The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-14
One Entire Village is Carried
Into the Sea.
sIXTY-THREE SHOCKS.
Fields Are Covered With Lava
Six Feet Deep.

3 or the islands OF the \ eW lie BRIO eS
group are passing through d baptism
( of fire, earthquakes and volcanic dis
turbances, threatening the very ex-
/ istence of several of the largest and
best islands, including Ambrym, cele-
brated for excellence of its coffee.
On the latter an entire village of ma
tives was recently carried into the
sea. the loss of life being estimated at
sixty to seventy five men. women
and children, while n others of the
! group fatalities are also reported A
LAYER of ashes from two to six inches
deep covers the once fertile fields
At Epi, on Mover Der ?. there was a
severe earthquake in the early NOR a.
ing, which opened an entire volcanic
crater on the west side Of Ambrym,
and on the next dav the whole island
trem bled. Since then it has opened
IN five or six different places. Even
the island of Epi, which was much
less affected, had up to the 9TH of
NOvem Der felt sixty three distinct
shocks and for weeks had been COW
cred BY clouds of ashes and smoke
Traders and planters living on Am
brym have fed recipitately to Port
Sandwich (MalicOllO), the nearest
port, in many cases abandoning all
their possessions
On the 18th of November an kearth-
quake shock rocked Ambrym from
east to west, causing the ground on
which stood a small native village
to slip with the houses of the inha b.
itants into the sea. 1t is impossible to
state the extent of the fatalities, but
the lowest estimate of the loss of life
is fifty. Owing to the lateness Of the
disasters details were not availa-
Bile when WarrimO left the South
ern seas, although natives from all
the volcanic islands were hocking to
the centers of civilization for safety
COMMUNICATIVE Chief Admiral Bow
den Smi tn has given to the press the
following report made to him bv the
commander Of the Dart: ''While we
were lying at Dip point. Ambrvm
island" he writes an eruption to ok
place.
1T presently became evident that
a lava stream, marked by a dense
column Of smoke, was making its way
through the hills to the sea. The
ship was stopped some 800 yards off
shore. where it was seen the stream
would emerge, and soon afterwards
tongues of flame were seen among
the trees and presently the head Of
the stream appeared. a red hot mass,
with Jumps Of Stag tossing about on
the surface.
"When it reached the water most
magnificent sight ensued- A dense
pillar of steam rose rapidly IN per-
pendicular direction to a height of
about 4. 800 feet. A few seconds later
violent submarine explosions of steam
bubbles some 100 feet high, and then
bursting in all directions in radiating
tongues Of water mixed with black
masses. presumably of lava A con
sidera bic swell was sent out after
wards. and as the area Of explosions
appeared to be exte nding rapidly, the
ship moved to a safer distance.
Canoes full Of natives we're leav-
ing the island in all directions some
Of which were taken in tow at DID
TDrrr oil. u -
immediate danger The ship then
proceeded around to the south side of
the island, when it was seen that the
old crater Of Mount Maryun, in the
center of the island, was in violent
eruption, and that dense masses Of 1
smoke was rising over all the western
end of the island.
ION returning. while rounding Dip
Point a sudden outburst, accOmpa-
MED by continuous violent explosions
took place. About two miles to the
southwark of Mission station, the
cliffs we're seen to be falling inland,
and flames appeared over the crest of
the gap, behind the mission The
natives were assem- bled in terrified
groups on the beach, and I according
ly sent boats in, offering to take off
all that wished to go, The group
was in a state of terror, and the noise /
of the eruption was indiscri ba bic. +
Dust and de bris from the burning
brush fell continuously. Throughout
the next day earthquake shocks were I
severe.
THE next morning we proceeded /
to the northeast point Of the islands 7
as far as Dip point, which was found +
to be IN inzv darkness, objects being T
scarcely visible over quarter of a T
mile. We communicated with the
shore and found the natives reas-
sured, as the actual fires in the vicin-
ity had ceased At p m we pro-
ceeded to Port Sandwich, not clearing +
the shower of dust till more than half T
way, and IN all thirty one distinct T
shocks we're felt in seven hours and +
thirty minutes on board the ship, one T
at 2:30 a m being particularly /
severe.
"A great portion Of the cliff al
Dip point has fallen into the sea and 4
all along the shore to the eastward /
dense clouds of dust are rising and I
landslides have occurred Dust was
now falling heavier than ever, but +
of lighter color and finer description. f
Everything on shore was covered +
with the deposit the landscape being (
the ship gray mass We
landed and proceeded over
the hills for about two miles I
until the stream of lava was reached
Although cooled down II was still T
proceeding at some four or five feet
al hour in the direction of Banlag, on
the south coast Owing, however, to
the thickness Of the atmosphere, it
was impossible to get any news Of
what was happening We then re-
turned 70 Fort Sandwich ?