THE FLOODS AT BOURKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6831, 19 April 1890, Page 3

THE FLOODS AT BOURKE.

* The Wildest Excitement: Heroic Fellows. Desperate Efforts* inr n.tv.iuw i KLuiiHAPn. — copyright."] [•Spkcial to Pbkss Association^ [Beceivod April 19, at 1 p.m. J SYDNEf, ArniL IS. The town of Bourke is still above water. The value of property at stake is estimated at one million sterling. Information was received to-night that Bourke is flooded, and all the people are doing their best to save themselves. Boats are being pulled through the streets rescuing people from their homes. The night is very black and dark. No detail 8 are yet to hand. Walscett 5s in a terrible condition, and an epidemic of fever is feared owing to the stench arising from the dead animals. SYDNEY, Aritii. 19. A great burst in the embankment;fat Bourke took place at 4.30 yesterday afternoon, near tho Hospital building, bufc it was not till eleven o'clock that the works fiually gave way. After it was found that the bank could not be repaired, there was a ecene of the wildest excitement, men on horseback galloping to and fro, inforiniug- their friends, while men, women and children could ba seen rubbing about tho streets in the wildest confusion. This, however, only lasted a short time. Everybody set to work to save property and do what they could to get tbe women, children and beddintr away by the steamer to North Bouike. Brave fellows, despite the fact that they were liable to be swept away, made gallant efforts to block the water, and, as a last resource men actually stood shoulder to shoulder, with their backs to the water, right along the gap, while others shovelled up earth as quickly as they could. This was of no use, and large tarpaulins were then stretched across the break, and sand bags piled up against them, but the force of the water carried them away like so much paper. I Beceived April 19, at 1.20 p.m.] Ten minutes after the first alarm had been given two hundred people were on the ground, but it was seen that all efforts would be useless, and the busy thriving town, alter all the hard work and loss of time and money, was about to be submerged. This is the greatest flood ever known by white men in Australia. A mile to the North of where the water broke through, the embankment is carrying eleven feet, and if this had gone the whole town must have been literally swept away. As it is, the greatest anxiety is felt, for even if itgives now great destruction must ensue. All the private embankments in the town i are being built higher, and made as secure as possible, but it is feared that before the flood goes down many brick buildings will collapse. The current round the corners, and in between the houses, will be a terrible source of danger. The water is up to an ordinary man's waist all over the ! town. Bourke now stands in the midst of a ' great inland sea, forty miles wide. Judg- • ing from the mass of water passing Brewarrina, higher up the river than Bourke, we may expect another two or three feet. The latest reports say that early this ' morning tbo private embankments began to fail.