Evening journal., 1896-03-24
.FIJI'S CAPITAL RUINED.
Swept by 4 Cyclone Lasting
Forty Hours.
MANY LIVES ARE REPORTED LOST.

An Australian Liner Brings News OF Great
Disasters on Sea and Iand-Fioods In
Queensland - storm and Disease In
Australia.
VICTORIA, March 24.-The Australian
steamship Warrimoo, which has arrived
here, brings news of the probable practical
obliteraton of the town Of Suva, FIJI is
lands by a hurricane. Details Of terrible
disasters by food in Queensland, where
many lives were lost, have also reached
here.
According TO the officers OF tho Warri-
moo, tho next steamer from Australia
viii bring full details Of the hurricane,
which occurred tho 9th inst. The Cana
dian.Australian liner had fortunately left
the fijian capital several hours before tho
terrible storm set in, otherwise she, too,
would have contributed TO swell the loss
ss by the gale. The cyclone. which was
the most severe in the history OF storms in
the southern seas, appeared TO quote the
purser TO come from ovory quarter Of the
compass, and ragged with unmeasurable
velocity for upward of 80 hours.
Tho officers Of tho Warrimoo agree that
Suva had no chance to escape, and must
hayo been laid In utter wreck by the de-
yastnting winds as we'll as other places.
Such calamity, coming now, means ut
ter destitution 10 the Fiiians, who were
counting upon redeoming their heavy
financial rcyorscs Of last year with this
seasons crops of sugar and cotton. Owing
20 the inffoquency Of communication with
the outside world 70 Is doubtful If the
people OF Fiji can send word of their dis
tress TO Auckland until the calling OF the
sydney bound Miowero, which should
have reached thoro Sunday. Suva has re-
comfy been brought prominently before
tho world an ono of the landing stations
Of the projected British cable % unite tho
Australian colonies and Canada.
Tho recent heavy rains and consequent
floods I'm Queensland were, during 4 ohru-
ary, the cause of many serious disasters,
that which occurred on tho Brisbane river
on the afternoon Of the 18th OF that month
being the most terrible. The Upper river
being flooded caused a strong current In
the wide portion near Brisbane. Immense
logs and large masses Of rubbish were
borne down against the Victoria bridge,
and tho authorities stopped traffic between
North and South Brisbane, and arranged
for ferry service with three steamers
Nearly Forty Lives Lost.
Ono of these steamers was the Pearl,
licensed Co carry go passengers. She start
ed from the north side of tho river with
about so passengers aboard business men
returning TO their homes in the suburbs,
women who had been shopping school
children and members Of funeral party.
Two steamers were mOored near the south
side of tho river whom the Pearl started on
her fatal trip. One was the Normandy and
tho other the government steam yacht Luz
cinda
On approaching the former, the captain
found no had steered too far mp tho river
and touched the vessel in passing. The ed
dy caught the ferryhoat and slowed her
lroadside on against the Lucinda's anchor
chains. Tho force OF the collision was
sufficient to cut the small craft in two
parts. She sank Immediately For mo-
ment thoro wore cries of perishing mon,
women and children, but many were in
stantly carried down with tie unfortunate
steamer. Between 90 and 30 succeeded in
grasping tho Lucinda anchor chains, and
were saved by the crew of that vessel The
death roll includes 30 names, with several
stlll missing and unaccountcd for.
The mail brings advicos OF continued
climatic disturbances Of great severity and
suffering and destruction A second heat
wave sent the thermometer up IN many
places to the highest point since tho penal
settlement days At Wngga and othor
places in Western Australia typhoid fovor
Is rnging and the mortality is very high.
Tho Melbourne hospitals are crowded with
typhoid patients An extremely high NOR
tality rate from heat, apoplexy and sun
stroke continues in Melbourne Fires are
occurring from spontaneous combustion.
Floods are reported in many parts. AT
Rockhampton the river swept away houses
and barns lives were lost nnd largo aroas
of crops woro ruined. At Adelaide a furi-
Gus gale, lasting 81 hours, did great dam
age Earthquakes follow the excessive
heat, cyclones and floods.