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JAMES METTERICK’S STATEMENT

“There were ten of us in the house – my father, step-mother, and eight children.  Somebody came and roused us just at one o’clock. 

I put on my trousers; my step-mother and I stood on the stairs. 
We looked out of the windows, and saw a large quantity of water and sticks coming down.  From their appearance we knew the reservoir had burst. 

I and my step-mother came downstairs, and my father handed us the children who were asleep in the house part for us to lift into the chamber. 

The water bust in at the window and through the door, and half-filled the chamber. 

I ran with the rest into the garret, except my father and one child, who we expect drowned in the house. 

About half a minute after we had got into the garret the whole house gave way, and we were all swept down the stream, and I saw no more of any of them. 

No part of the house touched me that I know of. 

When I got into Harpin’s dam I caught hold of a piece of wood, and sprang up. 

I got a good sob of breath, and then went under and lost my hold of the plank. 

On coming up again I got hold of another, and again rolled over.  At last I got hold of a small piece of wood, and paddled it towards the side. 

A gust of wind then came and blew me towards the land on the Austonley side. 

I leaped off the timber, and fell up to my neck in the water; but I managed to scramble out, and after falling several times I got to a house, and stripped off my trousers and shirt and went to bed. 

I was nearly exhausted.”