The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-29

A NEW ZEALAND QUAKE.
An Eye Witness Tells OF His Experiences
with Lava and Scalding Mud.

A NEW ZEALAND QUAKE.
An Eye-wItness Tells OF His Experiences
with Lava and scalding Mud.
Wonderland is the name given to the
North Island of New Zealand by Euro
pean tourists. Everybody recalls the
great earthquake and volcanic outbursts
that convulsed the country last June. A
spectator, who has just returned from
Tauranga. gives the following account
of his experiences:
AT O'Clock in the morning of June
10 a heavy shock of earthquake oc-
Cured. and was shortly afterwards fol-
lowed by a great glare and ilIumi-
nation over the southern sky. Smaller
shocks followed in quick succession, till
at 4:S0 the great shock occurred, and
very shortly afterwards showers of vol
canic dust were swept along by brisk
~outherly wind. The showers of dust
got denSer and denser, till at 9 o'clock
II was perfectly dark. and lights had TO
be lit For over an hour total darkness
reigned. and the shower of dust fell in
great sheets. almost binding men who
were out The showers continued all
day, and the whole face of the country
was covered with dust over an inch
thick. Shocks of earthquake occurred
at intervals all the day.
''The Tarawera Mountain and its
twin cone. Ruawahia. suddenly burst
into activity. Seen from this place the
spectacle was fearful. and il reminded
one of Bulwer's descriptions of The
Last Days of Pompeii' and of Martins
celebrated picture of The Last Day.
From o'clock until about ) immense
volumes of flame were projecting to a
great height and dense clouds of
smoke, steam, mud and ashes covered
the sky and thunder and lightning were
almost incessant. Flashes of lightning
played through the pail of smoke in all
directions. The effect of the corrusca-
ton was simply indescribable. Shortly
before 8 o'clock showers of ashes
reached here. but. fortunately, the
wind shifted around 10 the southwest
and blew for q time with almost hurri-
cane force, turning the dense cloud be-
fore much damage was done. When
the grit began falling many persons
who passed the night with fear and
trembling thought they were about to
be overwhelmed and then began n
stampede.
'Half-dressed women and children
were to be seen flying for their lives
along the Tauranga road towards Te
Awahou to seek shelter in the native
school-house there. Some did not think
themselves safe even there and con-
tinued their flight The lake rose con-
siderably and a great many new
springs burst up. which added 10 the
peoples fear of being engulfed. Shortly
after daylight MIR. Edwin Robertson
started out towards Wairoa to endeavor
to ascertain the position of matters
there, and was followed by Mr.. March
ernan. When near Tikitapubush they
met number of fugitives who gave ac-
counts of balls of fire which had been
flying about in all directions.
The scene in among the hills on the
Wairoa road was weird. The grit was
still falling in light showers. and dense
clouds obseured the sky. Vivid flashes
of lightning and crashing peals of
thunder were frequent A strong south
east wind was then blowing and it was
terribly cold. On arrival at the Tikita-
pu bush it was found necessary to fasten
up the horses and leave the buggy, and
the remainder of the journey had to be
performed ON foot. The whole country
was covered several feet with clay mud,
which made walking very heavy. Ma
tives were met from time to time, and
all gave the same account of the terri
bic catastrophe. All the vegetation
along the route after passing the sum-
NIT, between Rotorna and Tikitapu,
was found to be completely destroyed
and the aspect of the landscape
changed. 1t resembled very much the
appearance of an English landscape
after a heavy snowstorm. but was of a
dull gray color instead of being white.
The beautiful Tikitapu bush was a
thing of the past The weight of the
superintendent mud and the force of
wind have stripped off the leaves.
broken off the branches and uprooted
immense trees in all directions. The
Blue Lake and Rotokakahi are simply
mud water. which viii take some time
to clear. The outlet of the latter lake
has been blocked up and the bridges
are covered with clay mud nearly up to
the top rail.
"On arriving at the village the full
extent of the damage done was plainly
visible. Nearly every building had
been crushed in by the falling mud.
The Snow Temperance Hall was COM
pletely flattened, and of the Terrace and
Rotomahana hotels only the outer walls
are standing in terribly wrecked state.
"The party was glad to learn that
Mrs. Haszard had been dug out alive
and comparatively uniniured. She had
a miraculous escape. The falling beams
lodged on a ehif1onier and allowed Just
sufficient room to save her from being
crushed to death. Two of the children
were found dead beside her, her arm
being around one of them
when the eruption was first seen it
was like small cloud on the mount
ain, shot with flashes of lightning of
great brilliancy. Every body went up
to the old mission station and saw a
sight that none can ever forget APP
parently the mount had three craters,
and flames of fire were shooting up fully
a thousand feet high. There seemed to
be continuous shower Of balls of fire
for miles around. As a storm appeared
10 be coming on we returned to the
hotel, and shortly after what seemed to
be heavy hailstones came pouring on
the roof This was succeeded by fail
of heavy stones, fire balls, and mud,
the lava falling after the manner of
rain. The weight of these substances
upon the roof soon began TO tell upon
it The first portion to give away was
a detached kitchen and pantry, and
then all collected together in the
smoking-room. But soon the entire
house came down and we had to run
for it