The herald., 1894-12-13
FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE
SOUTH SEA ISLANDS IN DANGER
OF EXTINCTION.
Terrible Convulsions OF Nature In tho
New HebrIdes Group--A VIII
Iage of Natives Carried
Into tho Sea.

VICTORIA, b. o., Dec. l2.--The Aus
tralian steamer Warrimoo, just arrived,
brings the startling news that a ma jor-
ity of the islands of the New Hebrides
group are passing through baptism Of
fire, earthquake and volcanic disturb
ances. threatening the very existence OF
several of the largest and best islands,
including Ambrym. celebrated for the
excellence of its coffee. On the latter
an entire village OF natives was recently
carried into tho sea. The loss OF life
has been variously estimated at from 60
to 70 men, women and children, while
in others of the group fatalities are also
reported. A layer OF ashes from 2 to G
inches deep covers the once fertile fields
with an appropriate shroud.
At Epi, ON November %, there was a
severe earthquake early in the morning,
which opened an entirely new crater for
the volcano on the west eide OF Ambry m,
about IA miles distant, and all the next
dry the whole island trembled. Since
then it has opened in five or six differ
ent places. Even the island of Epi,
which is much less affected. bad, on No
vember 7th. felt 50 distinct shocks, and
for weeks has been covered by clouds
OF ashes and smoke. The traders and
planters living on Ambrym island have
fed precipitately to Port Sandwich
(Mallicollo), the nearest point. in many
cases abandoning all their possessions.
On November 18th an earthquake
shock racked Ambrym from east to
west, causing the land on which stood
a naft ~ a1t mil
humble houses of the inhabitants, and
many of them threw themselves into
the sea. 1t is impossible accurately to
determine the extent of the fatality but
the lowest estimate OF the loss of life is
80. Owing to the rscentness of the dis.
aster, details were not available when
the Warrimoo left the southern seas,
although natives from all the volcanic
islands were fiocking to the cen xsers of
civilization for safety. ~
A special correspondent of thsV ,ydney
Morning Herald, writing from E pi early
in November, said:
"Ambrym island is still in volcanic
eruption. The outbreak commenced
October 10th at an old crater in the GEN.
ter of the island. The lava stream ex-
tends from the crater to near Dip point
(western end). The center of the
island is mass of lava. One
stream was seen by II. M. S. Dart to
enter the sea on the morning of October
Is, one mile east of Dip point; a column
of steam arose $500 feet; there were
violent submarine explosions of steam
in the immediate vicinity and outbursts
of smoke and fire south of the mission
station. Dust fell heavily. The Dart
embarked over 80 natives from Dip
point for safety. Frequent earthqua
were felt as far as Malokula, many OF
them severe. The Dart is watching events.
Some of the officers have assembled the
crater, which is one mile in diameter
and 1000 feet deep. Dense smoke con.
tinues to issue from this crater. All the
western end of the island ia covered with
a deposit OF fine ashes. As far as can
be asoertained at present, the 10 ss of
life has been 60 killed by the great
land slip of the 18th and BY falling
stones."