The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-10-30

= Okaeo late, Eve miles from Rbto-
nahanA. He went to ued about two
o'clock. and was awakened by rumb-
ling noise like that of an earthquake.
He went outside the door, but could
see nothing, although it was a clear
night. The noise proceeded from Tara
vera. He looked round again and saw
q huge mass of fame rise in the heavens,
and instantly lava and smoke covered
the ground. Soon after a volume
of fame issued from Runanga, close to
Tarawefs. Efftt -
The scene on the mountaln-top vas
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 tremendou1, 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
assembled 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,
bubblingi 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 hnk 4 lsgg s
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 it
was SO black that no one could see his
hands in front of him. While this was
going on a 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 q
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 to
try and get them to be calm, and adj
vised them to 60 up Horomanga gorge,
where he was going himself. He tried
VlcIus Uub COu4O NV luttQCC OhAC Va tiCAAA
| to move. He Immediately started
| for the place himself, and had got
about q mile along the road when the
| dust and smoke became so suffocating
that he dropped down between some
manuka bushes and could scarcely
/ breathe. He kept his mouth close to
the ground, and stones fell with great
force upon him The pieces of lava
seemed to be Increasing in size, and as
he was becoming surrounded he rose
up and thus kept himself from, being
smothered. At seven o'clock in the
morning there was no sign of daylight,
| and at $40 small streak of light APP
peared over Taupo. After much ex-
tertion he got up and made his way to
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 natives
declare that several hundred of their
countrymen have persisted. This much
is certain. Mount Tarawera is wreck.
The terraces are destroyed. and all the
natives who were living in the vicinity
of the calamity were overwhelmed by
the streams of lava which beiched forth
from the mouths of the craters. duck
lend Cor. N. r Herald.
BEATING THE MUD.
r.