NEW SOUTH WALES.

West Coast Times, Issue 574, 27 July 1867, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES.

INCIDENT OF THE FLOOD.

Mr F. B. Sutton, -writing from Burrandong, describes one of the saddest incidents of the flood : — " The hut of a shepherd of Mr Blunden, named Baker, who lived near the junction of the Mudgee River, got surrounded before he and his family couLl move (the water rising six feet in ten minutes), and out of eleven persons all were drowned but three. Those saved are the eldest boy and girl and father. Those drowned are the mother, five boys, a baby (girl), and a married man named Smith, who came to help them about dusk, just -before the sudden rise of water. At the firs t rush of the flood, they all got on to the tables, then on to a loft, and then had to cut a hole in the back and get on to the top of the roof. Here they remained until the water reached their mouths, when the four left alive swam to a tree. Smith not being able to swim sank as soon as he left the hut. The poor old father (Baker) gave a most distressing account of the (seene — howheheld his children in hisarms, dropping them as they died (of cold he says) to take up others that were alive, until none were left. He says the dogs, and fowls kept swimming round them and jumping on them all the time they were on tne hut. The survivors were rescued about daylight by the brave wife of the man Smith, who pulled a boat a mile to the hut, and then took them to the shore. She heard them cooeying for a long time, and started to try and save them, which she had great trouble to effect, the current was so strong." The following particulars were elicited during a magisterial inquiry into the matter : — Isaac Daniel Baker recognised the bodies as those of his wife Mary Ann, aged about fortythree years ; of his seven children, varying in age from eight months to thirteen years ; and of Frederick Smith. He deSosed — I am a shepherd in the employ of lessrs Blunden, and live near the junction of the Mudgee and Macquarie Elvers. On the 21st, when the sheep came home, about five o'clock p.m., I went to the bank of the Macquarie, to see how the river was. I saw it was rising, There was some high ground at the back of the sheepyard, where I had made a gateway to let the sheep out in case of a flood, this was between my hut and the river. We put in the sheep, and I went in to supper with all my family. I told my eldest son Moses we would have to remain up all night and watch the flood. After we had supper, my two children, who are now alive, went to see the flood, and returned and told me that the water was coming very fast down the gully, and was within two or three hundred yards from the hut. When I got out, the deceased, Frederick Smith, was coming towards from the hut to render me assistance, he said the water had risen six feet in the Mudgee Biver while he was at supper, and asked me what I was going to do. I said we shall get the children out. We went to the hut, and I told my wife to get the children ready, as the water was coming round us fast, but there was still dry ground. In about ten minutes from that time when I went out again, I found that the water had entirel/ surrounded us, and there was no possibility of escape. We then all went into the hut, I fastened the door, and about twenty minutes afterwards the water began to come in. I then put my wife and children on the loft over the bedroom, and stood on the table. I was not afraid as I had hopes that the water would not rise much higher. At this time Frederick Smith was sitting on one of the beams of the loft. When the water

reached the table I got off and sat on another beam. In about three-quarters of an hour the water rose to the top of the wall-plate, I then got a tomahawk and cut a hole in the bark of the roof. The deceased Frederick Smith got out first. I handed the children out to him, and the rest followed, When I got out the moon had just risen, and there was no.land to be seen. I then cooyed for the first time, it being then abotit nine p.m. We were all cooeying, and in about three-garters of an hour heard a voice in the distance and thought it was from Mrs Smith, wife of the deceased F. Smith ; they lived on the Mudgee Eiver, about a third of a mile from my hut ; the water at the time was about ten feet above the floor of the hut ; a short time after this, I heard Mrs Smith call out, and asked me if Fred (her husband) was all right ; I called loudly for help, and told her to go to Mr Blunden's for the boat ; we thought she understood us, and her husband told us not to shout any more, as it might bother her ; some time after, as the water still rose fast, Icooeyedagain,andshe answered; I then felt sure, she had not gone to Blunden's ; when the water reached the ridge-pole on which, we were sitting, seeing no possibility of escape, I told the children to pray ; we all joined in prayer ;we were all composed but one little boy, who was crying ; the water continued to rise, and we had to stand on the ridge-pole ; about half-past three in the morning, the first of the children died — Frederick, seven years old — the water being up to the middle ; he was not drowned, but died of cold ; just after this my boy Daniel, aged thirteen years, said, " God Almighty bless you all — I cannot stand it any longer ;" I held him till he was dead. The next to die were John Isaac, aged five, and Thomas Edwin, aged three years. They were in the arms of my son Moses, who said, " Father, these two children are dead — what shall Ido now?" I said, "Go to the tree while you have strength, so that some one may live to tell the tale." He said, "Father, I believe I shall be the only one saved." He then kissed me, and swam safely to the tree, which was about twenty.yards from the hut. I called to nim that his mother was still alive, and that I would hold her as long as there was life in her. Some time after this my wife died, and I let Jier go. I then went to take the baby from my daughter Cecilia; but she said, "No, father, you cannot hold her better than me, and I cannot hold her much longer." I then kissed her, telling her to hold the baby as long as she could, and then to swim to where her brother was. I swam to the tree, and with the assistance of my son Moses, got on the limbs. A very short after I heard a splash, and Cecilia calling for help. I heartened her to strike out, and she came within arm's length of us. My son Moses leaned over, caught her, and pulled her up the tree, lhe water was up to her chin when she was washed off the hut, and she dropped the baby. Andrew William, aged nine years, died just before I left the hut. About that time, also, the deceased, F. Smith, who was holding Henry Shadrach, aged eleven years, told me the b)y was dead. I said, "You have done all you can, you must try to shift for yourself— can you swim ?" he said " No ; give me what directions you can — I may have a chance." I did so, and he started for the tree, but sank at a short distance. About sunrise Mrs Smith, wife of the deceased F. Smith, came in a boat by herself, and released my son Moses (17 years), my daughter Cceilia (15), and myself — the only survivors of our family — and brought us to dry land. Mary Ann Smith deposed to the difficulties she she met in bringing the station boat to the rescue, without assistance, as soon as daylight permitted, and the exhausted state of the unfortunate survivors. The bodies of Mrs Baker and her seven children were all found near the hut when the water subsided, and presented a heartrending spectacle.

The Paris ' Liber te" mentions that the Queea of Spain has been selling almost all her jewels in London, and that a single diamond watch chain has found a purchaser at the trifling figure of L 24,000. The Duke Charles of Bavaria is about to enter a monastery, in grief for the untimely death of his young wife. A census has been taken of the number of graves in the United States national cemeteries where those who perished in the war with the Southern Confederacy are buried. At Nashville there are 18,000 graves; at Vicksbnrg, 1500; at Andersonville, 15,000; at Memphis, 12,000 ; at Chattanooga, 12,000 ; at Marietta, 10,000 ; at Corinth, 6000 ; at Stone River, 6000 5 at Pittsburg, 4000; at Savannah, 3000 5 at Kuoxville, 3000 ; at Natches, 2500 ; at Camp Nelson, 1500 ; at Perryville, 1200 ; at Columbia, 1200 ; at Millen, 1000 ; at Lexington, 1000 ; at Mobile, 1000; at Lebanon, 750; at Covington, 600 sat Mill Springs, 600 ; at Eichmond, 500 ; at Montgomery, 500 ;at Danville, 400 ; at Cumberland Gap, 350 ; and at London, 300.

A settlement of the grievances of the engine-drivers and firemen employed on the Great Western line has been effected. Ten hours per day per week will be considered as the fair average of working hours for the week, regulated as nearly uniform each day as the train service will admit of. Sunday time will be allowed at the rate of eight hours per day ; this to apply to trains booked out and in during the Sunday. Train-bill time will be considered as the hours on duty, except in any extreme case, which is to be dealt with specially on its merits ; and an allowance will be made for getting ready and putting the engine away. Eight hours in the week will be allowed as a " shed day," and the company have promised annually a contribution to the men's ptmi ofLSOO.

There is an account in the French papers of a wonderful cannon which can be carried like a sedan chair by two men, and which is likely to be just as useful in war as that article. Just as one set of inventors is engaged in devising means of carrying maimed men out of the battle, another set is employed in improving the means of maiming, and rendering them more portable. The " Courrier dv Jura" gives the following remarkable example of the effects of lightning. A small farmer of Ordagna named Debauchez, was returning home from his work, when a violent thunderstorm broke over the district, and the electric fluid forced away a basket which he was carrying on his shoulder, tore his clothes to shreds, and broke the wooden shoes on his feet to splinters. When he reached home three large bruises were found on his body, one in the stomach, another in the loins, and a third on the left hip; and, in addition, the general shock to his system was so great that his life is considered in danger. Mrs Partington says the only way Co prevent steamboat explosions is to make engineers boil the water on shore. In her opinion all the buatin 1 ia done by cooking the steam on hoard.