The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-17
EARTHQUKEs IN NEW YEA
LAND.
Volcanoes Which Suddenly Burst
Into Action-A Tale of Ter
rifying Scenes.

A dispatch from San Francisco, July II.
says:-Details of the earthquake in New
Zealand state that the most violent distur-
Dances 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 experience
ed is said to have been fearful beyond de-
scription. Immediately after the first shock
the inhabitants rushed frantically in all d.
rections. 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.
The scene was ms 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 huge
masses of fire resembling meteors rushing
through the sky. The natives who had es.
capped death gathered in groups, and, filed
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 quivering with fear. As soon as news
of the fearful occurrence was received at
Auckland, government agent made imme-
date preparations to go to the relief of the
sufferers. Wagons were chartered and filled
with provisions and clothes.
Mr.. johnson, the government agent, on
his arrival at Rotona, sent back the follow
ing account: The scene from the mountains,
as viewed from the Wairoa road. is terribly
grand. Flashes oflightning, peals of thunder
and shocks of earthquake are incessant,
while dust is falling in heavy showers. In
addition to these Inconvenience the roads
throughout the entire country are covered
with several feet of blue clay mud elected
from the volcanoes. All vegetation is des
., -
ly changed. Blue Lake and Lake Rotaka-
kahi have been transformed into mud baths.
The outlet of the latter lake is blocked up
and the bridges which crossed 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, as are
nearly all the other buildings in the town,
are completely wrecked. The house occu-
pied 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
18th, reports having felt at sea the effect of
the disturbances. On the morning of June
10, the day following the earthquakes, he ex-
perienced downfall of dust. From five to
ten a. M, there was complete darkness, and
balls of fire were continually playing around
the mastheads. A terrible gale suddenly
sprang up and carried 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 IL O'Clock
of the day following that the dust was left
behind.
The reports show that earthquakes sener
ally prevailed at all points in New Zealand
during the same period.