The Flooding of Greenough 1888 - One of the biggest ever disasters to hit our Area......An Account.... The following report of the flood is from The Inquirer and Commercial News Wednesday February 8th 1888: THE FLOOD AT THE GREENOUGH. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The following telegram, giving further particulars of the terrible Greenough disaster, reached us last night from our correspondent at that ill fated portion of the colony: GREENOUGH, Monday morning, 9 oclock. THE COUNTRY UNDER WATER. The Flats are inundated, causing serious losses to life and property. REPORT OF THE POLICE. On Friday, about 9 p.m the Police brought news to the Hampton hotel that the river was coming down, and it soon afterwards overflowed. WARNING THE SETTLERS. At Walkaway Messrs. Moore, Joshua Waldeck, and John Morrell warned the surrounding settlers of the impending danger, the news of which caused wide- spread consternation, and in a very short space of time the Flats were inundated, with wonderful force and rapidity. A HOUSE IN A HOLLOW FILLED WITH WATER — AN OLD SETTLER DROWNED. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgeman occupied a house that was situated in a hollow, nearly behind the Parsonage. Their daughter in law, with a child and grown-up daughter, were visiting their house, which was soon filled with water. ATTEMPTING TO RESCUE THE PERISHING — MRS. BRIDGEMAN DROWNED. On Saturday morning several brave attempts were made to rescue the occupants of Mr. Bridgemans house, by Messrs. Moore, Morrell, E. Gray, T. Henry, a Malay and others. The Malay succeeded in getting the younger people upon the roof, but it was shortly-afterwards discovered that Mrs. Bridgeman had been drowned about two hours previously. A NARROW ESCAPE— AN OLD MAN RESCUED THROUGH THE ROOF. Mr. Moore reached Bridgemans house on a door, nearly losing his life in the attempt. After obtaining a secure footing he wrenched off a sheet of iron and got Mr. Bridgeman through the opening. Here they all remained until a float, which was constructed at the Hampton hotel - consisting of a sheep trough and two barrels lashed each side - rescued them, at about 4 p.m. The remains of Mrs. Bidgeman have not yet been discovered. PEOPLE MISSING— A WOMAN IN A FIELD WHEN THE WATER CAME DOWN. A man named Cole, working for and living on Mrs. Duncans estate, together with his wife, have not been heard of since Friday night, when Mr Joshua Waldeck thought he heard Cole say that his wife was in the field, which was then overflowed with water, owing to which he could not render any assistance. A SETTLER THROWN FROM A HORSE INTO THE WATER AND DROWNED - A WIDOW AND EIGHT FATHERLESS CHILDREN. Mr. William Bone, on horseback, was struggling through the water, near the Police Station, when his horse stumbled in a hole and threw him into the flood. The poor fellow, was seen to clutch his hat, and nothing more was seen until the body was found at nine oclock this morning. Deceased leaves a widow and eight children. FURTHER DISASTERS. The water carried away a large number of fences, telegraph poles, cattle, sheep, etc, and did damage beyond describing in the short space of a telegram. SHELTERING THE HOMELESS. A large number of families were either sheltered by friends or camped on the sandhills. Some have lost their all, and the whole community has suffered to a greater or lesser extent. A number of wheat houses have been destroyed; the horses and cattle must have suffered terribly. MR. MAITLAND BROWN AND INSPECTOR ROWE ATTENDING THE SUFFERING— KINDNESS OF THE GERALDTONIANS. Immediately on receipt of news notifying the flooding of the district Mr. Maitland Brown, Resident Magistrate of the district, accompanied by Inspector Rowe, left Geraldton for here, and on arrival worked with unflagging zeal to do all in their power to rescue those in danger, carrying provisions to some and despatching boats to others. A number of other townspeople of Geraldton also rendered valuable assistance. THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY. South Greenough is still under water, and it is probable that it will remain so for some weeks.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 07:24:51 +0000
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