Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-03-21

remember the story flashed across
the wires from this scene OF death aud
destruction. The inhabitants Of the
district have become no accustomed 10
steaming ngawhBs and pulas filling
the air with sulphurous odors, earth
tremors, subterruneau Tumblinga and
tue breaking out In different places u
boiling springs, all vf which they t..
gard Hs the safety valve OF the
country, that they are not dis.
turbei by Sigh, earthquake shocks.
At the time OF the great calam.
ity, rafawera mountain lowered
900 feet above the beautiful lakes ut
Its base, anu the wonderful pink and
white terfaccs, which nature had been
engaged centuries Ia forming, were I'm
the vicinity. On the night OF Wcduus.
day, June 10Th, 1856, the whole VI
New 4 aland was aroused by terrible
earthquake shocks, which were also
felt Ia Australia. TarawCrl, which
for at least five centuries had been
dormant, suddenly buTst firth anu the
ilames illnmlned the surrounding
country. Immense rocks aud large
quantities OF dust ami ashes were
thrown out. Cfatcrs opened IN Lake
E0iomananp, and enormous vol.
tunes Of heavy mud spread
destruction or every hand. This
loss Of life amongst the Mh1ris
was very great, aud numuer Oi
Europeans also uerlshod, 40 the town
Of Wui.on, and several Villages were
buried In lava, ashes aud mad.
The story OF the terrible catastrophe
Is now evidenced by the gauut, burnt
trunks oil tree, and b. isted forests on
the mountain sldee, eight miles dis
taut, anu the tremendous deposits OF
mud aud ashes In the valleys below.
Deep gulleys have now hten washed
out by the heavy faiup, and occasion.
ally the ruins Ut Maori house may be
seen, partly buried In tho rAvine.
Rolling hills OF blue muI, broken by
deep gulchcr, arc now sptead over the
site VI tho once beautiful lake Of
Rotomahsua.
From an emf hence called the Ash.
field, the Elders obtained u good view
OF Faraweto anu iie surroundings. The
mountain was cleft Ia two by tns ter
Tific explosion, nud tho ctaters are
plainly visible. A new growth Of
ferns, grasses and shrubs now relieve
| this desolnte scene, for nature II doing
| her utmost tO hide oil traces OF the
catastrophe.
AZ the Elders neared the scene Of
| the eruption, the rugged condition OF
the country compelled them ~ DIS.
mount, and, leaving their horses,
| the Journey WINS continued on
foot. Steep iuollnes were climbed
by grasplng punches OF grass
growing out OF the assures
anu alter lesping across several ohasms
OF unknown depth, "a deep gully was
entered, anu It's course followed Tor
some di.tnucp. A stream OF cold
water onAbled the travellers 10 quench
their thirst, but ina zine their surprise,
after following the steam q few feet,
to observe the water steaming nnu
boiling. IL was necessary To examin.
the ground carefully before stepping
upon AZ, us billing sprlnps were steam.
ing Ia every direction, AuJ sraldiuy
vapor issued from fissures and holes In
the ground. What appeared To hive
been an immense crater is now "A Toll.
ing lax. OF clear water.
Mount Tarawera slill looms unwith
threatening signiflrance. Tbp riit
dividing the mountain l. still hot and
s,osminu. anu tho rocks in inc vic,n,iv
are too hot 10 handle. Rnch "a scene ot
fearful tesolntion will be long r.m.n.
bered by nil who are nriy1IevsJ 10
view Il. and the visitor i,,rns Inn, ita
Contamination copsclou, of his own I'm.
sIvuiilcancc ami REALIZING ain n,ore
the mighty forces of nature controli,.I
by the Creator.
waIwhnkahihI was ftbe next mint
of Interest, with lis numerous yey.
sers md beautiful snfinv. hut a.
heavy black clouds comm,nced Ia
gather overhead. the horses vefe
urged forward. In tho non, M ga,niny
a place of shelter be,oro Inc gathrrInS
storm broke. "A heavy thundersiorm
however, bur.t upon the trnvelers
lust as they caught sight of IA cabin In
The distance. Inc horses were snurreI
onward, but the heavy min raused
their rider. 10 arrive in n wct c1ndi.
ton. The borsee wer, turned ont and
possession was taken of the mouse. the
owner OF which was absent. Tho Rnoh
of Mormon md other church WOKE
convinced the Elders that tho ow n.r
was member of the church. an th,y
rested oont,ntedly TIL mornihg. The
storm having pnsseu over. tno iourn.v
was continued.
On reaching the Walkato river. the
nntives on the opposite bank were sig.
nailed. A MAORI crossed over in N
small waka, and the little marty shuj.
dered Mt the thought OF returning with
| him In such email boat, ~ the Wal.
kato IL n swirl, treachefous md tur-
bulent stream. The waka Ia small
canoe howu out of the trunk OF treel
was about two feet wide and fifteen
| 10, Iau., Ma. ,,.ssa..,.., -. - :