West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 28 February 1894, page 3


THE FLOODS IN THE KIMBERLEY,

DISTRICT.

SOME PARTICULARS OF THE LOSSES.

PRECARIOUS POSITION OF SEVERAL

OF THE INHABITANTS.

THREE NIGHTS OF TREES.

FURTHER RAINS THREATENING.

The Acting Postmaster-General, Mr. A. H. Williams, has received a telegram from the Postmaster at Derby stating that the stationmaster at Fitzroy was on the west side of the river, and therefore cut off from communication. The weather was threatening and! more rains were expected. Stationmaster at Fitzroy was on the west side of the river, therefore cut off from communication. The weather was threatening and heavy rains were expected. Mr. Williams wired to the postmaster at Derby, asking him, if possible, to supply a report of the loses shs tained, and received the following reply last night. The particulars of losses to hand are Messrs. W Lukin and Monger 14,000 sheep, including lambs; Emanuel 2,200, including all the 'stud sheep; Marmion and others 1,300 ewes ; Yeeda station 800 sheep and a number of cattle. On the other side of the river the losses are as yet unknown, but they are believed to be very great. Mr. Annear of Fitzroy, advises that Blythe and several other whites were camped close to the river, and were in trees for three nights. On the first night of the floods cattle were floating down the river all night. Mr. Annear noticed 10 head of cattle between the station and river. I have just returned from Yeeda. I left here at 2 p.m. on Sunday, after the despatch of the Albany mails, and arrived at Yards at 9 p.m. after travelling through seven miles of water. I left Yeeda at 9 a.m. yesterday, and had three miles of boggy country and two miles of water up to my waist to go through, with a couple of creek? to swim. I found a telegraph pole near the angle carried away. I effected temporary repairs and returned to the station this evening. Had I not received every assistance from Yeeda station, fully a fortnight would have elapsed before communication could be restored. I will advise later re losses of cattle. .