“A bush fire started near the Rubicon Falls on Sunday, and efforts to check it were unsuccessful,” reported the local press in 1939. The report continued:
Control work was continued on Monday, and on Tuesday morning additional men were sent out from the timber yards at Alexandra to assistthe firefighters.
In the afternoon the position was reported as very serious.
At 6pm workers were impressed by the particular silence which seemed to oppress the air, but it was not for long, as with lightning rapidity the flames increased in fury.
Earlier in the day women and children had been moved down from the forest, and at night time parties of them were taken to Thornton.
The persistent advance of the fire was due to the long spell of dry weather experienced in the forest, and none of the approved methods of fighting forest fires could stop the insatiable column of fire.
Dawn on Wednesday revealed a distressing picture – 12 men burned to death:
The Victims
Baden Johnston, Single. Lieut. of Alexandra troop of Light Horse.
Alfred Neason, Married.
Peter Murdoch, Single.
J. West, Married. Forestry officer.
James V. Cain, Single.
Joseph Cherry, Married.
T.A. Le Brun, Married.
Arthur Jeff. Wyatt, Single (from England).
Arch C. Payne, Married, family of 8. Son of Mr. G. Payne, Alexandra.
Lem. Sims, Single.
Viv. Argent, Single. From Yea.
G. Brundrett, Single.
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The remains of the first four were found early in the moring, and the other eight were located near No. 2 mill – 3 bodies were in a dug-out, 4 others were found about 20 yards up the hill, and one body by itself.
Mr Baden Johnston and Mr Neason, who the last members of a party that left No 3 mill, had a Pomeranian dog with them that they were bringing out.
Messrs Johnston and Neason not within half a mile of The Hut before they were apparently suffocated.
Their bodies were found on the tramline, one behind the other.
All the bodies were brought to the Alexandra Hospital. The morgue was too small, and portion of the infectious ward had to be used.
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About 25 men, mainly from the timber works, etc. at Alexandra had to make a hasty retreart from No. 2 mill site and spent until the morning in the State Electricity Commission’s dam.
It was full when tey got in, but a leak developed in a pipe (due to intense heat), and it gradually emptied.
However, it served a dfinite purposed at a critical time. It was a nightmare experience for the man.
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At Tin Hut Mr Collins’ store with post office attached, was destroyed together with two houses – Mr A. Dunn’s and Mr J. Hyatt’s.
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All the men in the forest, as well as the wives and children of those who are married, lost everything.
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The eight mills employed about 230 men. The whole of the houses they were living in have been destroyed, with the exception of a few houses at No. 4 and No. 5 mills.
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All of Clark and Pearce’s mills were destroyed with the exception of the one known as No. 4.
The mill known as Skinner’s is included in the list of those destroyed, as well as those known as Barnewall & Lee’s (No 6) and the Royston mill (Mr Cecil).
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Parties shelted in dug outs during the fury of the fire. At No 6 mill there were 25 persons in one.
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Many of the men are suffering severely from the effects of the smoke and burns.
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Several bodies, one a woman and one a child’s, were found lying at intervals along the Acheron Way early on Wednesday.
All the deadcame from Feigian’s mills, which they left at 6pm to beat the approaching flames to Marysville bytraversing a rough bush track which joined the Acheron Way.
Mr and Mrs K. Kerslake with their six year old daughter, Ruth and Mrs Kerslake’s brother, Frank Edwards, formed the original party which left the mills by car.
On the way they apparently picked up by three Greeks. They were overtaken by the flames. Five of the bodies were brought into Alexandra.
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Telephone communication with Rubicon (The Hut) was restored on Wednesday.
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Senior-constable Field and First Constable Rawson have been out at the fires all the week, while First Constable Way remained in the town directing things generally.
The secretary of the local Bush Fire Brigadfe, Mr Les Stillman, has had a very strenuous time, as the calls for assistance has been continuous.
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Funerals of Victims
The funerals of the victims of the bush fire at Rubicon will take place
today at Alexandra cemetery. The first cortege will leave Alexandra Hospital at 10.30 a.m.
The funerals will be separate, and the late Mr. Neason’s will be the first.
The last funeral, that of the late Mr. G. Brendrett, will be at 2 p.m.
The remains of the late Messrs. Baden Johnston, J. West, J. Cain, J. Cherry, Viv. Argent, P. Edwards, and the Kerslake family will be interred in other parts of the State.
The Coroner, Mr. Tingate, yesterday inspected parts of the Rubicon Forest.
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Relief Measures
The population of the town has been added to-a considerable number of men, women and children having been forced to come in on account of the destruction of their former homes.
A representative of the State Relief Committee visited Alexandra yesterday, and conferred with members of the Shire Council.
A mass meeting of men was held in front of the Shire Hall yesterday morning, and a committee appointed, which afterwards met at
the Library under the chairmanship of the Rev. D. Blake.
Accommodation has been arranged for St. John’s Parish Hall has been made available for the women and children, and the Presbyterian Hall for the men.
The co-operation of the ladies of the Alexandra district is sought, and donations of foodstuffs are asked for. They can be left with the Rev. D. Blake, at St. John’s Rectory.
Two truck loads of blankets, bedding, clothing and foodstuffs arrived from Melbourne yesterday, and were unpacked by a committee of women and men at the Shire Hall.
Two local ladies’ committees have been formed – a food committee and a clothing committee.
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Bush Fire Losses
The exact losses of sheep have not yet been ascertained.
Many losses of horses were reported at Rubicon.
Helpers came from all over the place, including C.R.B. and S.E.C. men.
Young ladies assisted in the preparation of refreshments.
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Disastrous Bush Fires
The sizzling heat on Sunday was responsible for the spread of many bush fires in various parts of the State. Towards evening reports were received from Taggerty that fires were burning at Taggerty about Messrs. Wightman’s and Carter’s in one direction and about midway between Taggerty and Buxton in the opposite direction.
Shortly after the evening church services started in Alexandra, word
came through by telephone from Taggerty to the local police and the secretary of the Bush Fire Bri gade that assistance was required.
By nine o’clock 200 volunteers had left the town in motor cars and trucks, equipped with beaters, rakes, and knapsack pumps.
The fires were in no fixed spot.
They appeared in various parts of the district – Glendale, Taggerty, and right down Connelly’s Creek towards Acheron, as well as at Rubicon and the forest at Narbethong.
A blazing furnace was in evidence, trees in the bush were ig nited and flames a hundred feet high were seen.
The heat was terrific, with burning embers falling everywhere. Breaks were made, but with a strong wind blowing the efforts of the volunteers were marred to a certain extent.
At Glendale the home of the Farrer family, Utopia Park, was completely destroyed, as well as Mr. G. Dunne’s residence in Glendale. Mr. Gerald Farrer managed to save the motor car. Some stock perished, but the exact number will not be known for several days.
The heavy pall of smoke around the countryside made it difficult for firefighters to ascertain where the danger spots were.
On the Buxton side of Taggerty, a good save of Mr. Harrison’s guest
house was made.
Messrs. D. Bayne’s and Cameron’s residences were in the danger
zone, as well as Mrs. Hepburn’s, and anything might have happened.
Fortunately, the fire – or fires, to be correct – did not get within about a quarter of a mile of the houses.
All Sunday night and Monday the fighters stuck to their task, but on Monday night it was stated that patrol work was only necessary to keep the fires under control (provided the wind did not come up) to fan the flames into another outbreak.
All day Sunday the light was dull, and the sun appeared to set an hour before its time. The smoke haze was
so thick that the sun only partly penetrated it. Bits of debris from the fires were floating about on the air at nightime, causing irritation to the eyes.
On Tuesday afternoon the fire was burning in the vicinity of Con- nelly’s Creek, and in the afternoon strenuous efforts were necessary to
save Mr. Eric Cumming’s house.
Towards evening it was thought that the situation generally was in hand for the night. Shortly after six p.m. the atmosphere changed, and with dramatic suddenness the fire broke out with increased fury.
It raced to the Acheron cutting.
The wind caused fiery pieces of debris to fly in various directions, and
some fires were burning near Mr. Walter Turner’s farm: further on in Mr. J. Hewitt’s paddock; and down near the river in portion of the late Mr. J. Magee’s property.
The fire in Mr. Hewitt’s was speedily controlled, and after a brisk fight the one in Magee’s was stopped.
At the Acheron Cutting the fire did not cross the road.
Back on Connelly’s Creek sector Mr. Tom Wilmot’s house was saved
after a stiff fight.
When the alarm was given in Alexandra about 6.30 p.m. there was a wonderful response.
With Stillman’s Garage as headquarters telephone messages were received and cars, loaded with volunteers, promptly sent to danger points.
There were a couple of small out-
breaks at Taggerty, including one at Mr. Ellis’s.
At Wilmot’s, Mr N. Stillman found when making a forced retreat
that be had a young wallaby hop-ping along at the side of his leg.
On Wednesday the fire blazed up
occasionally, but was checked. Thornton battled with fires from Sunday last.
Mr. W. Pindlay’s property was visited by “the red demon,” and in the vicinity of Rubicon “A” a lot of fire fighting took place.
By Wednesday the fire hadmoved to the back of Mr. A. Barnewall’s, up towards Snobs Creek.
The response from Alexandra was very guatifying.. Every avail able car and man went out.
The Bush Fire Brigades did excellent work, and with the co operation of the public and the police, every matter received attention.
The womenfolk in preparing the
provisions for the firefighters did a splendid job and deserve the highest
praise.
Some of these ladies stopped up all Sunday night doing work in this direction.
About 200 volunteers went from Alexandra (including quite a number of Spring Creek and other parts of the district) on Sunday night.
Another 70 men went out on Monday morning.