The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-26
SWEPT BY FIRE.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY BY EARTHQUAKE.

; The Scenes Described Are Simply Awful
Islands Swept by Fire--One Village and
Its Inhabitants Dumped into the Sea.
| Loss of Life Great.
VICTORIA, Dec. 13.-The Australian
steamer Warimoo, which arrived yes
terday, brings the startling news that
a majority of the islands Of the New
Hebrides group are passing through a
baptism of fire, earthquakes and vol
canic disturbances, threatening the
very existence of several of the largest
and best islands, including Ambirim,
celebrated for the excellence of its cof-~
fee. On the latter, an entire village
of natives was recently carried into the
sea. the loss of life being estimated at
sixty to seventy-five men, women and
children. while in other groups it is,
also, reported that a layer of ashes of
two to six inches deep covers the once
fertile field. At Ephia, Nov. 2. there
was a severe earthquake in the morn
ing, and when the crater on the West
side of Ambrim burst forth on the
next day. the whole island trembled.
Since then it has opened in five or six
different places. Even the island of
Ephia, which was much less affected,
had, up to the seventh of November,
felt sixty-three distinct shocks, and for
weeks had been covered by clouds of
ashes and smoke. Traders and plant
ers living on the island have fed to
Port Sandwich, the nearest port, in
many cases abandoning all their pos
sessions. 49,.
On the 18th of November an earth
quake shock rocked Ambrim from
East to West, causing the ground on
which stood small native village to
slump with the houses of the inhabit-
ants into the sea.
The special correspondent of the
Sydney Morning Herald, writing from
Ephia early in November, said: This
land is in volcanic eruption. The
outbreak commenced on the 10th of
October, at an old crater in the centre
of the island is mass of lava.
COMMANDMENTS Chief Admiral Bow
den Smith gives the press the follow
ing report made to him by the COM
mander of the Dart, while she was ~
ing at Dip Point, Ambrim Island. He
writes: 'sAn eruption on Mistand
took place today. 1tpressently became
evident that lava stream, marked by
a dense column of smoke, was making
its way through the hills to the sea.
The ship was stopped some 300 yards
off shore, where it was seen the stream
would emerge, and soon afterwards
mountains Of flames were seen among
the trees, and presently the whole ap-
peared ared hot mass with Jumps of
Stag tossing about on the surface
when it reached the water, q most
magnificent sight ensued. A dense
pillar of steam rose rapidly in a per-
pendicular direction to height of
about 4, 500 feet. A few seconds later,
a violent submarine explosion of
steam took place, the water rising in
high bubbles some one hundred feet
high and bursting in all directions,
radiating through the waters mixed
with black masses, presumably of lava.
A considerable swell was sent out af-
forwards and as the arc of explosions
seemed to be coming rapidly, the ship
was moved to safer distance.
"Canoes of natives were leaving the
islandin in all directions Some of these
were taken in tow at Dip Point and
were cleared of immediate danger.
The ship then proceeded around to the
South side of the island and it was seen
that the whole crater of Mount Mar
yum, in the centre of the island, was in
violent eruption and that masses of
smoke were rising over all the West
ern island. sA -
"On returning, while round Dip
Point, a sudden outburst accompanied
BY continuous, violent explosions took
place. About two miles to the South
west of Mission station, the cliffs were
seen to be falling inland, and flames
appeared over the crust of the gap be-
tween the mission and the interior.
The natives were assembled in terrif-
ed groups on the beach, and I, accord
ingly, sent boats in offering to take off.
All the natives of the group were in a
state of terror and noise of the eruption
was indescribable. Dust and debris
from the. burning brush fell continu-
ally. Throughout the next day earth
quake shocks were severe.
1.-THE next morning we proceeded to
the Northeast point of the island as
far as Dip Point, which was found to
be in darkness, objects being scarcely
visible over quater of a mile. We
communicated with the shore and
found that the natives were reassured
and actual fires in the vicinity had
ceased. At 6 o'clock in the, evening
we proceeded to Port Sandwich, not
clearing the shower of dust until more
than half way across. Small shocks
were experienced on the way, and in
all thirty-one distinct shocks were felt
in seven hours and thirty minutes.
"a great portion of the cliff at Dip
Point has fallen into the sea. All
along the shore clouds of dust are ris-
ing and land slides have resulted. Dus-
was now falling heavier than ever,
but of the lighter, cooler and finer des-
cription. Everything on the shore
was covered with the deposit, the land
scape being of one uniform, dull elate
color, and the ship gray mass. We
landed and proceeded over the hill for
about two miles, until the stream Of
lava was reached. Although cooled
down, it was still proceeding at some
four or five feet an hour in the direc-