BLAZING BUSH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19766, 14 February 1927, Page 7

BLAZING BUSH

VICTORIA SWEPT FARMER AND SONS BURNED MELBOURNE ENCIRCLED BY FLAMES /By Telegrraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received Feb. 13, 9.40 p.m. MELBOURNE, Feb. 13. Bush fires continue to rage in many parts of Victoria. In the van of one big party of fire fighters in the Yarra Valley are Lord Somers, Governor of the State and his personal staff. Many appeals for help have been received and the responses are gratifying, but the danger is not yet past. There have been many thrilling rescues. Melbourne is practically encircled by flames. A fire, burning on a front of several miles, and driven Dy a gusty hot wind, swept through thousands of acres of scrub and grazing grounds from the Kangaroo grounds over the Yarra into Wonga Park. It is estimated that nearly 1000 men are fighting the flames, which are now moving towards Croydon. Tho damage is enormous, and unless the weather changes the holocaust of twelve months ago, when 30 people lost their lives, may be repeated. In the Camperdown district a share farmer named L. Speed and his sons, aged two and four years, were burned to death. The fire advanced on a front of several miles in bracken fern and the unfortunate victims had no avenue of escape. It is believed that Speed, after taking his children almost to the main road, returned in an attempt to save the house, and was followed back by the children. Seeing them in difficulties on account of the smoke, it is supposed that he tried to return with them to the road, when all three were overcome by the heat and smoke, and died in the flames. Speed’s other three children escaped uninjured. Mrs Speed was absent from home at the time.