The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-13
NEW ZEALAND'S VOLCANOES.
Shocks That Caused People to.Think the
Island Would Sink in the Sea.
Grand and Terrible Scenes Along the Mount
ains-A COnvulsion Which Has Entirely
Changed the Face of the Country.

SAN FRANcIsco, July 12-Further details of
the New Zealand earthquakes and volcaEic
eruptions, received by the steamer Alameda,
state that the most violent disturbances were
felt in the neighborhood of Rotarna. The vio-
lence of the earthquakes led the people to think
that the island had blown up and would sink in
the sea. The sensation experienced is said to
have been fearful and almost beyond description.
Immediately after the first earthquake the in
habitants rushed about frantically in all direc-
tions. When the second one was felt the
entire country for miles around was lit up by
the glare from the volcano, which had suddenly
burst forth. The scene was grand as it was
awful Huge volumes of smoke illuminated
with flames simultaneously burst forth over the
range of mountains over sixty miles in length,
and above the flames could be distinctly seen the
balance of the fre. presenting the appearance of
meteors chasing one another along the ex
panse of sky The natives who escaped clus-
tered in groups and held religious services, and
then, as another earthquake would make itself
felt, would fall with their faces on the ground,
quivering with fear.
As soon as news Of the fearful occurrence was
received a. Auckland the government agent
made immediate preparations to go to the relief
of the sufferers. Wagons were chartered, and
flied with provisions and clothes. MIR. Johnson,
the government agent, on his arrival at Rotauna.
sent back the following account
'"Fhe scene among the mountains, as viewed
from the Waroa road, is terribly grand. Flash
es of lightning. peals of thunder and shocks of
earthquake are incessant, while dust is falling
T.. ~ T.
veniences the roads in the entire country are
covered with several feet of blue-clay
mud elected from the volcanoes Ali
vegetation is destroyed and the aspect
of the country is entirely changed. Blue lake
and Rotakakahi have been transferred into mud
baths. The outlet of Letter lake is blocked up,
and the bridges which cross its lower end are
covered with mud. Nearly all the buildings
That nave noticed are crushed in by falling
mud At this place the Snow Temperance Hall
and the two principal hotels as are nearly all
the other buildings in town. are completely
wrecked. The house occupied 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 beside
her. Her husband is also missing. Detailed
reports of the killed Of foreign residents at
other points had not been received at the time
of the Alameda's sailing.
1.-The captain of the steamship Southern
Cross who arrived at Auckland on the 18th, re-
ported having felt at sea, the effect of the
earthquakes and volcanic disturbances. He
said that on the morning OF the 10th Of June, the
day following the earthquakes, he experienced
downfall Of dust, which continued during three
hours. From 10 in the morning there was dark.
ness, with balls of fire playing around the
rigging and masthead. A terrible gale sprung
up which carried away all his canvas before it
eou.d be taken in. The men on board were un-
able to stand the binding showers of sand, and
Che captain ordered the boat about and stood
away to the north, but not until IL o'clock next
day did he get clear of the dust Telegraphic
eeports received from nearly all points in New
Zealand show that earthquakes generally pre-
vailed during the same period