The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13
FIRE AND ASHES
Rain Down ON the New
Hebrides.
VOLCANOES IN ERUPTION.
One Village Slips Down Into the
Sea.
ALL OF THE ISLANDS SHAKEN.
While 1t Is Reported That One of
Them, Ambrym, f1as Been
Destroyed.

VICTORIA, B. c., Dec. l2.-The Aus
tralian steamer Warrimoo. just arrived.
brings the startling news that majority
of the islands of the New Hebrides group
are passing through a baptism OF fire.
earthquake and volcanic disturbances,
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 the
sea. The loss of life has been variously
estimated at from sixty to seventy-five
men, women and children. In others OF
the group fatalities are also reported.
layer of ashes from 2 TO inches deep COW
ering the once fertile fields with an appro-
pirate shroud.
AT Epi ON November there was Sc
we're earthquake in the early morning,
which opened an entirely new crater for
The volcano on the west side Of Ambrym,
about fourteen miles distant, and all the
next day the whole island tremb bled.
Since then it has opened In five or six diff
ferent places. Even the island of Epi,
which IS much less affected, had on No
vsmbsr Z felt sixty-tbree diStin ct 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
(Malicollo), the nearest port. in many cases
abandoning all their possessions. 90 No
vember Is an earthquake shock rocked
Ambrym from east to west, causing the
land on which stood small native village
10 slip with the humble houses of the in
haDitants, aud many of them threw them
selves into the sea. 1t Is impossible ac-
curately to determine the extent OF the
fatality, but the lowest estimate IF the
loss Of life is fifty. Owing to the recent
ness OK the disaster details were not OBJ
tainable when the Warrimoo left the
southern seas. although natives from all
the volcanic islands were f19cking 10 the
centers of civilization for safety.
A correspondent of the Sydney Morning
Herald, Writing from Epi early in Noyem-
Der, said: 'Ambrym Island is still in vol
canic eruption. The outbreak commenced
October 16. at an old crater in the center of
the island. The lava stream extends from
the crater to near Dip Point (western
end). The center Of the island is a mass
of lava. One stream was seen by I'll. M. S.
Dart to enter the sea on the morning of
October 16 one mile east of Dip Point. a
column of steam arising 1900 feet. There
were violent submarine explosions OF
steam in the immediate vicinity and out
bursts of smoke and fire south of the
mission station. Dust fell heavily. The
Dart embarked over eighty natives from
Dart Point for safety.
"FreqIent earthquakes were felt as far
as Malicollo, many of them severe. The
Dart is watching events. Some of the
efficers assembled the crater, which is one
mile in diameter and 1000 feet deep.
Dense smoke continues to issue from this
crater. All the western end of the island
is covered with deposit of fine ashes. AS
far as can be ascertained at present the
loss of life has been sixty killed by the
great landslip on the 18th and by falling
stonac -