Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-21
NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKES
Vivid and Thrilling Account of the
Scenes-Villages Destroyed.


The recent eruption of Mount Terra
vera, on the north island of New Yea
lana, brief accounts OF which were
published in the MORNING NEWS some
days ago, Occasioned a greater loss of
life and more extensive desolation than
has ever been known IN this section OF
the globe. The OtagO Daily Times issued
an eight-page extra containing full ac-
counts OF the magnificent spectacle and
the horrible Ordeals through which the
survivors passed.
Fortunately, the country adjacent to
the mountains is but sparsely settled
The villages closest to Tarawera are Oc-
cupied entirely by natives, 80 that the
loss of life among the Europeans, confined
principally TO the village OF TIE Wairod,
probably did not exceed fifty or sixty
lives; but the loss in the native villages,
some Of which have entirely disappeared,
will never be fully ascertained.
GARDEN OF THE LORD.
The country is one OF extreme piotur-
sequences. Hs wonderful geysers, its hot
springs and iumaroles, its beautiful and
noted white and pink terraces, and its
healing and delightful baths, attracted
yearly large number of tourists 10 what
was known as the wonder land
OF the Southern hemisphere. The
tall peaks Of the mountain, with the
Lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana at its
base, form the background of plain which
stretches away with slight undulations
toward the sea, and on which the towns
and settlements are situated. WairOa,
formerly a thriving village occupied
by natives and Europeans, and
containing. besides other substan-
tial wooden buildings, three large
hotels for the accommodation of tourists,
was situated just ten miles from Mount
Tarawera, surrounded by fertile plain,
on which agriculture was making rapid
advances. Now only a few fragments of
buildings, jutting up from beneath the
glstening lava, mark where the village
stood.
A THRILLING ACCOUNT.
While this region aDOunds in natural
phenomena there was nothing to indicate
an undue conflict of the elements on the
day preceding the eruption, and at night
the surrounding country settled down as
quietly as it had done any time within
the last 800 years, the period which is be-
lieved to have elapsed since the noun
tain has shown signs of volcanic nc.
ton. About O'Clock, however, the in
habitants OF the towns were aroused
10y violent shaking OF the earth followed
by a. continuous but not unpleasant mo-
tlOn. Many OF them rushed into the
streets in their night clothes and snatch
ing what articles they could fled in terror.
Others, however. not believing that any
particular danger existed, stood and
watched in awe-stricken admiration the
magniticence Of the spectacle presented
by the mountain. A bright red glow.
lighting up the heavens, was then
visible about the top of the noun.
tain, which WAS intensified at in
teryals by vivid flashes Of light and
brilliant flames, which shot up to a con-
side able distance in the air. This con-
tinued for about an hour, when the scene
suddenly changed with awful and start.
ling rapidly. From pickering flames the
hight condensed into vast and massive
pillar of fire. rearing itself nigh up in the
heavens. This gradually extended along
the range I'LL 1t presented an apparent
diameter Of halt mile.
THE EARTH IN COMMISSIONS.
A dull. ominous, rumbling sound nc.
companed the flames. This increased IA
the hreaand smoke became more intense
until IL became continuous and terrific
roaring. The pillar OF lire then seemed
gradually TO be cclpsed by dense black
cloud, witch settled on n. hHuripr IKE a