THE QUEBEC HORROR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8627, 17 October 1889, Page 3

THE QUEBEC HORROR.

VICTIMS OP THE GREAT LANDSLIP.

SCENE AND INCIDENTS OF THE

DISASTER.

SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD.

Tho San Francisco papers of September 21 give full details of the disastrous landslip which occurred at Capo Diamond, Quebec, on Septerabar 19, as reported in our cable messages at the time. Wo extract tho following from a Quebec telegram to tho San Francisco Chronicle of September 20:—

The landside was caused by the hot weather of tho past few weeks cracking the earth and rock, which were loosened and driven down by the heavy rains of tho last few days. Men of the water police, whose station is near the scene of the accident, set to work at once to rescue the imprisoned persons, while the general alarm waß sounded whioh callid oub the fire brigade and police, for with lamps and stoves breaking houses soon caught fire. The Humes were soon extinguished and tho men began the work of extricating unfortunateo from tho ruins, assisted by many of the citizens. As each of tho suiferers was rescued ho was carried into the quarters of tho water police, whose large staff of medical men was on hand, as well as a priest. They did all they could to alleviate the sufferings of the victims. All sorts of wild rumours were soon flying about the city, and conflicting reports were met with everywheie.

More rocks are falling, and it is feared that the whole boulder forming the highest point of Quebeo will soon give way.

Those who witnessed the fall of rock say that they heard a long, loud noise as of several cannon, and on looking up toward the terrace and citadel were horrified by the sight of an immense mass of stones, rock, and earth breaking loose and rushing down the declivity upon the doomed houses below. The air was immediately filled with dust so that no one could see 10ft in front of him, and was made difficult. This was followed by sounds of timber crushing and [yielding to the immense power of the avalanche and the shouting and screaming of men, women, and children in all the agony of despair.

The loss is very great. Some of the working men who are deprived of their homes lose all their furniture and other effects, and even their summer earnings. Many are left virtually penniless at the commencement of a Canadian winter.

AmoDg those buried by rocks are a young couple named Nolan, who were married a few weeks ago. Nolan could have escaped, but he lost his life in trying to get his wife out of the house.

While the workers were busy "clearing away tho debris of orumbled buildings faint groans were heard at intervals from under the piles of rock. The efforts of volunteers were concentrated to that point, and after three hours' hard work the bleeding body of Joe Kemp was extracted from a mass of rock. The poor man is in a most pitiable condition. Both legs are broken at tho knees, the left arm is fractured above tho elbow, and several ribs aie broken. He cannot live many hours. Two hours later bis wife's body was taken out of the wreck. Her head was almost severed from her body.

Farther away thero was another hideous spectacle, the corpse of a young woman, Mrs Lauson, who had been admired in life for her beauty. Her body had been crushed almost flat. Shortly after viewing her remains her husband became a raving maniac, and it is doubtful if he will recover his reason.

A man named Michael Bradley, who had gone almost crazy when told that all his family perished iv the landslide, discovered, while working over tho wreck of his house, his five-year-old daughter still alive, and his joy was indescribable. It is thought that the child will live. Up to this time the number of corpses found is 25, and the number of wounded 18.

The members of the Black family were buried alive 12ft below the surface of tho debris. On being asked if they were safe, Mrs Black answered: "My husband is killed at the door. The rest are safe, but we are suffering from wounds and bruises on our limbs." Shortly after Miss May Caldwell, a niece of Black, was extricated from Black's house. Her limbs were so stiff from inaction that the least touch caused excruciating pains. The next person taken out was Thomas Berrigan, whose wife was taken out of the ruins dead. He was so disfigured his friends could hardly recognise him. The next to follow was an eight-year-old boy, also named Berrigan. His left" leg was crushed to a jelly. Then came Mrs Black. Her bosom, neck, and face are dreadfully swollen.

Thousands crowded into tho morgue, and occupied every point inside and outside the building where a glimpse could be had of the bodies of the victims. ' Many women who obtained entrance had to be removed in a fainting condition, the mangled bodies being a sight to try the nerves'of the strongest men.

The shipping office in the Dominion Government building has been turned into a temporary morgue, and 20 bodies are lying in it. It is difficult to identify some, so much have they been disfigured and crushed. Several persons who were reported missing have turned up, but it is thought there will be 10 or more victims to be added to the list.

, The sight of the landslide is almost identical with that of one which occurred in 1841, when eight buildings were crushed and 32 persons killed. The mass of earth and rocks moved, roughly speaking, is about 600f c frontage by 80ft in depth. Some of tho masses of fallen rock weigh nearly 20 ton 3. The names of the dead so far recovered are:— Charles Pois, Mr and Mrs Thomas Allen, James Edwards, L. Edwards, Alphonse Tredeau, H. Wright, Napoleon Truteau, 0. S. Neville, Thomas Farrell and three Farrell children, two children named Burke, one child named Bradley, a child of P. Fitzgerald, Mrs Bracken, Mrs Stephen Burke, Henry Black, William Black, Thomas Nolan, Mrs Eeady.

„ Among the wounded are—Mr'and Mrs Cari6OU, J. O'Neill, Mrs Luke Kerwin and child, Thomas Berriugton, James Hayden, William Stevens and son, Nelly Dehry, Patrick Fitzgerald, Martin Ready, three children named Maybury, Stephen Burke and his mother, Mrs Fitzgerald, Thomas Graham, William Power, wife and child, Mrs Thomas Farrell,

AmoDg those still supposed to be beneath the ruins are—Charles Allen and wife, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Henry, Richard Maybury and wife, Mrs R. JLawson, R. Kemp and family, Michael B. Leahy and a number of children.

A special from Quebec to a Boston psper says:—" It is known that at least 200 dead bodies still remain under the pile of debris."