The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)(about) |
Previous issue
Saturday 14 April 1894
Next issue
Send to:
|
9 corrections, most recently by bev.bonning - Show corrections
GREAT FLOOD AT INGHAM.
THE TOWN UNDER WATER. EIGHT PERSONS DROWNED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE.
[By Electric Telegraph.]
[From our own CORRESPONDENT]
Ingham, April 12.
Tho highest flood ever known here rose on Saturday night last, and reached its highest
point on Sunday at midday, only a very small portion of Ingham, including the sites of the hotels and the bank, being then dry ground.
Archie Buchanan, with his vvife and five children, and Albert Cummins refused to leave their homes on Saturday night, and when being
rescued on Sunday the boat ran against a tree which knocked a board loose, and the boat sank. All its occupants, except the four rescuers, were drowned. Four bodies, those of Cummins, Buchanan, and two of the children have since been recovered and interred. Some hundreds of cattle were swept past Ingham, principally the property of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Many of them were dead, but the number has not been ascertained.
The river was flooded for forty hours. At Gairloch the water rose no higher than in the flood of 1890, but it was about 4ft higher at Ingham. Great damage was done to the northern approach to the Gairloch Bridge, fully three acres of the river bank being washed away. The lagoon behind Farr's store is now connected with the river, and a portion of Farr's store was carried away. The river is now about 12ft. over the bridge, and falling slowly.
No news has been received from Macnade, Ripple Creek, Halifax, or Dungeness yet. There is 2ft of water in the Victoria mill, but no serious damage has been done. The flood at Bronte, Orient, and Waterview was not higher than usual, and no casualties have been reported.
A very heavy gale of wind, lasting four days and culminating in a hurricane, preceded the flood. This, in conjunction with the spring tide, accounts for the abnormal rise in the river.
The weather continues wet, 9in. of rain having fallen since the floods.
April 13
The bodies of all those who were drowned have now been recovered, excepting that of the youngest child.
Fears are entertained of the death of a man named Williams at Lannercost. His house was completely submerged, and is unap- proachable at present. The dead body of a blackfellow is reported to have been seen float- ing down the river.
Tho bridge over Palm Creek at the Victoria mill has been washed away. Nothing serious has been reported from Macnade and Ripple Creek yet.