Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-21
The New Zealand Earthquakes.
SIXTY MILES OF MOUNTAINS IN FLAMES
SHOWERS OF DUST EXTENDING FAR OUT

AT SEA.
San Francisco. July 12.-Further details
of the earthquakes in New Zealand say that
the most violent disturbances were felt in
the neighborhood of Rotona. The severity
of the shock led many of the people to be-
lieve that the island would sink into the sea-
The sensation experienced is said to have
been fearful beyond description. Immedi-
ately after the first shock the inhabitants
rushed frantically in all directions. When
the second shock came the entire country
for miles around was lit up by the glare
from a volcano which had suddenly burst
into activity. 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 be seen masses of fire resembling
meteors, rushing through the sky. The
natives who had escaped death gathered 10
groups, and, filled with abject terror, held
religious services, but when another shock
would cause the earth to tremble they
would fall with their faces to the ground
quiyering with fear.
As soon as the news of the fearful occur
renee was received at Auckland, Govern
ment agent made immediate preparations
to go to the relief of the sufferers Wagons
were chartered and filed with provisions
and clothes. Mr.. johnson, the Government
agent, on his arrival at Rotona, sent back
the following account:
"The scene among the mountains as
viewed from the Wairoa road is terribly
grand. Flashes of lightning, peals of
thunder, and shocks of earthquake are in
cessant, while dust is falling in heavy
showers. In addition to these inconve-
niences the roads throughout 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 the
bridges which cross the lower end are
covered with mud. Nearly all the build
ings that / have noticed are crushed in by
falling mud. At this place Shows Temper
ance Hall and the two principal hotels and
nearly all the other buildings in the town
completely wrecked. The house occupied are
| 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 Auckland on the
10th, reports having felt at sea the effect of
the disturbances. On the morning of
June 10, the day following the earth
quakes, he experienced a downfall of dust.
From 5 to 10 A. NJ there was complete
darkness, and the balls of fire were con-
tinually playing around the mastheads. A
terrible gale suddenly sprang up and carri-
ed all his canvas away before it could be
taken 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 A. M. of the day
following that the dust was left behind.
The reports show that earthquakes gener-
ally prevailed at all points in New Zealand
during the same period.