The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-13
VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS.
INHABITANTS OF NEW LELAND FLEE
FOR THEIR LIVES.
Earthquake Shocks and Volcanic Dis
turbances Cause Widespread Disaster
Whole villages Destroyed and Many
People Killed-A shower of Dust and
Ashes Eneulf the Country.


People Kiiled-A Shower of Dust and
Ashes Eneulf the Country.
SAN Francisco, July 15-The steamer
alameda, which arrived from Australia,
brings particulars of the fearful volcanic
eruptions in New Zealand last month, and
which are among the most destructive in
the worlds history. The first reports of
volcanic disturbances came from Tauranga,
in the Auckland lake district The natives
of that village were awakened from sleep at
2 in the morning by repeated vivid flashes
of lightning, which continued at rapid in
tervals up TO a, H., v pen tremendous
earthquake occurred, foncwed quickly by
Others The shocks were SO violent that
people jumped from their beds, and, para
lyzed with terror, fled for their lives in
their night clothes, making no effort to
save or take anything with them
except their children. The earthquakes
continued to follow one another in quick
succession up to ! a. m. when a leaden- col
ored cloud was observed advancing from
the south, spreading out until it covered the
sky. While still moving it burst with the
sound of thunder, and shortly after showers
of fine dus. began falling.
Accounts from other Joints state that
Mount Tarewera was the first volcano to
break forth, and hardly were the flames
seen issuing from tho crater before the en-
tire Paero range OF mountains belched forth
in sympathy, hurting flames, burning lava,
stones, and blue dust over the surrounding
country For the first time IN tradition the
extinct volcano Of Ruapeha was awakened
into activity The entire country over
an sextent of 100 miles long by - III
breadth was nothing but mass of flame
and hot, crumblug soil, which i'll places
rose to the height of 1900 feet, capped at
the high point by The Tekopha geyser,
said TO have been one Of the grandest in the
world. During all this time showers of
dust continued to fall until they became SO
dense aS to,niake the day dark rs night, and
not until the second day did the dust cease
falling 1t was noticed that the dust emit
ted strong sulphurouS smell Numerous
small native villages We're totally destroyed
Nairua was covered to depth Of ten feet
with dust and ashes. Rahtomahann was
completely ingulted, rs were also some
other small villages
One hundred and seventy persons are
known to have lost their lives, among whom
were several English residents The loss
Of cattle starved To death from tbs destruc-
ton of PASTURES by the dust is very heavy,
aud great distress exists throughout all the
Auckland lake district One old Maori
chief at Rotorua was ,lus cut alive after
haAing been buried in ashes la5 hours
Every effort was made 10 save the lives of
others, hut in most cases where bodies were
found they were dead.
When the second earth quake was felt the
entire country for miles around was lit up
by the glare from the volcano, which had
suddenly burst forth. The scsne was a,
grand as it was awful \ huge volume OF
smoke iiiumine1 with flames simultaneously
| burst forth over the range of mountains
sixty miles i'll length and above the flames
could lie distinctly seen the balls of fire
presenting the appearance of meteors cbas
ing one another along the eNpanse of sky,
At Ratakakshi SNOW Temperance hal
and the two principal hotels, and nearly all
| other buildings IN town, are completely
wrecked The houseS occupied by Mrs
| Hazard and her family was borne down by
the weight of the debris Mrs. Hazard wa,
dug out alive. but four of her children wer,
| found ded beside her. Her husband is ast
| missing.
The captain of the steamship Southern
| Cross. who arrived at Auckland on the 18th
| says that on the morning of the 10th O
June, the day following the one on which
the earthquake occurred, he experienced +,
downfall of dust, which continued tbre,
hours From to 10 in tho morning Their,
was complete darkness, with balls of fir
! playing around the rigging and masthead
| The men on board were unable TO stand tn
binding showers of sand and the captain
ordered the vessel about and stood away t.
The north, but not until | o'clock the mex
day did he get cloar OF it.