The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-07-22
Terrible ConYulsion Of Nature.

SAN FRANCISCO, July lZ.-Furtner
details of the earthquake in New Zealand
state that the most violent disturbance
were felt in the neighborhood of Rotona.
The severity of the shocks led many peo.
ple to believe that the island would sink
into the sea. The sensation experienced
is said to have been fearful beyond de-
scription. Immediately after the FIRST
shock the inhabitants rushed frantically
ia. all directions. When the second
shock came the entire country for miles
around was lit up by blare from vol.
cano which had suddenly burst into &C.
tivity. Z
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, aud above the smoke
could be seen huge masses of fire, resem.
bling meteors rushing through the sky.
The natives who had escaped death gath.
cred in groups and, filled with sabject
terror, held religious services. But when
another shock would .cause the earth to
tremble they would fall with their faces
to the ground quiyering with fear. .
AS soon as the news of tho fearful oc-
currence was received at Auckland a
Government agent made immediate pre-.
parations to go to. the relief ofthe suffer.
ing people. Wagons were chartered and
filled with provisions and clothes.i John.
son, the Government agent, on hisarrival
at Rotona sent back the following &C.
count:
+ "The scene among the mountains as
viewed from the Wairora road is terribly
grand. Flashes of lightning, peals of
thunder and schocks Of earthquake are
incessant, while dust is falling in heavy
showers. In addition tolthese inconye.
niences the roads throughout the entire
country are covered with blue clay mud,
elected from the volcano. 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 covered with mud.
Nearly all the buildings that I have no.
ticed are crushed in by falling mud: AT
this place Shows Temperance Hall and
the two principal hotels, and nearly all
the other buildings in town, are com.
pletely wrecked. "a house occupied by
Mrs. Hazard and her family:wa borne
down by the weight ofthe debris. Mrs.
Hazard was dug ut4alive, but four of
herchildren wers found dead Hazard
is missing. Detailed reports of foreign
residents atsother points who were killed
have not been received" c;s.f;s.;es.:.,' g:
The Captain ofthe steamship Southern
Gross, which arrived at Auckland on
June l, reports having felt atsea the ef.
feet of the disturbance. On the morning
ofiJune1O, eday following the earth!
quakes, be experienced downfall of dust.
]srom .5= to 10 a. M. there vas complete
darkness, and ballsof fire were continue
silly playing about the mast. heads. "A
terrible. gale suddenly spraGg up and
carried all his canvass away before; it
could be taken in. The menwere unable
to stand the binding showers of dust, and
the vessel was put abont and stood away
to the North, but it was not until II
O'clock ofthe day following that the dust
was left behind. Reports show that
earthquakes generally prevailed at all
points in New. Zealand during the same
period. - =,