The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-15
FEARFUL FREAKS.
SHAKEN BY EARTHQUAKES AND
SCORCHED WITH VOLCANOES.

SCORCHED WITH VOLCANOES.
New Zealand Converted into Mass OF
Mud and Fiery Lava-EarthGuake.
schocks Follow in Quick Succession
the Desolation and Despair.
SAN Francisco, July I2.-Further
details Of earthquakes in New Zealand
state that most violent disturbances
were felt IN the peighborhoOd of Rotona.
The severity of the shocks led many OF
the people to believe that the island
would sink into the sea. The sensation
experienced is said to have been fearful,
beyond 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 glare
from the volcano, which had suddenly
burst into activity. The scene was as
grand as it was awful. Huge volumes
of smoke, illuminated with flames. sim =
ultaneously burst forth from a range OF
mountains over 60 miles in length, and
above the smoke could be seen huge
masses Of fire, resembling meteors rnsh-
ne through the sky. The natives who
had escaped death gathered in groups
and, filed with abject terror. held re-
liclous services, but when another
shock would cause the earth to tremble
thev would fall with their faces to the
ground, ouivering with fear. AS soon
as the news of the fearful occurrence
was received at Ruckland government
agent made immediate preparations to
90 to the relief of the suffering. Wagons
were chartered and filled with provisions
and clothes. Johnson, the government
agent, on his arrival at Rotona sent
back the following accounts: The Scene
among the mountains as viewed from
the Wairoa road Is terribly grand.
Flashes of lightning. peals Of thunder
and shocks of earthquakes are lncessant.
while dust is falling in heavy showers.
In addition to these conveniences the
roads throughout the entire country are
coverered with several feet of blue clay
mud elected from the volcanoes. All
vcgltatiou is destroyed and the aspect OF
the country is entirely changed. Blue
lake and Lake Rotaktkahi have been
transformed into mud baths: The out
let of the latter lake is blocked up. The
bridges which cross the lower end are
covered with mud. Nearly all the
buildings that 1 have noticed are crush
ed in by the falling mad. At this place
Shows temperance hall and the two
principal hotels, as arc nearly all the
other buildings in the t,wn, are COM
plctely 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 dead. Hazard is
missing. Detailed reports Of the: foreign
residents at other ports who were
killed have not yet been received. The
captain Of the steamship Southern
Cross, which arrived Mt auckland on the
18th, reports having tclt at sea the effect
of the disturbances. On the morning
Of June 10th, the day following the earth
quake he experienced downfall OF dust.
From 5 to 10 Il. m. there was complete
darkness and balls Of fire continually
played around the masthead. A terrible
sale spraug up and carried al! his can-
vass away before 1t could be taken in.
The men were unable to stand the blind
ing showers of dust, put about and stood
away to the north. but it was not until
eleven O'Clock Of the day following that
the dust was left behind. Reports show
that earthquakes prevailed at all points
in New Zealand during the same period.