The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-23


At ordinary times but very little water
ripples over the terraces, and only the
principle discharge on the south side
forms a hot, steaming fall. After
reaching the highest terrace there is
an extensive platform, with number
of basins, five Or six feet deep, their
water showing temperature of 80 to
10 degrees Fahrenheit. In the middle
of the platform arises, close to the
brink of the basin, d kind of rock
island, about twelve feet high, decked
with manuka. moses, lycopodium and
fern. Itmay be visited without danger,
and from it the curious traveller has a
fair and full view into the blue boiling
and steaming caldron. Such was the
famous TIE Tarata 1t is now feared
that nearly all these beautiful wonders
have been destroyed. The terraces are
buried in lava, and the villages of the
Maoris have been swept away.
AS regards Auckland the first intima-
ton received of the terrible catastrophe
was the sound of loud explosions as of
heavy guns. and from elevated positions
in the city the flash as of artillery was
distinctly visible. The impression on
the minds of those who witnessed these
phenomena was that vessel was
ashore at the Manukau heads and was
firing signals of distress, and as there
appeared to be more than one fired at
time it was thought to be Russian
man-of-war which was known to be on
the coast.
News was flashed from Rotoma that
a dreadful night had been passed.
Every man, woman and child thought
his end had come. The sensation
was fearful and indescribable. 1t COM
menced about one o'clock in the morn
ing by several severe shocks of earth
quake. The vibrations were strong
and frequent. The windows in the
houses ratified violently, the feeling be-
ing similar to that on board of vessel
in storm. People were running about
frantically, when all at once a great
roar was heard, which was accepted at
first as that of an earthquake, and a
great glare appeared upon the horizon.
The scene was grand, but awful toward
Rotomahana. The flames were distinct,
with huge volumes of smoke, with
sparks of electricity Illuminating the
whole sky, and it appeared as if hun
dreds of bright stars were chasing one
another. When this was at first seen
by those who were outside they rushed
| about calling people up. Males and
females Of all ages left their homes and
a general rush was made for Ngatata
mountain for safety. Many left their
homes in their night-dresses with
shawls around them, mothers car
rying babies or young children
with but one arm, to flee from the
devouring element which was expected
at every moment to engulf the entire
community. SO great was the terror OF
the people. This was about two O. clock
a. IN. On the approach of daylight the
vibrations lessened, but they by no
means ceased. About four o clock there
was a shower of ashes similar to sand,
supposed to be lava.
| Mr.. McRae, the hotel keeper at
Wairoa, gave your correspondent the
following account of the destruction of
his hotel: "About 1890 p. m. the place
began to shake and shook continuously
for an hour before the eruption broke
out. When this was first seen, it was
just like small cloud on the mountain,
with flashes of lightning of great bril-
liancy. All were got out of bed and
went up to the old mission station to
ascertain the cause of the occurrence.
We saw sight that no man who saw
hit can ever forget. Apparently the
mountain had three craters, and the
flames were shooting up fully a thou
sand feet high. There appeared to be
a continuous shower of balls of fire for
miles around. AS storm appeared to
be coming on. we returned to the hotel,
and shortly afterward what seemed to
be heavy hailstones came pouring on
the roof, which continued about every
quarter of an hour. This was sue
ceeded by heavy fall of stones, fire.
balls and mud, the lava falling after
i the manner of rain. The weight OF
these substances upon the roof soon
began to tell upon it. The first por-
ton that gave way was the detached
kitchen and pantry, and then we all col
lected in the smoking-room. The rooi
of the hotel gave way at about half.
past four a. m. with a loud smash, and
the whole of the upper story collapsed,
/ the debris falling into the rooms below.
| We left the smoking room and went
into the drawingroom, which, as il
was the newest part of the house. We
thought would stand the longest; but
it was with the greatest difficulty thai
we got there, going through fallen
! stones and mud which impeded us
The back part Of the house, in which
was the dining-room, gave way next
and all of sudden we heard a fearfu
1 crash and roar as if thousands of tons
of stuff were falling, and we heard the
balcony come down. At this we agreee
that we should make an effort to save
ourselves, and with this object We de
termined to leave the hotel. At $50
went up to the residence of the Hazart
family. The house was in ruins and il
flames. / then could see no signs o
4 Mr.. and Mrs. Hazard and their chill
dren. AS soon as glimpse of dayligh
came we commenced to dig for tn,
bodies of the Hazards, and to our grea
4 astonishment discovered Mrs Hazart
alive. Her two children were fount
dead beside her, butshe was not great,
, injured. We continued operations un
iii we were quite exhausted, but foun,