The Quebec Horror.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2352, 24 October 1889, Page 2

The Quebec Horror.

VICTIMS OF THE GREAT LANDSLIP.

SCENE AND INCIDENTS OF TIIE DISASTER. SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD. The San Francisco papers of September 21 give full details of disastrous landslip which occurred at Cape Dimond, Quebec, on September 19, as reported in our cable messages at the time. We extract the following from a Quebec telegram to the San Francisco Chronicle of September 20 : 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. Men of the water police, whose station is near the scene of the accident, sot to work at once to rescue the imprisoned persons while the general alarm was sounded which called out the fire brigade and police, for with lamps and stoves breaking houses soon caught fire.

The flames were soon extinguished and the men began the work of extricating unfortunates from the ruins, assisted hy many of the citizens. As each of the sufferers was rescued he was carried into the quarters of the water police, whose large staff of medical men was on hand, as well as a priest. They did all they could to alleviate the sufferings of the vic’iißß. All sorts of wild rumonrs were soon flying about tho city, and conflicting reports wore met with everywhere.

More rocks are falling, and it is feared that the highest point of Quebec will soon give way. Those who witnessed the fall of rock 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, and 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 10ft in front of him, and breathing was made difficult. Tnis was followed by sounds of timber crushing and yielding to the immense power of the avalanche and the shouting and screaming of men, women, and children, in all the agony of despair. Tho loss in very great. Some of the working men who are deprived of their homes lose all their furnituro ando»her effects, and even their summer earnings. Many are left virtually penniless at the commencement of a Canadian winter.

Among those buried by rocks are a young couple named Nolan, who were married a few weeks ago. Nolan could have escaped, hut he lost his life in trying to get his wife out of the house.

While the workers were busy clearing away the debris of crumbled buildings faint groans were heard at intervals from under the piles of rock. Tho efforts of volunteers were concentrated to that point, and after three hours’ hard work the bleeding body of Joe Kemp was extracted from a mass of rock. The poor man is in a most pitiablo condition. Both legs are broken at the knees, tho left arm is fractured above the elbow, and several ribs are broken. He cannot live many hours. Two hours later his wife’s body was taken out of the wreck. Her head was almost severed from the body. Farther away there was another hideous spectacle, the corpse of a young woman, Mrs Lauson, who had been admired in life for her beauty. Her body had been crushed almost flat. Shortly after view ing her remains her husband became a raving maniac, and it is doubtful if he will recover his reason.

A man named Michael Bradley, who had gone almost crazy when told that all his family perished in the landslide, discovered, while working over the wreck of his house, his five-year-old daughter still alive, and his joy was indescribable. It is thought that the child will live. Up to this time the number of corpses found is 25, nnd tho number of wounded 18.

The members of the Black family were buried alive 12ft below the surface of the

debris. On being asked if they were safe, Mrs Black aoswerod : “My husband is killed at the door. Tho rest are safe, but we are suffering from wounds aud bruises on our limbs. Shortly after Miss May Caldwell, a niece of Black, was extricated from Black’s house. Her limbs were so stiff from inaction that the least touch caused excruciating pains. The next person taken ont Thomas Berrigao, whose wife was taken out of the ruins dead. He was so disfigured his friends could hardly recognise him. The next to follow was an eight-year-old boy, also named Berrigan. His left leg was crushed to a jelly. Then oatue Mrs Black. Her bosom, neck, and face are dreadfully swollcd. Thousands crowded into the morgue, aud occupied every point inside aud outside the building where a glimpse could he had of the bodies of the victims. Many women who obtained entrance had to be removed in a fainting condition, the mangled bodies being a sight to try the nerves of the strongest men.

The shipping office in the Dominion Government building has been turned into a temporary morgue, and 20 bodies are lying in it. It is difficult to identify some, so much have they been disfigured and crushed. Several persons who were reported missing have turned up, but it is thought there will be 10 or more victims to be added to this list.

The sight of the landslide is almost identical with that of one which occurred in 1811, when eight buildings were crushed ond 32 persons killed. The mass of earth and rocks moved, roughly speaking, is about GOgft frontage by 80ft depth. Some of the masses of fallen rock weigh nearly 20 tons. The names of the dead so far recovered are : Charles Pois, Mr and Mtr Thomas Allen, James Edwards, L. Edwards, Alphonse Tredeau, H. Wright, Napoleon Trutenu, O. S. Neville, Thomas Farrell and three Farrell children, two children named Burke, one child named Bradley, a child of P. Fitzgerald, Mrs Brack<*n, Mrs Stephen Burke, H«*nry Bla< k, William Black, Thomas Nolan, Mrs Ready. Among the wounded are—Mr and Mrs Carison, J. O’Neill, Mrs Luke Kerwin aud chiM, Thomas Berrington, James Hayden, William Stevens and son, Nelly Dehry, Patrick Fitzgerald, Martin Ready, throe children named May bury, Stephen Burke and his mother, Mrs Fitzgerald, Thomas Graham, William Power wife and child, Mrs Thomas Farrell.

Among those still supposed to be beneath the ruins are—Charles Allen and wife, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Henry, Richard Maybury and wife, Mrs R. Lawson, R. Kemp and family, Michael B. Leahy and a number of children.

A special from Quebec to a Boston paper says :—lt is known that at least 200 dead bodies still remain under the pile of debris