THE BOURKE FLOODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8793, 1 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

(Fiiom Ouu Own Ooiikkhi-ondknt.)

;- Wur.nounNK, April 22. " " Telemachus," of tho Argus, who has gono V to Bourko to describe the mtuation there, I'liabluK 0 us to realise tho singular condition of things j which now exists in that inland town, round i. and about aud through which a mighty river at ' least 20 miles wide ia now (lowing, with every 1 prospect of continuing to (low for weeks. I r explained last week how the rivers which run f hundreds, almost thousands of miles, into the f interior worn pouring their Hoods on to the Itivuriun plains, how the Buucke townspeople had warnings for some weeks beforehand ; and how they had set to work, partly with Government aid, to wall in tfu.ir town with n vnst embankment, Home four miles in leugtb. " Telomachus," when he reached Bourko lust Thursday night, could not get nearer tho town by rail than about seven miles, and had to do the rest of the ' journey on a trolly. This is his description of 1 tho journey:—" Tho water h all around—a , great smooth, shining sea, dotted with clumps iof buehee. Tho sun is rj^hfc down, and the course h due north. All to tho left m orange tawoy sky and foliage, and water, everything reflected and still. AH to the right is deepest indigo, everything s&ill also—a weird effect. Overhead fly tens of thousands of great dragon (lies, and tens of millions of gnats, and 011 and on through tho weird water we plough our tedious way. It seems harmless enough for a. while, but then we coma to a broad underway left in the embankment, aud to and through aud away from that flows a torrent from five to eight feet deep. Another aud another of these, in all at least half a mile of thorn, of water flowing eight milos an hour, and on an average 7ft deep. They J would bu a mighty river in themselves, but ] they make up but ono 'get away' for the Darling, which no-.v menaces Bourko in a dozen other places. The railway authorities have now cut away the embankment, so that tho waters may not press so heavily against it." Tho dam wall around the town was found lined with workers, navvies gathered from all parts of the colony, many from Sydney, others from Bathurst, aud so on. Tha dam is built now about 20ft broad on the base, and from 4ft to Oft wide on the top. It is sheathed on the inner side with galvanised iron, or bound with bushes. You stand on the top, and the water is there close to your feet, not 4in from the summit, and rising, always rising. You look jusb across it in the darkness, and it is liko a look across the breast of a great lake. Miles away the star 3 are refloctet), miles away it really extends. In places it is Oft deep on .the inner side of tho embankment—9ft deep and miles in breadth, and banked np right over against tho town. The average is not perhaps more than 4ft, but in places it is really 9ft, aud down in the trench below and up on tho bank above the volunteers and paid men work. All along the four miles you see them passing from gang to gang. Mr Fitzmaurico, of tho New South Wales Electrical department, has just got his dyuamo into working order, and eight arc lamps throw a brilliant light over the whole strange scene. Travellers coming iv from the Culgoa, making a very long way round, speak still of immense bodies of water coming down, and give most deplorable accounts of the losses of stock. Discounting them as liberally as possible, it seems certain that the losses will run into hundreds of thousands, and so far it U not by any means sure that the full tale has been told of tho loss of human life. Every now and then an alarm was rung out on the fire and church bells. This meant that a leak had been discovered. The water had soaked its way through the loose earth. The water for over a mile long was flowing level with the top of the bank. The alarm called all hands—tho navvies who could be spared from other parts, men from shops and houses, all the spare men of the place—to tho weak spot. The bank was soon literally swarming with men with spades, who piled earth upon earth till all was safe again.

This was no infrequent scene till on Friday afternoon about half-past 4 the embankment gave way bsyond hope of repair. The waters had risen Shin during Thursday night and went on steadily rising. " Teletnacaus " thu3 describes the disaster:—This afternoon, at about 2 o'clock, I made, with Mr Willis, SI L A., a sort of royal procession about the ramparts. The popular member was loudly cheered all along the line. Wo saw the enemy right before us leagues broad, cold, cruel, gleaming, but sl.ill there were 500 men busy, as many more resting, and 250 coming up by the afternoon train. We did not doubt that the works and the town might be saved. We returned to the hotel, where Mr Willis was again besieged by hnlf a dozen fiigbtenod women, who imagined, and only too truly, that they were about to bo swamped ont. Their cases had been disposed of, and wu were sitting quiet, peusive, and hopeful, wheu far away I fancied I heard the tolling of a bell. I was not sure, sml listened intently. In auoth'.r minute out burst the alarm of the town, and with no mistakablo sound. In another iiiiitant a horseman dashed round tha street corner, shouting " Clear out, clear out; it is ail over." Then began a scene such as is witnessed, but rarely, even in an adventurous lifetime. Women rushed out of all the litl'.e low-lying cottages, their children iv their arms, shrieking, yelling, and praying. Men rushed about rather in confusion than with any well-defined intent. " Get the women sud children to the boat" was the cry. The Sturt lay alongside tho wharf, 6ft above the level of the street, and towirds her a multitude of helpless people were hurried. Every be!l in the township rsng, and everybody seemed pauicstrickra. when sudder.Oy a shout was raised that it might not bo all lost, and there was a sudden rush towards the breach. Tarpaulin.3 and tents would be wanted, and evjry store in tho to?.'ii was instantly raided for tarpaulins, tents, bags, Mud sheets of galvauised iron. Every cart, coach, buggy, and dray was pressed into tbi'servico, and away all hurried pell-mell across the flab. Hundreds of men were returning in despair. These the advancing army charged with shouts of contempt. I, with Mr Willis and half a doz>in others, jumped into a baker's cart and galloped willy out. Wo were abreast of the breach in five minutes, and saw in an instant that the battle was hopelessly lost. Tho waters were pouring in 39ft wide and Gf t deep.. Tho breach had been made while the men were taking a brief smoke. Yet the gallant defenders were not to be daunted. Into the water dashed Mr Wadilell, the senior membar for the district, a:id staggered along, neck deep, to the bank, A hundred others followed him, carrying bags and tarpaulins, and they instantly set to work with all the energy of despair. It wa?, however, but stemming a stream with sand. Foot by foot the bank on which they stood crumbled beneath them, and though others followed on pluckily as ever, it was n forlorn hope for the rampart defending party. It was soon evident that tho dam and the town were doomed It was 20 minutes past 4 when the water broke through, and by 5 o'clock the few defenders were making their way back through the flanks of the flood, and the waters were half way across to the town. Then began another wild and unnecessary stampede. A dozen men en hot and furious horses rode wildly to and fro, quite unnecessarily, alarming the women and the children. The wall had given way abreast of a vary considerable riso oa the flat. It was immediately opposite tho hospital, and the flood for many minutes only crept townward. It was deemed well, however, to make all haste, and to stir the folks up still further. The bells were once more ringing. It was quite unnecessary, for the agony was by this time intense. Poor creatures, with their babes, were hurrying along, some carrying bags and bundles, and various odds and ends of household gear; others weeping and wailing, and deploring their most unfortunate lot. A boat load'was ready by sundown, women and children chiefly, and all, of course, crying. She cast off just as the sun set, and steamed out into mid-stream, one of those ordinary little high-decked river boats standing right above tho level of the town, and steaming very slowing against the strong stream. It was a wonderful picture, such as Australia never, perhaps, saw before. They were most of them leaving every stick they possessed behind them. They had deemed themselves lucky to escape by the skin of their teeth, and to obtain dry camping grounds till the waters should subside again. The little boat, with its full and high deck-load of figures in all imaginablo colours—blue, rod, and pink—streaming out, went away up the illimitable waters, which again began to reflect the orange of the sky, and another party mustered about the pier. About 140 houses are deserted, and will bo left with the water streaming through their doors and window.-; for mouths to come. But as it Blowly began to be understood that the waters would not come on with any sudden onslaught, the people recovered themselves, and began to make preparations for the recovery of their goods. All Friday night and Saturday the water continued to rise. Sunday morning siwa rise of 3iu during the night. The night succeeding the break was a wild one. Hundreds of men were at work endeavouring to save their property, sinking trenches, building up embankments, and driving stakes for coffer dams. The moiquitoes were thick, and they seemed almost to increase with the rising of the water. Lots of people were so determined to keep themselves from dying of sorrow, that they would not give others any opportunity of sleep. A party at s store wero drinking healths and giving cheers all night long. Alt the time coats, and doge, and cats were drowning, and bleating, aud howling. The police boat hud kept up a diligent patrol all night, aud some 14 women aud 20 children were rescued from cottages nearly filled with water. The women and children were taken by boat to North Bourke, which lies about three miles and a-half up the stream. It is high sandy ground, lightly timbered, aud ia safe against any possible rise of the waters. About 700 women and children are camped there now, and, so far, are fairly well supplied with food. The buildings of the- town are showing signs of subsidence. Tattersall's Hotel is going fast. The water ii up to thn wiudowsills of the Great Western. The Oxford, a very fine hotel, is off the plumb. The banks have bricked up their doors. Tho writer adds ihe following incidents: —" Tho baker, who has been a very vicliiit warrior all through, mounted a tall horse and rude through thu water along all the streets of the town, calling on one and all to stand to their guns, to fight it out like true Englishmen,

and never disgrace their fathers. Wo aro chiefly concerned that he shall bs ablo to atick to his oven. A child was burn ut Ihu railway station last night iv ono of tho trucks which have temporarily housed the poor refugees. No doctor was present, but all went and continues very well."

Life under canvas at North Bourko must be far from pleasant. Among its irritations will hu tliu insects. Tha mini; waters havn driven tho mosquitoes, ants, and centipedes to the high ground in millions. The centipedes have swarmed on to tho railway embankmrtit in millions aud the wheels of tho locomotives luvo almost been blocked with them.