The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-06
SWEPT BY FLOODS
Great Loss of Property at
Brisbane.
FLEEING TO THE HIGHLANDS.
Streams Gorged by Continued Rains
lnundate the Capital of the
Colony of Queensland.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL.

BRISBANE, Feb. 5.-The incessant rains Of
several days past have caused floods
throughout Queensland, and part OF this city
is under water. Many houses are sub
merged to the second floor and the water is
still rising Bundaberg, Ipswich and Bun
damba are threatened with total demolition.
Inhabitants have left their houses and
those who have not fed to higher lands
have taken refuge on the roofs All dOmes-
tic animals and hundreds of cattle have
heen drowned.
\ large loss of human life Is reported.
hut nothing definite can be ascertained as
to the total number. A mine near Bun
damba has been flooded and seven miners
were drowned. In Ipswich many houses col
lapsed. Goodna is entirely under water
and the inhabitants have taken refuge on
the hills. Hundreds are homeless, without
shelter and without food. The loss of
property is enormous. Cattle have been
drowned by the thousands.
Railways are washed out and the tele-
graph lines broken. All regularity Of travel
has ceased Most of the railways have
stopped running trains.
Brisbane, town of Australia, capital OF
the colony of Queensland. is situated In
Stanley County, on both banks of the River
Brisbane. about twenty-five miles from It's
entrance into MOretOn Bay. 1t consists of
four parts-North and South Brisbane,
kangaroo Point and FOrtitude Valley.
Among its public buildings are courts of
justice, Houses of Parliament, Governors
residence. a literary institute, a concert
room, school of arts and from twenty TO
thirty churches 1t has also an excellent
botanical garden.
The river, which is about a quarter OF
mile broad opposite the town. is navigable
for vessels Of considerable burden, and has
been made more accessible by the partial
removal Of the bar at its mouth. Regular
steam communication Is kept up with
Sydney and other Australian ports and
very fi0uTishing trade Is carried on in the
export Of wool, cotton, tallow and hides
and the import Of European manufactures.
The town is the entrance Of O consider
able railway and telegraphic system.
Brisbane was founded as a penal settle
ment in 1926, and was named in honor Of
Sir Thomas NJ. Brisbane. In 1912 the estab-
lishment was abolished and general colo
nzation set In. The town was practically
a part OF New South Wales till 1859, when
it was made the capital Of Queensland. 1t
is the seat Of an Anglican aud also Of
Roman Catholic Bishop.
is population was only 5225 by the census
of 1861. but in 1871 it amounted to IS, ,O29, Of
whom 1904 were males and 1926 females.
The number Of inhabited houses at the
latter date was 2931.
Brisbane, with It's suburbs. is now city
of 90 600 inhabitants, the center OF quite an
extended railway system which accOmmO-
dates the southern districts of the colony
and connects with the lines of the south.
Brockhanfnton and Townsville are the
coast termini Of the central and northern
lines, which tap mineral and agricultural
districts. and which will eventually become
portions Of the complete colonial system.