Tuross River Flood, May 1870

THE FLOOD IN THE TUROSS RIVER
(From the Moruya Telegraph, May 18.)

At daybreak on Friday morning, 13th instant, the river at the ferry began to rise at a frightful rate, and Slawson (aided by J. Southam and Roberts from the silver mine, who happened to be staying in the house) with great difficulty got his wife and family safely away to Mr. Walsh's in the boat, the river roaring frightfully, and running in great waves, and the currents, which were running violently in all directions over Trunketabella Flat hurling the boat against the trees, and making it very difficult to reach the high ground. Before they could return, the ferryhouse with all its contents had vanished.

Slawson has lost everything -- even to his children's hats and shoes. Such a scene of desolation I have scarcely ever witnessed. Trees are rent bodily up by the roots, and hundreds of tons of sand cover the spot and the approach to the ferry. In the early part of the morning was heard the rapid firing of a gun from the direction of Mr. Bell's house on the opposite side of the river. The punt was with some difficulty got in safely on Sunday morning.

At the Seed Farm, toward daybreak, on Friday morning, Mr. Bell found the water rising rapidly in his house, and shortly afterwards got his family (consisting of his wife and five children, the eldest a girl aged 17, and the youngest about 3 years old) on the roof, and when the house began to give way, removed them to a contiguous wheat stack, which, about 8 o'clock, began to float away, and was shortly carried down the flat and into the roaring, surging river. They floated down about three-quarters of a mile from the house, the sheaves continually slipping from the stack, when a sudden shock threw the living freight all off, with the exception of a little boy about nine years of age. Mr. Bell succeeded in catching hold of a branch, and by immense exertion eventually reached a place of safety, where he remained until about 2 a.m. on Saturday, and, after great danger and difficulty, reached Mr. McGregor's, the Bodalla Inn, at about break of day.

Meanwhile the unfortunate Mrs. Bell and her family were driven by the force of the stream against the wheatstack and the little boy helped them to scramble up with a piece of rope which happened to be on the stack, the sheaves continuing to shift away. They were now all on the stack with the exception of the father and the youngest boy. The oldest girl Lydia fancied she felt something warm at her feet, and screwing her toes about, drew up the little fellow, nearly suffocated, and black in the face. Still the stack kept on its fearful voyage, and now began to near two islands, one on each side of the river, where the current is very rapid. Lydia says she here pulled with a batten and paddle as well as she could until the stack providentially lodged against a tree on Wednesday Island. She then made it fast to two trees, and, as the water rose or fell, shifted the rope up or down. Luckily poor Mrs. Bell had three blankets on the stack so the severity of the cold was not so much felt. The cat and dog came to them on the rick as well as a kangaroo rat. Two bullocks likewise tried to clamber on the rick, but were driven away by Lydia. Thus they remained that long day and weary night.

Mr. McGregor was watching the house from the range at the back, and when the stack began to go, rode home at full gallop with the intention of bringing a small dingy down the river to Bell's assistance. He jumped off his horse and was about to swim to the boat, which was tied to a rail, when the current broke it adrift, and it did not stop till brought up by a tree. He again started off for a boat at Stennett's farm, but his efforts to procure this were likewise unavailing. He then gave up all hope of seeing the unfortunate Bells alive.

When Bell reached the inn in the morning, Mr. McGregor renewed his efforts. He this time succeeded in procuring the boat from Stennett's by means of which he got the dingy at the inn, and accompanied by James Caldwell and Ronald McLean, most courageously and gallantly started down the river to the rescue of the unfortunate family. They prospered on their daring and glorious errand, and, small as the boat was, succeeded, in spite of almost insuperable difficulties, in rescuing the whole family, of course very much exhausted, but, thanks to Almighty Providence, unhurt. Of the gallant and meritorious conduct of Messrs. J. McGregor, James Caldwell, and Ronald McLeod, I forbear saying anything. Such conduct speaks trumpet-tongued for itself. Bell has lost everything. The fine seed farm is ruined. A subscription was raised on the spot so soon as they reached McGregor's, where they have been well cared for since.

Comerang has suffered severely, but I am informed not so much as might have been anticipated. The water was into the inn, and up to the counter in Mr. Brice's store. The blacksmith's house was nearly submerged. There is no news from the Gulf or from Eurobodalla.

This account is necessarily imperfect, but I believe substantially correct.

• Sydney Morning Herald, 21.5.1870