Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-14

W. s%hfA HsAA anu Low
cred the Sea For Miles Around-other Is-
lands Threatened.
VICTORIA. ID. T., Dec. 1.-The Austria.
liam steamer Warimoo brings startling
news that a majority Of the New HcbridcS
group arr passing through n baptism 81
fire. earthquakes and volcanic disturb
arces, threatening the very existence Of
several Of the largest aud best islands. in
Guiding Amhrym, celebrated for the excel
lencc Of its COFFEE. ON the latter an cntirc
village Of natives was recently carried
into the SEA. the loss Of life being eStimnt-
ell ut 80 To 40 men. women and children.
while in others Of the group fatalities arr
also reported
\ layer of ashes from two to six inches
deep covers the ono fertile fields At Epi
on Nov. = there was n severe Garth
quake in the carly morning which opened
an entire volcanic crater on the west side
of Ambrym. and on the next day the
whole island trcmhlcd. Since then IL has
opened in five or six different places
Even the island Of Epi. which was much
less affected, had up TO the 9TH OF Novcm-
Der felt 63 distinct shocks. and for weeks
had been covered by clouds OF ashes and
smoke. Traders and planters living on
Ambrym island have fed prccipitatcly to
Port Sandwich (Mallicollol. the nearest
port, in many cases abandoning all their
possessions.
On the 18th of November an earth
quake shock rocked Amhrym from cast to
west. causing the ground ON which stood
n native villsgc to slump. with the houses
of the inhabitants, into the sea II is i'm
possible tn accurately state the extent Of
the fatalities. hut the lowest estimate OF
the loss of life j. 30. Owing to the late
ness of the disasters details were not avail
able when the Warimoo left the southern
seas, although the natives from all the
volcanic islands were flocking to the CEN
tcrs of civilization for safety.
An Island OF Lava.
The special correspondent OF the sydney
Morning Hcrald, writing from Epi carly
in November, said: "Amhrym island Is
still in violent eruption. The outbreak
commenced - the 10th Of October at an
old crater in the center Of the island. The
center of the island is a mass Of lava
Communicative chief Admiral Bowdcn
smith has given the press the following
report made tn him 10y the commander OF
the Dart:
while W. were lying ut Dip point. Am
hryIn island, an eruption ON that island
took place Ii presently bcCamc evident
that lava stream marked Icy a dense
column Of smoke was making its way
through the hills To the sra.
The ship was stopped some 500 yards
off shorr, whcr' it WAS s,cn the stryam
would CmrrpC. and soon n(tCrwartl tongues
of flame were syrn among the trees, and
presently the head of the stpam apISard
IA rcdhot mass. with Jumps III Stag toss
ing about ON tho surface.
when il reached the water. most
magnificent sight Cn~ucd. \ dense pillar
Of steam ro>' rapidly in \ perpendicular
line tn n height Uf about f. $40 feet. \
few seconds later violent submarine cx-
plnsionS nf steam took placr, the water ris-
ing in huge bubbles some loo feet high,
and bursting in all ,lirrvtiou- in radiating
tongues Of water mixed with black masses.
presumably lava. y considerable swell
was sent out aftcrwarl. and a. the are Of
explosions s,N'mcd To Ia extending rapidly
the ship was moved to a safer distance
Natives Leave the Island.
Gamers ri natives w"r,' leaving the is
land in all dirrtiun>. ~"i. svcrr taken
in tow at Dip point. whcr they wcrc out
of danger. The ship then prSyyviutl around
To the south side vi the island. and IL was
sccn that the old crater nC Mount Maryun
in the center Of the island. was in violent
eruption. and that dCn-C masses of smoke
wcrr rising OVER all the western island.
ON returning. Will" round Dip point
u SAItittu tNlbtlE~ls IfNNfttlIAAtlltNA Nv Gun
tinuouS violent explosions. took place
About two miles tu the southwest of Mis-
sion station the cliffs WIN s,Ncn to- In. fall
ing inland, and flames Ipp,gnCd over the
Cr=St al the gap between the missions The
natives wCrc assembled in terrified groups
on the haCh. and accordingly sent buatS
in, Offering tn take of all that wished tn
come. EhC group was in state nf terror.
and tho nuiSs' uf the eruption WIS indie
ing brush fell continually. Throughout
the next day the earthquake ShOcks WEIR
severn
Tho next morning We prpc.S,tlci tn the
northeast point NJ the island as far rs Dip
point. which was found to Ia in inky
darkness. objects being >Cargly visible
over Il quarter of u mile. We Communi
CatCtl with the ShOrC and found the na
tivCs reas>upd. a. the actual frs in thu
vicinity had ceased At d o'clock in the
evening we prOcC,VlCd tn Port Sandwich.
not clearing the shower Of dust till murC
than half way across. several shocks
were experienced un the way. and in all 81
distinct shocks wcr' felt in seven hours
and thirty minutes.
"A grCat portion Of the cliff At Dip
point has fallen into the sca, and all along
the cnast clouds Of dust arr rising. and
landslidcs have occurred. Dust was now
falling heavier than ever. hut Of Lighter
color and finer description.
Everything nn shore was covered with
the dcp,~it, the landscape being Of n uni
form dull slate color and the ship gray
mass. We landed and Proceeded over the
hill for about two miles until the strCam
of lava was reached Although cooled
down, it WIS still proceeding at some four
ar five feet an hour in the direction ot
Banlag, ON the south c,ast. Owing, how.
ever, to the thickness of the atmosphere. il
was impossible to get any news Of what
was happening. We then returned to Port
sandwich.
National Rank Closes.
-..aAGNEY. Nch. Dec. 1.-The kcarnCy