Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-07-23
Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

a.
disturbances were felt in the neighbor.
hood Of Rotona. The severity of the
shocks led many Of the people to believe
that the island would sink into the sea.
Immediately after the first shock the in
habitants rushed frantically in all direc-
tions. When the second shock came the
entire country for miles around was lit
up by the glare from volcano which
had suddenly burst into activity.
Huge volumes of smoke, illuminated
with flame, simultaneously burst forth
| from range Of mountains over sixty
miles in length and above the smoke
could be seen huge masses OF fire re-
sembling meteors rushing through the
sky.
The natives who had escaped death
gathered in groups and, with abject ter
ror, held religious services, but when
another shock would cause the earth to
tremble they would fall with their faces
to the ground, quivering with fear. As
soon as the news of the fearful occur
renee was reached at Auckland a gov
ernment agent made immediate prepa-
ratons to go 10 the relief of the suffer-
ers. Wagons were chartered and filled
with provisions and clothes.
Mr.. johnson, the government agent,
Oh his arrival at Rotona sent back the
following account:
"The scene among the mountains as
viewed from the Wairoa road is terribly
grand. Flashes of lightning, peals Of
thunder and shocks of earthquake are
incessant, while dust is falling in heavy
showers. In addition to these incon-
venienoes the roads throughout the en-
tire country are covered with several
feet of blue clay mud elected from the
volcanoes. All vegetation is destroyed
and the aspect of the country is entirely
changed. Blue Lake and Lake Rota-
kakahi 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 have
noticed are crushed in by falling mud.
At this place Shows Temperance Hall
and the two principal hotels, as are
nearly all the other buildings in the
town, are completely 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
found dead. Mr.. Hazard is missing.
Detailed reports of the foreign residents
at other points who were killed have
not yet been received"
The first reports of volcanic distur-
Dances came from Faranza, in the
Auckland lake district. The natives Of
that village were awakeded at 2 Il. m
by repeated vivid flashes of lightning,
which continued at rapid intervals up
to a. NJ, when a tremendous earth
quake occurred, followed quickly by
others. rhe earthquakes continued to
follow one another in quick succession
up to IA. m., when eaden-colored
cloud was observed advancing from the
south, spreading out until it covered
the sky. While still moving /: burst
with the sound of thunder and shortly
after showers of fine dust began fall
ing,
For the-first time in tradition the ex-
tinct volcano of Ruapeha was awakened
into activity. The entire country over
an extent 120 miles long by 20 in
breadth was nothing but a mass of flame
and hot, crumbling soil, which In
places rose TO the height of 1000 feet,
capped at the highest point by the
Tekopha Geyser, said to have been one
of the grandest in the world. Numer-
Gus small native villages were totally
DESTROYED. Waiora was covered to a
depth of ten feet with dust and ashes.
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
the destruction Of pastures by the dust
is very heavy, and great distress exists
throughout all the Auckland lake dis
trict. In most cases where bodies were
found they were dead. AT the date of
departure of the steamer from Auck-
land the volcanoes were still very active
and the temperature of the hot lakes
was increasing.
The captain Of the steamship South
ern Cross, which arrived at Auckland
on the 18th, reports having felt at sea
the effect of the disturbances. On the
morning of June 10, the day following
the earthquakes, he experienced down.
fall of dust. From to 10 a. m. there
was complete darkness and balls Of fire
were continually playing around the
mastheads. A terrible gale suddenly
sprang up and carried all his canvas
away before it could be taken In. The
men were unable to stand the binding
showers of dust and the vessel was put
about and stood away to the north, but
il was not until eleven O'Clock Of the
day following that the Gust was left
behind.
Wisdom of the Classics.