Bushfires ravaged Gippsland in the summer of 1897–98, covering an area of about 1600 square kilometres. The worst day, 1 February 1898, was named ‘Red Tuesday’, recalling that other day of horror so memorably recorded by William Strutt in his Black Thursday, February 6th. 1851. John Longstaff visited Gippsland later in February 1898 to view the fires at first hand and collect material for a major picture. Gippsland, Sunday night, February 20th, 1898 was exhibited in a dramatic installation in his Melbourne studio in August 1898. A row of kerosene-lamp ‘footlights’ provided the illumination, and the effect was said to be ‘lurid and startlingly realistic’.
Articles Appearing in the Argus newspaper of Monday February 7th, 1898
THE BUSH FIRES. POSITION OF KORUMBURRA. FIRES STILL RAGING ROUND IT. THE TOWN SAFE (FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)
KORUMBURRA, Saturday. All through Friday night the people of Korumburra anxiously watched the progress of the fire which was approaching the town from the Jumbunna country. Burning fiercely as it was within a mile and a half of the town, and having plenty of scrub and lots of houses to carry it on its way, the fears, that Korumburra was not yet out of danger were not wanting on reasonable grounds. The hope of the people was in Deputy Chief-officer O’Brien, his two foremen, Watson and Wilkins, their steam fire-engine, the local brigade, and a dead calm, and not the least important was the dead calm. With a strong wind, such as the one which blew on the blackest Tuesday South Gippsland has known, there would have been a battle royal between the flames and the firemen, and the issue would have been hard to forecast. Happily, the men who manned the engine through the night had no need to get it to work, and when the morning came the prospect was much improved. Out on the selections the fire was being fought valiantly by the settlers and their friends, and it had made little progress towards Korumburra. And as the day passed, and the fire kept circling round, but getting no closer, the people of the town began to feel secure. But all through they were largely at the mercy of the wind, and that danger, grave as it is, remains with them while the bush, is aflame round the outskirts of the township. This afternoon Deputy Chief-officer O’Brien paid a visit to Silkstone, where the Jumbunna and other coal mines were menaced by fires which were burning in the heavily timbered gullies almost up to the pits’ mouths, and therefore perilously close to the mine buildings and surface plant. If the danger becomes more acute to-night and Korumburra looks safe the fire-engine will be taken out to-morrow, and set to work to secure the mine buildings. The delay which arose on Friday morning in turning the water on in the mains has caused quite a sensation here, and the members of the local fire brigade, attributing the delay to the neglect of a servant of the Water Trust, have determined to resign in a body unless he is removed from his position. The grave danger to the town caused by the delay of an hour or so is, of course, not overlooked by the members of the Water Trust, and it is purposed to hold an inquiry this week to determine who is really responsible for the muddle with the mains
THE MAN PROM WILD DOG CREEK.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE TWENTY HOURS IN SHALLOW WATER
In a variety of terrible experiences endured by the settlers last week, few are more thrilling than that of Con Whelan, known by his friends, from the locality of his selection, as ‘ The Man from Wild Dog Creek” He was alone on Tuesday afternoon when the fire swept down upon him, heralded by the thunders of falling trees, and accompanied by smoke in such dense clouds that it made darkness as profound as night. For a while he sought to save his house, but finding that an impossible task, he looked around to see what chance there was of saving himself. He was now surrounded by flames and he rushed round looking for a break in the fire. He could find none but seeing a spot when the grass had burned low he determined upon a rush through it, hoping to get beyond the fire and reach in safety the house of a friend a quarter of a mile away. He had not gone far, however, when he found his passage in that direction blocked by a sheet of surging flame and by falling timber which threatened death at every step. All hope of life seemed past but plunging once again through a corner of the fire, Whelan raced for the Wild Dog Creek. On his way he picked up a riding-saddle, but this encumbrance almost caused disaster. The flames catching hold of the grass through which he ran, followed him down the hill and he jumped into the creek and lay full length in its shallow waters just us the fire passed over his head. It was then early afternoon. The creek could give him protection only while he lay in it, and even then, his head was exposed, and his hair was singed by successive tongues of flame which passed over the shallow water-course.
All through the long hours of the afternoon, evening, and night Whelan lay there, for he was almost blind and dared not move, even though gums of giant stature fell and smashed to pieces all round him. The water of the creek reached almost to boiling point and thickened with cinders of the burning trees. It was noon on Wednesday before Whelan ventured to leave his refuge, I and then he had to feel his way over the burning logs and trust to his knowledge of the locality to find his way first to the ruins of his own house and then to those of his friends. The saddle, which lay on the bank within reach of his hand, was found burned to ashes.
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