Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-14
ISLANDS IN DANGER
An Entire Group in Peril Of
Annihilation.
DETAILS OF A VOLCANIC OUTBURST.

The New Hebrides Shaken to Their Very
Foundations by the Eruption Accom-
panied by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Village
Dumped Into the Sea with All Its Inhab-
itants-M.gnificent But Bwfui Sight
Seen by British Naval Ohcer.
VICTORIA, b. c., Dec 1.-The Australian
steamer Warrimoo, which has arrived
here, brings startling news that a majori-
ty OF the islands of the New Hcbrides
group are passing through baptism of
lire, earthquakes and volcanic disturb
ances, threatening the very existence Of
several OF the largest and best islands, in
Guiding Ambrym, celebrated for the cx-
cellence of its coffee. On the latter an
entire village of natives was recently
carried into the sea, the loss of life being
estimated at to to 10 men, women and
children, while in others of the group
fatalities are also reportc l. A layer Of
ashes from two to six inches deep covers
the once fertile fields. At Epi, on Noy. 2,
there was severe earthquake in the early
morning which opened an entire volcanic
crater ON the west side of Ambrym, and
on the next day the whole island tremblcd
The Island Splitting Open.
Since then it has opened i'll five or six
different places. Even the island of Epi,
which was much less affected had I'D To
the 9TH of November felt sixty-thrce dis.
tinct shocks and for weeks had been COW
cred with clouds of ashes and smoke.
Traders and planters living on Ambrym
island have fled precipitately to Port
sandwich (Malicollo), the nearest port, in
many eases abandoning all their prop
erty. On the 18th of November an earth.
quake shock rocked Ambrym from east
to west, causing the ground ON which
stood a small native village to slump
with the houses of the inhabitants into
the sea. II is impossible to accurately state
tine extent of the fatalities. bur the lowest
estimate of the loss of life is fifty Owing
to the lateness of the disasters details were
not available when the Warrjmno left the
southern seas, although natives from ali
the volcanic islands Were fiocking 60 the
centcrs of civilization for safety.
Watched stream of Lava.
CommanderinC Chief Admiral Bowticn
Smith has given to the press the follow
ing report made to him by the comman-
- W ME we Were lying al
Dip Point. Ambrym island" he writes
IAN eruption on that island took place
1t presently became evident that n lava
sscsaaaa, ,-asa<isea- a-Ar--W-densc rotumn III
smoke. 'was making its way through the
hills to the sea. The ship was stopped
some 800 yards off shore, where ii wa.
seen the stream would emerge, and soon
after tongues of flame were seen among
the trees and presently the head OF the
stream appeared, "a rcd-hot mass, with
Jumps of Stag tossing about on the sur
face. When it reached the water "A most
| magnificent sight ensued.
Violent submarine Explosion.
"A dense pillar of steam rose rapidly in
| a perpendicular direction to a height OF
| about 4,5O0 feet. A few seconds later
violent submarine explosions of steam
| took place, the water rising in huge bub
bles. some 100 feet high, and then burst
ing in all directions in radiating tongue:
of water, mixed with black masses. pre-
sumably OF lava. A considerable swell
was sent out afterwards and as the ares
Of explosions appeared to be extending rap
idly the ship was moved to n safer distance
Canoes full of natives were leaving the
island in all directions, some of which
were taken in tow at Dip Point where
they were cleared of immediate danger.