The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-23

dDOuU 1OuT y CIOck III IIio IuOIHiuS
series of severe earthquake shocks were
distinctly felt. The flashes of electric
itv continued to increase in brilliancy
as the morning wore on, and from the
same direction came continued rumb-
lings, which appeared to extend along
the line from Rotorua to White Island.
Toward seven o'clock Teaden-colored
cloud slowly advanced from the direc-
ton of the hill behind Mr.. Jonathan
Browns property until reaching Mata-
phil. 1t appeared to hang for short
time, after which it again advanced and
burst upon the town and district in a
heavy shower of fine sulphuric dust,
enveloping the entire neighborhood in
total darkness. About $50 this partly
cleared away. but only for few min
utes, after which it returned with in
creased density, and ere long had again
wrapped the town and suburbs in COM
plete darkness. The dust, which emit
ted sulphuric smell, soon formed
coating upward of half an inch in thick
ness over the ground.
Mr.. H. R. Burt, native agent, who
has just come into town. says he camped
at Okaro lake. five miles from Roto-
mahana. He went to bed about two
O'Clock, and was awakened by a rumb-
ling noise like that of an earthquake.
He went outside the door, but could
see nothing, although it was clear
night. The noise proceeded from Tara
vera. He looked round again and saw
a huge mass of flame rise in the heavens,
and instantly lava and smoke covered
the ground. Soon after a volume
of flame issued from Runanga, close tc
Tarawera.
The scene on the mountaIn-top was
awful. Large balls of fire were thrown
from the gaping mouth toward Taupo.
this accompanied by terrible reports
which shook the whole place. Forked
lightning followed close upon the balls
of fire; it resembled the wriggling OF
snakes; it returned to the crater. form
ing the letter ''V" This was most
wonderful phenomenon. The roar
was tremendous, resembling the heavi-
est thunder. AS each piece of hillside
slipped into the open basin, large
clouds of black dust rose out of it and
ascended to the heavens. The fall OF
earth into the open crater seemed to
stop the fiery balls from coming up,
but forked lightning still continued.
Dense volumes of smoke issued from
the crater, going in various directions.
AS soon as Ruawhina stopped send
ing forth its terrible balls of flame a
huge white cloud issued from the cap
of Rotomanana, and heavy booming
was heard, followed by volumes Of
white compressed steam from Lake
Rotomahana. 1t rose with terrible
velocity and seemed to be going toward
Okaro lake. This lake is about five
| miles from Lake Rotomahana, and the
appearance it presented at times was
something like huge boiling caldron,
bubbling in all directions. Lightning
then commenced to shoot from Mount
Kakaramea. On the side toward Okaro
lake it commenced to turn to the side
| of the mount. 1t seemed to be like a
sheet of flame. From the whole mount
there came myriads of shooting stars
| like large rockets.
Shortly afterwards shocks of earth
quakes were felt, accompanied by a
noise resembling minute guns, but
louder than the heaviest gun known.
There was an open crater on Mount
Kakaranga, and Immediately a huge
volume Of dense black smoke issued
from it, and the country all round be-
gan to get dark. In half an hour il
was so black that no one could see his
hands in front of him. While this was
going on shower of pieces of lava the
size of peas came down with terrible
swiftness and with such force as to be
almost as dangerous as bullets.
The natives at this time had gathered
at Tlharepuni, where they assembled
in one place. They are all Hauhaus
about this place. They presented a
dismal spectacle. They had three
Maori prophets in the center, and the
natives were in state of panic, some
crying, others praying, while some
were rushing about in all directions.
The Maori prophets were worse than
the others, and set up bowling, dis.
NAL noise. Mr.. Burt spoke to them tC
try and get them to be calm, and ad-
vised them to go up Horomanga gorge,
where he was going himself. He tried
them, but could not induce one of them
to move. He Immediately started
for the place himself, and had go1
about mile along the road when the
dust and smoke became so suffocatine
that he dropped down between some
manuka bushes and could scarcely
breathe. He kept his mouth close tt
| the ground, and stones fell with grea
force upon him The pieces of Laws
seemed to be increasing in size, and a:
4 he was becoming surrounded he ross
up and thus kept himself from being
smothered. At seven O'Clock in the
4 morning there was no sign of daylight
and at 9:20 small streak of light APP
peared over Taupo. After much ex
ertion he got up and made his way t.
where he had parted from the natives
and found them still in the same place
At this time it is impossible to esti
mate the number of the killed. Explor
ing parties are at work, and their re
ports are eagerly awaited. The native
declare that several hundred of thei
countrymen have perished. This mucl
is certain, Mount Tarawera is a wreck
The terraces are destroyed. and all tn
natives who were living in the viclnit,
of the calamity were overwhelmed b,
the streams of lava which belched fort