HERIOC RESCUES IN LATROBE VALLEY
Argus 3/12/34
DEATHAND DISTRESS IN GIPPSLAND
WATER SUBMERGES HOMES
HEROIC NIGHT RESCUES
FROM ROOF TOPS
MAN AND CHILDREN DROWNED
Reports of devastation, distress, and heroic rescues came from many parts of Gippsland yesterday. Lives were lost. Incalculable damage was done, and the homes of hundreds or persons were invaded by the flood waters. A man was drowned, and two children also. It is believed, were drowned near Lang Lang
Residents along the Latrobe Valley In the vicinity of Traralgon, and those in the low-lying portions of the town, passed through a nightmare on Friday.
When dawn broke on Saturday the town for half a mile was submerged, and the Latrobe River had broken its banks, flooding the valley for miles. Toward midnight the creek came across the flat near the butter factory like a sea. People were trapped in their homes and were rescued with difficulty. Many sprang out of bed into two feet of water, while others awoke to see their furniture floating. The ringing of the fire bell gave the first warning. With torches the police waded into the flood, sometimes up to their armpits First-constable J L Lowe slipped and dislocated his arm, but, pulling it in again, he continued the rescue work throughout the night. Some of the houses had four feet of water in them by daybreak. All the hotels and boarding-houses were filled with refugees
About 2 o'clock Mr Tom Maskrey, a share farmer, heard the pigs squealing Jumping out of bed he found the house full of water. As the water rose rapidly, Mr Maskrey, his wife and three children and a farm hand, took refuge In the ceiling with the house rocking in the waves, and all but the roof submerged They remained in the ceiling until rescued by a crew in a boat from Lakes Entrance after 4pm on Saturday. The water rose to within a foot of the ceiling. The boat crew got into difficulties shortly after they had stoved in the side of the house and taken the stranded people aboard. Despite the frantic efforts of the crew the rushing current washed the boat toward the railway bridge, which was just projecting above the flood waters.
Dr. Rees one of the crew, threw a rope around a telegraph-post enabling the boat to be anchored after which the crew rowed the boat to a clump of trees alongside the railway line where a lifeline was thrown out. The boat was pulled in and the children were carried to safety along the partially submerged railway track. Hundreds of people who witnessed the rescue cheered loudly as the marooned people came to land
9’’ of rain fell on south Gippsland on the 1st of December. Catani was under 10’ of water.
DEATHAND DISTRESS IN GIPPSLAND
WATER SUBMERGES HOMES
HEROIC NIGHT RESCUES
FROM ROOF TOPS
MAN AND CHILDREN DROWNED
Reports of devastation, distress, and heroic rescues came from many parts of Gippsland yesterday. Lives were lost. Incalculable damage was done, and the homes of hundreds or persons were invaded by the flood waters. A man was drowned, and two children also. It is believed, were drowned near Lang Lang
Residents along the Latrobe Valley In the vicinity of Traralgon, and those in the low-lying portions of the town, passed through a nightmare on Friday.
When dawn broke on Saturday the town for half a mile was submerged, and the Latrobe River had broken its banks, flooding the valley for miles. Toward midnight the creek came across the flat near the butter factory like a sea. People were trapped in their homes and were rescued with difficulty. Many sprang out of bed into two feet of water, while others awoke to see their furniture floating. The ringing of the fire bell gave the first warning. With torches the police waded into the flood, sometimes up to their armpits First-constable J L Lowe slipped and dislocated his arm, but, pulling it in again, he continued the rescue work throughout the night. Some of the houses had four feet of water in them by daybreak. All the hotels and boarding-houses were filled with refugees
About 2 o'clock Mr Tom Maskrey, a share farmer, heard the pigs squealing Jumping out of bed he found the house full of water. As the water rose rapidly, Mr Maskrey, his wife and three children and a farm hand, took refuge In the ceiling with the house rocking in the waves, and all but the roof submerged They remained in the ceiling until rescued by a crew in a boat from Lakes Entrance after 4pm on Saturday. The water rose to within a foot of the ceiling. The boat crew got into difficulties shortly after they had stoved in the side of the house and taken the stranded people aboard. Despite the frantic efforts of the crew the rushing current washed the boat toward the railway bridge, which was just projecting above the flood waters.
Dr. Rees one of the crew, threw a rope around a telegraph-post enabling the boat to be anchored after which the crew rowed the boat to a clump of trees alongside the railway line where a lifeline was thrown out. The boat was pulled in and the children were carried to safety along the partially submerged railway track. Hundreds of people who witnessed the rescue cheered loudly as the marooned people came to land
9’’ of rain fell on south Gippsland on the 1st of December. Catani was under 10’ of water.