CITY SAVED BY HEAVY COFFINS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3336, 30 September 1911, Page 3

CITY SAVED BY HEAVY COFFINS.

CHINESE OFFICIAL’S NOVEL DEVICE. Terrible destruction and much grievous suffering have been caused by floods in the Yangtze Valley, China, and details of" the disasters are acmiiinig through. At a place called Fitzroy artificial walls were hurriedly put 'up, but but the waters rose above them, and poured' into the houses, washing them away. The last thing seen, says an eyewitness, was an entire, family, not omitting the family cat and dog, swarming upon tine roof of a house to escape from the rising water, and tins was but a sample of what might be seen almost anywhere on the river between Shanghai and Hankow. Dead bodies of human beings and animals were frequent on the. surface cf the water. At Changtehfu the city was only caved by the energy of the magistrate, a man named Niao. Chinese officials are so often rebuked for inertia that the vigorous action of this official deserves to bo emphasised. When the carpenters who had been esnt to strengthen the North Cape, deserted their task before the inrushfloods, Niao leapt waist deep into the water, and by causing coffins to l e brought from the United Benevolence Hall, and filling them with bricks and any rubbish 'obtainable, lie made a barricade that effectually held back the torrent. Tliis official some time ago saved the city from ri rice famine and riot, and on this occasion all the gentry and business men went in a deputation to thank him. The floods have rendered half a million people homeless.