From Our Own Correspondent, Kingyuan, May 23. ago the floating ridge at Kueilin which spans the Cassia river at the east gate gave way in the centre through the violence of the rising waters and pedestrians and boatmen falling into the stream were drowned before assistance could be rendered.
During the early spring very little rain fell in these parts. The water in the rivers was low and boat traffic was hindered considerably. Later the spring rains came and since then there has been an abundance of water everywhere. The rivers have risen and overflowed their banks and: many fatalities have occured.
At the city of Kueilin the large market on the east side of the river is joined to the city by means of a floating bridge composed of boats chained together and covered with planks for the convenience of pedestrians. During high water this bridge cannot stand the strain of the rising river, and is usually cut asunder for a day or two until the water begins to recede. On this occasion, however, the water rose so rapidly that the bridge was not cut asunder in time and consequently the chains snapped and carried 20 to thei: doom.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.