, February 16. The Oddfellows’ and Foresters’ Committee to-night voted ten guineas out of the profits of the Nelson oarnival for the sufferers by the Queensland disaster. Invercargill, February 17. A meeting was held in the Municipal offioes to night to take steps to organise aud canvass for subscriptions for the Queensland flood sufferers. Over £SO was sent in and subscribed in the room, and district canvassers were appointed. The Hon Mr Ward sent five guineas, and Wards' Farmers' Association ten guineas. CHRisrcHURCH, February 17. A meeting of oitizens convened by the Mayor to consider the best plan of affording relief to the sufferers In Queensland was not largely attended, but many offers of valuable assistance were made by leading men and clergymen, On the motion of Mr E. S. Harley, President of the Chamber of Commero», seconded by the Mayor of St Albans, it was resolved to request the Mayor to open a subscription in money or kind for the Queensland Relief Fund. An exeoutive committee was formed, consisting of the Mayors of all the suburban boroughs, ohairmen of various looal bodies, ohief officers of various friendly societies, together with the oity and suburban councillors, to canvass the district thoroughly. Tho executive was requested to arrange with the ohurohes for one Sunday to be set apart as ' Brisbane Sunday,’ whan all the oolieotlocs are to be devoted to tho fund. The exeoutive are requested to forward consignments of food, clothing and money as fast as they come in. Mr E. Sandford, M.H.R., suggested a ‘Brisbani Saturday’ with collection boxes in Cathedral square and all public resorts. The executive are requested to oarry this out. At a meeting of Orangemen a subscription was opened and £SO was ordered to be cabled direct to Brisbane to-morrow morning, more to follow from country lodges, Dunedin, February 17. The meeting in reference to the Queensland floods was largely attended. The principal speech was one by Mr Larkin, formerly editor of the Brisbane Courier, who gave a graphio Aooount of the devastation,

The Mayor acknowledged the receipt of subscriptions amounting to £llO, exclusive of £SO sent direct to Brisbane by Messrs Reid and Gray. At the meeting £l2O was subscribed. The Queensland Floods Relief Fund Com* mitteo resolved this afternoon to send produce of tho value of £250 by theHauroto to-morrow. Auckland, February 17The Catholio Bishop of Auckland, Dr Luok, intends to have collections in the churches of his diooese for the Queensland Relief Fund. The fund collected in tbs oity up to the present time amounts to about £SSO. Greymouth, February 17At a publio meeting to night, called by the Mayor to organiie relief for the Queensland sufferers, collectors were appointed for the different wards to make a house to houco canvass for the fund. A subscription was started iu the room. The Mayor headed tho list with five guineas, and a considerable sum was oolleotod. Collections will ba taken up to-morrow. Palmerston North, February 17. The Hon Mr Soddon received to day the following wire from Mr James Mills, Dunedin : — l l have oommunioated with tho U.B.S. Co. and Howard Smith & Son, who trade from Sydney to Brisbane and they have kindly offered to convey free of oharge from Sydney to Brisbane any gifts of food supplies sent from Now Zealand.’ Gisborne, February 17. £6O has been collected In Gisborne and cabled to-day to Brisbane. New Plymouth, February 17. A meeting convened by tho Mayor was held last night to organise a committee for relieving the distress eausod by the Queens, land floods. Subscription lists wore opened and canvassers appointed. Oamaru, February 20. At a meeting of the Brisbane Relief Committee to-day it was stated that £222 was oollected, with more lists to come in. It was decided to cable £175 at once. Napier, February 20. At a publio meeting to night a strong committee was formed to canvass the town for subscriptions in aid of the Queensland sufferers. The City Band will give a concert, and a collection is to be taken In all the churches. There was a discussion as to a suggestion that produce should be bought and shipped, but the general feeling was that the Queensland Committee should b 8 left to purchase what was required, and it was deoided to send produce and money as given. At the meeting of the City Council laefc week the Publio Works Committee recommended :—'That the Wellington City Brass Band be informed, in roply to their application, that the council cannot give permission for a oharge to be made for admission to the Basin Reserve on Sunday.’ Councillor Harris moved as an amendment that the band should be granted permission to make a oharge of Is on Sunday next for admission to the Reserve, as the object of the concert waß to provide fundß for the relief of the sufferers by the Queensland floods. He did not think, he Baid, that any of the citizens of Wellington who wonted to visit the Basin Reserve on Sunday wouid object to pay Is when tho prooeeds would go in aid of suoh a worthy object. No doubt they had resolved in the past that no charges should be allowed, but every case must bo considered on Its merits, and this was a case which required speoial consideration, Tho amendment was seconded by Councillor Parsons. Councillor Petheriok thought they had not the power to pass suoh a resolution, but was told by the chairman (Councillor Smith) that he could vote against it if he liked. Councillor Vogel thought they might authorise the baud to make a collection. A subscriptionlist was being opened, and he thought it should be left to people to give exactly what thoy pleased. Ample funds would be obtained by subscriptions in the ordinary way, and he did not think it was a good thing that the Reserve should be olosed. Councillor Harcourt supported the amendment, remarking that he did not think there were any poor people in Wellington who would not willingly stay outside the Resorvo on Sunday if they oould not afford Is for entrance, aud he was quite sure there were very few, however poor, who would not find Is to assist their poor brethren in Queensland. Ultimately the amendment was lost by 6 to 4, and the original recommendation was adopted. The Town Clerk bogs to acknowledge the following subscriptions received in aid of the suffererß by the floods in Queensland Messrs Levin and Co., £2l ; employes of tho Wellington City Tramway Co., £l2 14s ; Mr James E. Fitzgerald, £5 ; 'An Australian,’ £5 ; W, SheridaD, Carterton, £L Is; Mr G. F. Smith, £1 Is; Councillor J. Smith, £1 Is ; Mr J. G. Pascoe, 10a ; Employes Corporation yards, £l4 15j 6d; Thompson Bros, and Co., £2 2s; C. T. BatkiQ, £1 Is ; Captain Rosa, £1; W. Bridson, 10a; Judge Richmond, £5; W. Cable and Co., £3 3s; M. Lawson, £1 11s 6d ; Mrs Kebbell, £11; H. F. Royle, £1 Is; W. Hong Kew, £1 Is; Kirkoaldie and Stains, £10; ‘Havelock,’ Hawke's Bay, 10s ; Employes Kitchen and Sons, £3; J.G.A., £1; E. Wilson, £1 Is; L. L. Harris, £1 Is; H. J. H. Blow, £1 Is ; D. Anderson, £5; D. Walsh, 10s; Mrs Walsh, 10s; Elsie Joseph, 2s. The eum of £8 Is was realised from the ieoture given at the Opera House last week by Mrs A. M. Lougshore-Potts, M.D., being 20 per cent on the total takings, which was paid into the Queensland Relief Fund next day by Mr G. Coulson, treasurer of the Opera House Fund. This makes a total of £lO 7a 3d reaped from this source. In reply to the Hou the Minister for Publio Works, the Railway Commissioners and the Manawatu Railway Company have intimated their willingness to oonvey goods for the relief of the Queensland sufferers, freo of charge. The Wanganui people have relinquished tho idea of sending a barquentine loaded with produce to Brisbane for the benefit of the sufferers by tho flood. A subscription list has been, however, started, and the appeal is being liberally responded to. The Star says that shilling subscription*

are being received in a bucket by Beveral of the Masterton hotelkeopera in aid of the sufferers by the Queensland flood. Japp’s Private Band gave a pei'fornsauoo on the Queen's wharf on Saturday in aid of the suff-trers by the floods, and the sum of £3 10a was collected. J?he Presbyterian General Assembly passed the following resolution at Monday night’s sitting ‘This Assembly having heard of the disastrous floods in Queensland des ; re to express their sympathy with the sufferers and bereaved, and pray that the Supreme Disposer of all events may overrule this terrible oalamity for good, and it expresses ths hope that a generous response will be given by all our people to the appeals being made for contributions in aid of the Buffers.'

Messrs Riohier, Nannestad and Co., millers, of Palmerston North, aro forwarding two tons of roller flour to Brisbane, for the benefit of the sufferers by the Hood.