CATASTROPHE IN FRANE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3897, 13 October 1880, Page 3

CATASTROPHE IN FRANE.

DqUiJa of the catastrophe at Vieui-Ports (Indrfi-el-Loire), by vrliich 24 persons lost their lives, recently, ar.d several others wore mor.o or less seriously injured, Imvjo now been reqeived. Twenty-six men unit to work at the lime kilns belonging to M (Jris, of Nantes, rand situated at the footof a hill, together with, a dwelling occupied by 11. TisMer, tho mar.nger, nnd his wifo and family. The Litter building and its appurtenances aro close to tho road, and at bouio dietary from tho kilns, which are right under tho hill, having, in fact, been established in its interior. Besides tho 2s;workn>on engaged on tho premises, three carters had entered the galleries loading to bho factory with their horses and carts to. ifctch some" limo. SuddcnJy a noise like thunder vup hoard in the neighbourhood, and ueross t lie Yionr.o, which flows by. The earth ehook, and the vibration was oven apparent i •• Ilio ivmotr^r, houses of the villugo on the other side of the rirer. Tho inhabitant*, rushing out of their houses, fivv the hill übnvo Yi'iivl'orts enveloped ir, tUiek clouds of dust. Those gradually rolled off, and then a shocking ep-cae!o pre* aentod itso'.f. Tho front portion ot tho hill for n dj§ln{icp gf fi^Qyt 100 tpctw,

and buried the dwelling-house, •factory, and J stores under an enormous m&asof rock nn(!>!' earth, which had not only Bwept away ■•em-ye j Testige of human life, but had rolled acrosU. the road and into the river. The appalling; • ruin was dominated by two orthreechimnojja, ] -which had only been partially •flestrpytd} and still sent forth their lurid liflainris.; M. Tissier was found with his head ariel feet terribly crushed. Hij son Albflijty •who was leas seriously injured, scrambled' out of a dangerous position, and, after fetching a lever, managed to release him, buMpa*. is lying in a precarious condition. ' Madame Tissier, her daughter Aglantiue, aged <££, another daughter and two eons, and a eorwjjt were all crushed to death in the house. Another child, a boy 10 years of a^e,w)i»r.^3 playing in front of the house *t the iime 1 <■£ the disaster, was carried along withi*t^o boulders into the river, and "he •matiagcH',' •with some difficulty, to «ove biirtire:?. Eleven bodies, some of them horribly buivr^d j and diafigured, have been extricated, and>Vl? others are still missing. Th. authorities •of j the district, who showe Ipm ■■ ctiyity immediately oa the alarm bei raised, Jicve opened public subscriptioi - • the relfc£ of the survivors and the wid » nnd orphans. The Government has for* a •'^•d-SOOOf/'-rpr their immediate assistance. C.mtributioß*-ire being received at all tho mairies.