Disastrous Landslips in Switzerland.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 123, 30 August 1887, Page 2

Disastrous Landslips in Switzerland.

Advices received from Zu<r give t detailed Account of tlie c.iu«li<>| l«• which viaitcd the little Swi»* ulh-,i on the afternoon of the .Ith Jul\. at l o'clock. Tho lir.-'. hod with n terrible now. \ hoiw «: iat. I on the new quay near the rail way atation w«i pr<«ipiut«si into the lake. * carr\ w itli it the greater part of the wharf. There wa- not the warning uf the impouding Undidide. hut fortunately it liapimied that u. -t of tlie occtipauta *.f the hou-e, weie away from home. The eittMna ituinesliately takeu to prevent, if;wT--ihle.b repetitu u of the'h-a»»er. They wer*. howcier.

fir*\ and thin time nix housed with mO.«t of their occupant* were subin the lake. Shortly before in dni((ht, a* tlie villagers <4v n* retiring to rest, the third and most disiuitrooß landslide took place. Five more houses were carried down into tin- lake by the crumbling away of tin* hilUide. Among them was the Hotel de Zurich, one of the largest in the town, and at the time crowded with strangers. Many were sleeping at the time, and never awoke. This list landslide completely terrorised the town, and the ifuurter overlooking the lake was immediately deserted, and a cordon of soldiers was placed around it to prevent the i*>ople from r* timing to their homes. In the morning four more houses fell. It is imposMble to describe the panic which prevailed. The number of victims is t timated at 100, which is liable to he increased rather than decreused by later advices.