The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-17
A STORM In NEW ZEALAND.

Graphic Description of a Hurricane, Which
Caused Havoc on Land and Sea.
WELLINGTON, n. H., May 16-A terrific
hurricane has passed over central New
Zealand. and the damage done Is enormous.
Long before the hurricane broke the
barometer gave warning of its coming but
very little could be done to protect prop
erty from its fury. The sky, which had
been blue and cloudless. gradually took on q
muddy yellOwish tint. The air was perfectly
calm. but ali nature seemed to be pervaded
with a sense of dread. The sea was un-
marked with single breaking wave.
but heavy ground swell sent
huge rollers chasing one another
with glassed. unbroken surfaces. The
stiffness Immediately preceding the
storm was oppressive. Birds sought refuge
in the forest depths, the domestic animals
moved about uDeasiiy. as If lnstinctlveiy
forewarned of impending disaster. The
very leaves of the trees hung listless and
mOtionless before the approach of the
dreaded storm. Suddenly, far out at sea.
could be seen dark cloud resting upon the
waters and rapidly approaching the land.
At Its top masses OF vapor tumbled and
rolled like the boiling foam of q gigantic
csuldron, while the bottom was concealed
by q line Of dark-green water, lifted from
tOo OCc6u, pllinS anu IOiliuk uIlVou Oy buo
tremendous force that was Fastening to its
work of destruction.
The air became dark; q sudden coolness
permeated the atmosphere. Nearer and
nearer approached the swiftly coursinR
messenger of destruction, and then. with
q shrek and a howl, the gale burst In all
its fury. With sullen roar the waters,
which had led the gale. burst with thun-
dering crash upon the shores. Gigantic
trees swayed almost to the ground beneath
&ho of fh<ax ind nd 4 ff,Ar hnv, huxy
could stand the strain no longer. snapped
like dried twigs in the hands of q strong
man. In some cases the whole tops of
trees were whipped over, eaught mp and
Rale as easily and lightly as bit of down
In q summer breeze Naught could be
heard above the din of the elements. The
rain fell In sheets, tbreshing the remaining
leaves from the trees, and causing the small
streams and brooks to be come rushing tor
rents. All along the coast the sea waters
were dlscOlOred by the quantities of earth
carried into them from the shores. Long
stretches of the railroad embankmeDt were
washed away by the rushing waters and
traffic was suspended until section hands
could be hastily dispatched to where the
breaks In the line had occurred to patch u D
the damage. Owing to the fury with
which the storm ragged the work could
interrupted. Heavily laden trains cannot
pass over the line until the repairs are ef-
fected in more thorough manner.
Thousands of wild birds. helpless and
frightened. were blown out to sea, there to
perish. Hour after hour passed and there
was no abatement in the hurricanes terri
BILE energy. MutteriDg and roaring and
anon wailing and shrIeking, the winds
worked their destruction. 1t is the late
autumn in the antipodes. and in many
places the crops were waiting the hands of
the harvesters. Hundr ed OF acres of heat {,
corn, oats and barley were ruined. the
standing crops being beaten down and
badly twisted and matted.
At sea the scene detied description. The
vessels In the ofbng, which before the
gale could be seen lying under storm sails,
| were soon lost to view In the swirling
cloud rack. After the storm had passed il
was found that many coasting vessels b bad
been piled mp on tho shores. and it is be-
heved that the loss of life, VIXEN all the
| details have been received will prove to
have been very heavy. Reports from oil
| the parts of the country visited by the
| hurricane show that buildings have been
either blown down or unroOfed in every
| direction. The money damage caused by