Location: Paynesville, Victoria, Australia

WIDE BUSH FIRE DAMAGE Couple Lose Lives An elderly couple have been burned to death, and many other persons have lost their homes and most of their belongings in the ravages of Victorian bush fires. Thousands of acres of valuable grass and timber have been reduced to ashes, and miles of fencing have been destroyed. Already the Red Cross is organising relief. Last night the first consignment of clothing and blankets vvas sent to Bairnsdale for homeless victims. Since the wind dropped on Thursday night fire-fighters have been able to maintain control. Restoration of communication with outlying districts yesterday revealed scenes of desolation where lonely settlers hod spent a night of terror. Alexander Woodman, 66, and his wife, Mrs. Francis Woodman, 61, who were shockingly burned when they were trapped at Forge Creek on Thursday, died In the Bairnsdale Hospital early yesterday. Their funeral will take place at the Paynesville cemetery to-day. On Thursday the cemetery was swept by fire, and tombstones were destroyed by the intense heat. Mr. and Mrs. Woodman are survived by two daughters, Mrs. J. Boyd and Mrs. Peeck, both of Eagle Point. They were among the earliest settlers in the district. Police Inspector Anderson, who found Mr. and Mrs. Woodman, said yesterday that probably they had collapsed after having tried to save their cattle. Their dog was found unharmed at the farm, but the cattle, which were grazing some distance away, were burned. Saw Home Destroyed Hundreds of men- from Bairnsdale fought serious outbreaks in the Paynesville and Goon Nure districts until early yesterday. After having fled to a boat on the lakes near Paynesville, Mr. George James saw his home and motor-car reduced to ashes. Mrs. Fawson and her baby daughter took shelter in a water-hole when flames roared within a few feet of her house, which was saved by a change in the wind. About 15,000 acres of grass and crops and miles of fencing were destroyed. Many pupils at the Bairnsdale technical and high schools could not return home because of the fires on Thursday, and were billeted in tile town. Women and young children at Sarsfield, on the Omeo Highway, fled to the river when a fire passed close to the town, it was revealed yesterday. After a four hour's fight it was decided that the town would have to be abandoned. Residents had begun to move their belongings when a change of wind saved the town. Older children formed bucket brigades and threw water on charred buildings. In the North-Kast, women and children were evacuated from Charleroi and taken to Tallangatta and to Red Bluffs, where the Presbyterian church was burned. The Lutheran church at Baranduda was destroyed. In the Wodonga district many settlers have lost their homes and most of their belongings. Damage was most serious in the area known as The Castle, where several property-owners lost their homes. Mr. Alfred Hanel, who has lived in the district for many years, had his home and belongings destroyed. His son, Mr. Ernest Hanel, lost his sheds, 13 stacks of hay a chaflcutter. and an engine. Mr. Alfred Draper, Mr. Edward O'Brien, and Mr. Charles Boves lost their houses. Mr.Ward Morrison lost his house and 12 stacks of hay. Many sheep in The Castle were destroyed. Nine tents and the personal belongings of workmen engaged in State Rivers Commission in snaggïing operations, were destroyed at 4 p.m. to-day. The fire was -till dangerous last night at the head of the Leneva Valley and on the western and near Barnawartha.[1]
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