Breaking of River Bank Near Lafa Bridge Front Oun Own Connesroxoent Harbin, July 21.
While the attention of the city authorities was centred on the dam Int Chinhe, the suburb of Harbin' through which the river broke into the city in 1932 and Foochiatien, the Chinese section of the city, which in 1932 was deep in water for eight weeks, the Sungari River, finding that {twas being watched closely at these vulnerable points, suddenly broke Uhrough the dam further down the ver on the left bank, instead of on the right bank.
This occurred yesterday afternoon most unexpectedly just below the new Eafa railway bridge, it being at first reported that the bridge had suffered very severely. At this point the Village or rather townlet of Machan-is situated, occupied by several thousand Chinese inhabitants, and on the first rush of water, their shrieks could be heard on the opposite bank fof the river. The water broke down the dam for a distance of twenty metres, rushing into the town like a torrent, mowing down all the palisade es and walls and carrying off all the smaller buildings, while cattle, fowl land loose property of all kinds floated off down the stream.
Evacuation Ordered The inhabitants got out on their roofs, clung to planks and pieces of furniture, shouting lustily for help, which speedily arrived in the shape Jat boats and craft of every kind from the Harbin side of the river. The authorities, hastening down to the Spot, saw that there was no hope of stopping the torrent and, therefore, ordered an evacuation, sending large steamers to the spot to assist in the removal of the people, but it was distinctly stated that no property would be accepted on any of the steamers, the saving of life being the tone and only concern.
'The police and many of the general public-worked with a will picking up' People from the water and after several hours of energetic measures, the whole of the population were transferred to safe quarters.
Sudden Rush The suddenness of the rush of water was very different to the flood of 1992 when the public had time to gather all their goods and chattels, removing to higher parts of the town, land, therefore, much property has [deen lost. It is not yet known when ther any lives were lost as everybody jhas been too busy to think of his neighbours. The housing of so many refugees is taxing the authorities to the timest, but they are successfully coping with the catastrophe. jarl River, the above 4 on the city side of the Sungari River, is submerged the rising Waters to above the eaves of the roots. Part of the damage
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.