Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-13
EARTHQUAKE HORRORS.
NEW ZEALAND'S TERRORIZING
EXPERIENCE.

a Mountain Range 60 Miles in Length
Transformed into a Series of Fire Spit
thug VOlcanOes-CiOudso of sand Failing
Far Out at Sea-Nearly All Rotona's
buildings Destroyed.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 12.-Further de-
tails of the earthquakes in New Zealand
state that the most violent distur rhances
were felt in the neighborhOod Of Rotona.
The severity of the shocks led many Of the
people to believe that the island would
sink into the sea. The sensation expert
enced is said to have been fearful beyond
description. Immediately after the first
shock the inhabitants rushed franticaly
in all directions. When the second shock
came the entire country for miles around
was lit up by the glare from the volcano,
which had suddenly burst into activity.
GRANDEUR WHICH TERRORIZED.
The scene was as grand as it was awful.
Huge volumes OF smoke illuminated with
flames simultaneously burst forth from
range OF mountains over sixty miles IN
length, and above the smoke could ba
seen huge masses of fire, resembling
meteors rushing through the sky. The
natives who bad escaped death gathered
in groups, and filled with abject terror
held religious services; but when another
shock would cause the earth TO lremble
they would fall with their faces 10 the
ground, quivering with fear. AS soon as
the news OF the fearful occurrence was
received at Auckland the government
agent made immediate preparations to 90
TO the relief of the suffering. Wagons
were chartered and filed with provisions
and clothes.
JOHNSOE's DESCRIPTION.
Mr. IObuao, fha ,.ouarurna,t oosonf O,,.
his arrival at ROtona. sent back the iol1
lowing account: The scene among the
mountains as viewed from the w WaiFoa
road Is terribly grand. The flashes Of
lightning, peals OF thunder and shocks of
earthquake are incessant, while dust is
falling in heavy showers. In addition to
these inconveuiences, the roads through-
out the entire country are covered with
several feet OF blue clay mud elected
from the VOLCANOES. All vegetation is
destroyed and the aspect of the country
is entirely changed. Blue Lake and Lake
ROtakakahi have been transformed into
mud baths. The outlet OF the latter lake
is blocked up, and bridges which cross
the lower end are covered with mud.
Nearly all the buildings that / have
noticed are crushed in by falling mud at
this place. Shows temperance hall and
the two principal hotels, and nearly all
the other buildings in the town, are conn
pletely wrecked.
FOUR CHILDREN KILLED.
The house occupied by Mrs. Hazard and
her family was borne down by the weight
of the debris. Mrs. Hazard was dug out
alive, but four Of her children were found
dead. Mr. Hazard is missing. Detailed
reports OF the foreign residents at other
points who were killed have not yet been
received. The Captain of the steamship
Southern Cross, which arrived at Auck.
land on June lS reports having felt at sea
the effect OF the disturbances. On the
morning OF June 10, the day following the
earthquakes, he experienced a downfall
Of dust. From 5 to 10 o'clock
in the morning there was
complete darkness, aAd balls OF fire were
continually playing around. the mast
heads. A terrible gale suddenly sprang
up and carried all his canvas away be-
fore it could be Eaken in, The men were
unable to stand the binding showers OF
dust and the vessel was put about and
stood away to the north, but it was NOT
until II o'clock of the day following that
the dust was left behind. The reports
show that earthquakes generally prevail.
ed at all points In New Zealand during
the same period.