Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-15
ArHRuL1NG ADVENTURE.
In the Earthquake Region OF New zea-
land.

land.
A correspondent of the London Standard,
writing from Wellington, New Zealand, ON
the 3Oth of June, gives an account OF q
perilous adventure which befel a number
of Wairoa settlers, among whom was alady.
He says:
One of the chief sufferers at Wairoa, as
far rs loss of property Is concerned, was
Captain Way, who had married the
daughter of an English missionary and had
lived in the district for some years. "A
few months ago he was offered G5,OOO for
his homestead. At the present time the
house is a heap of ruins and the a n Is
covered with eight feet OF volcanic Sanu.
A few DAYS ago he determined t try TO
visit his place, to recover, If possible, some
of his personal effects. He took WIN
him nine horses and four Europeans, n
Mrs Wav insisted on sharing the risks
of the expedition. II was known from the
first that the party would nave TO cross
mountains of volcanic mud, and to traverse
a narrow ledge by the side of lake, with
huge land slips constantly slipping down
from the hills and threateningtO hurl them
into the waters below. 1t was felt that the
undertaking would be attended with great
difficulty and many people did not hesitate
TO pronounce it fOOlhardy. They managed
to reach WairOa in safety, however, and
were Joined by a European named Humph-
ries and five natives. Then a heavy storm
of wind and rain set in, and the perils OF
their position were immensely increased.
The fat on which the village is situated
became an impossible bog. Ayalanches
of volcanic debris came laundering down
from the hills on all sides. .
The party all crowded into little Maori
hut-fve Europeans, five MaOris and the
English lady. Shocks of earthquake were
felt during the night, and the door wa
kept open so that they might run out IN
case of danger. The noise of a~valanches
WAS 80 great that sleep became impossible,
and the Europeans relieved each other IN
keeping guard at the dOOrOf the hut. Next
day it soon became apparent thst not only
was there no chance OF removing any oil
their goods, but there were grave doubts
whether the party would be able to get
away from their p~erilOus position. On
getting to the lakeside, they found that
the slope and the cOrnice track by which
they had come was simply Il moving mass
of liquid mud, three or four feet IN depth.
One of the party, n splendid athlete,
named Warbrick, announced his intention
of breaking through at all hazards, in
order to get assistance from RotOrua. by
dint Of almost superhuman exertlons he
succeeded, though several times he had
landSlipS behind and in front Of him, and
expected mOmentarily to be swept into the
lake. In addition, he more than once al
most suCcumbed to exhaustion, but at
length managed to fight his way through.
Meanwhile the beleaguercd expedition
remained in WairOa. Another dreadful
night was passed in the little hut, Mn.
Way taking her turn with the rest in keep
inc watch for ~avalancheS. Their water
and provisions were all exhausted, but
fortunately they managed to find some
lemonade, and potted meat, and fish, by
digging among the ruins of the WairOa HO-
tel. The natives got hold OfSOme spirits,
and wished to drown their fears IN
drink; but Mrs. Way, who has great intlu-
ence over the MaOriS, managed to diSSuade
them from adding this new horror to the
scene. Next day, by the aid OF an old
Maori canoe, the weather having mOderat-
ed, they managed to get to a more secure
position on the shores of the lake, where
they were found by the reScuing expedi-
ton despatched from ROtOrna. For thirty
hours Mrs, Way had been baretOOted,
standing in mud or water, and the endur-
ance and courage she displayed were
really wonderful. Naturally all the party
suffered 4 great deal from the hardships tn
which they were exposed, but were lucky
to escape with their lives.