Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-13
EARTnouAKE IN NEW ZEALAND.
Continuous shocks and Terrible
Ineess-D Details Of the Calamity.

Ineess-DetuiIs Of she Calamity.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l
SAN FRANCISCO, July l2.-Further
details Of the earthquakes in New Tea
land state that the most violent dis
turbances were felt in the neighborhood
Of Rotona. The severity Of the shocks
led many to believe the island would
sink into the sea. The sensation
is said TO have been fearful be-
yond description. Immediately 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 q 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
a 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 gathered in
groups and, filled with abject terror,
held religious services, but when an
other shock would cause the earth to
tremble they would fall with theic
faces to the ground quivering with fear.
As soon as news Of the fearful occur
rance was received at Auckland = Gov
eminent agent made immediate prepare
tons to go to the relief OF the suffer-
ing. Wagons we're chartered and
filled with provisions and clothes. Mr..
Johnston, the Government agent, on his
arrival at Rotona sent back the follow
ing account 1.-THE scene among the
mountains as viewed from the Wairoa
road is terribly grand. Flashes OF
lightning, pesls of thunder, and
SHOCKS OF EARTHQUAKE ARE IN
CEssANT,
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 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 W.
and the bridges which cross the lower
end are covered with mud. Nearly all
the buildings that have noticed are
CRUSHED IN BY FALLING MUD.
At this place Shows Temperance Hall
and the two principal hotels, as are
nearly all the other buildings in the
town, are completely wrecked. Tue
house occupied by Mrs. Uaz,rd AID
Ter 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 miss
ing. Detailed reports of the foreign
residents at other points who were killed
have rot yet been received"
A VESSELS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
The captain OF the steamship South
ern Cross, which arrived at Auckland
on the 18th, reports having felt at sea
The effect of the disturbances. On the
morning of June 10th, the day follow
ing the earthquakes, he experienced a
downfall OF dust. From to 10 a.
NJ. there was complete darkness,
and balls OF fire were continu-
ally playing around the mast
heads. A terrible gale suddenly
sprapg 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 be.
hind. The reports show that earth
quakes generally prevailed at all points
in New Zealand during the same period.