QUEBEC ROCK SLIPS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8606, 18 October 1889, Page 2

QUEBEC ROCK SLIPS.

■■ ■■ '♦ STREETS BURIED BY AN AVALANCHE OF ROCK. SEVERAL HUNDRED KILLED. A terrible disaster occurred in Quebec on the night of the 16th of September, when several thousand tons of rock slipped from Cape Diamond, at the end of Dufferin Terrace, to Champlain streot,- 300 feet below, demolishing seven buildings. The debris covered the road in a solid mass, some 300 feet in length, and from 15 feet to 25 feet high. The landslide was caused by the hot weather of the past few weeks cracking the earth and rock, which were loosened and driven down by the heavy rains of the last few days. Those who witnessed the avalanche 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, anil 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 ten feet in front of liim, and breathing was made difficult. This was followed by sounds of timbers crashing and yielding to the immense power ot the avalanche and the shouting and screaming of men, women and children in all the agony of despair. The site of the landslide is almost identical with that of one which occurred in 1841, when eight buildings were crushed and thirty-two persons killed. The mass of earth and rooks moved, roughly speaking, is about 600 feet frontage by 80 feet in depth. Some of the masses of fallen rock weigh nearly twenty tons. Cape Diamond is a huge promontory lying along the St. Lawrence River, with bare, precipitous sides gleaming with quartz crystals, from which it takes its name. Several thousand tons of rock slid from Cape Diamond, at the end of Dufferin Terrace, to Champlain-street, 300 feet below, demolishing seven dwellings. Up to midnight six bodies had been taken from the nuns : Thomas Farrell and two of his children, also two children named Burke, and one unknown cliild. Fan-ell's mother-in-law, Mrs Allen, and her husband, are still in the ruins. About twenty-five persons have been removed from the debris badly injured. Some have broken anna and legs, and others aro badly crushed and mutilated. It is supposed that at least fifty persons are yet under the ruins. The debris covers the road in a solid mass, some 300 feet in length and from fifteen to twenty-five feet high. It ia impossible to say at present how many are dead and wounded. Everyone is working heroically and under difficulties, as the night is intensely dark and the electric light wires are prostrated. The mass of rock detached from the cliffs side left a vacant space of extraordinary dimensions under Dufferin Terrace, and that great promenade is now unsafe. Thirteen corpses and sixteen wounded have been taken out. The pecuniary damage will be large. A force of 600 men ia now working on the debris. Cries of " Help ! help 1" are heard from beneath the debris, but no help can be given. Very little progress is made in recovering the bodies, owing to tho stupendous mass of rock covonng ths ruins. Tho body of a woman named Mrs Harrison has just been pulled out of the debris. More rocks are falling, and it is feared that the whole boulder forming the highest point of Quebec will give way. The danger from fire was added to the horrors, and tho brigades turned out and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Four days after tho avalanche it was stated that at least 2UO bodies were known to still be buried by the debris. Numbers had then been interred. Some of those rescued are in a pitiable condition, owing to the very distressing injuries they had sustained. Some have been so disligured that identification is difficult. It is feared that a large part of the rock adjoining the site of tho slide will come down, as large crevicea have appeared and the rain is still falling, and it may repeat the operation which caused last night's disaster. The people moved out of tho threatened houses, and the citizens are sending in money to relieve the immediate distress among the homeless women and children.

The tipsters of the chief Melbourne papers tip the winner of the Caulfield Cup on Saturday in the horses, The Charmer, Bravo, or Manton, the New Zealunder. If the last named is himuclf again he should win.