The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-22

Further details of the earthquakes in
New Zealand state that the most violent
disturbances were felt in the neighbor-
| hood of Retona. The severity of the
shocks led many people to believe that the
| island would sink into the sea- lmme-
diately after the first shock the ihabitants
rushed franticaly in all directions. When
| the second shock came the entire country
| for miles around was lit up by the glare
| from volcano which had suddenly burst
| into activity. Huge volumes of smoke,
| Illuminated with flame, simultaneously
burst forth from range of mountains
over sixty miles in length and above the
smoke could be seen huge masses OF fire
| resembling meteors rushing through the
| sky
| The natives who had escaped death gath
! cred in groups and, filled with abject ter
ror, held religious services, but when an
other shock would cause the earth to
trembe they would fall with their faces
to the ground quivering with fear. AS
soon as the news of the fearful occurrence
was received at Auckland a government
agent made immediate preparations to go
to the relief of the sufferers. Wagons
were chartered and filled with provisions
and clothes.
INCEssANT SHOCKS
! Mr.. johnson. the government agent, OH
his arrival at Rotona sent back the follow
ing account:
t The scene among the mountains as
viewed from the Wsiio 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 inconveni-
ences 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 COW
cred with mud.
Nearly all the buildings tina. | have
noticed are crushed in by falling mud.
| AT this place Snow Temperance Hall and
| the two principal hotels, rs are nearly all
| the other buildings in the town, are com,
pletely wrecked. The house occupied by
Mrs. Hazard and her family WIS borne
down by the weight Of the debris. Mrs.
Hazard was dug out alive, but four of her
children were fodnd dead. Mr.. Hazard is
missing. Detailed reports of the foreign
have not been received.
A BURSTING CLOUD.
The first reports of volcanic disturbances
came from Faranza, in the Auckland lake
district The natives of that village were
awakened at 2 q. m. by repeated vivid
flashes of lightning which continued at
rapid intervals mp to a. m, when tire
mendous earthquake occurred, followed
Equckly by others. The earthquakes con
tinued to follow one another in quick sue
cession up Ito a. M, when q Ieaden col
ored cloud was observed advancing from
the south. spreading out until it covered
! the sky While still moving it burst will
the sound of thunder and shortly aftel
showers of fine dust began falling.
, For the first time in tradition the eX
tinct volcano of Ruapeha was awakened
into activity. The entire country over al
extent 100 miles long by 20 i'll breadth was
but mass of flame and hot, crumblins
soil, which in places rose to the height Of
4 1000 feet capped at the highest point BY
the Tekopha Geyser, said to have been ont
of the grandesi in the world. Numerous
small native-yillages were totally destroy
ed. Wairoa was covered to depth of ter
feet with dust and ashes. ~
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE
One hundred and seventy persons art
known to have lost tier lives. among
whom were several English residents
The loss of cattle starved 80 death, from
the destruction of pastures by the dust is
very heavy. and great distress exist:
| throughout all the Auckland lake district
In most cases where found :hey wert
dead At the date of departure of thu
steamer from Auckland the volcanoes Wer,
still very active and the temperature o
the hot lakes was increasing
The captain of the steamship Southern
J Cross. which arrived at Auckland OH TN
, 18th reports having felt at sea the eifec
t of the disturbances. On the morning 0
June 10. the Gay following the earthquakes
he experienced downfall of dust. Frot
/, 5 TO 10 II. m. there was complete darkness
e and balls of fire were continually playin
around the mastheads. A terrible gid
suddenly sprang up and carried al hi
: canvas away before it could he taken ii
The inen were unable 10 stand the hliht
ing showers oil dust and the vessel VA
!. put atont and stood away to the Nortl
t but it was moi EMIL O'Clock Of HE ,l;a
follow ing that the ;!nsi "iis left behind.