Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

anu CedSSltSS IOdI VI Vic WI
cano, and broken only by the harsh cries
one with a feeling of ones utter help
lessness in the hands of Nature, and
We were very glad when the skies cleared
and peace and calm were restored once
more.
Christmas came and went, and it was
not until January that we began to no
tice an undue activity about the volcano.
Earthquakes became frequent. at times
the walls Of our huts rocked SO Violent
ly that the plates and dishes fell from
the shelves and big stones came tum-
bling down from the cliffs.
To people who are accustomed to live
In volcanic regions there is no truer
saying than that familiarity breeds con-
tempt. Visitors to the Rotorua district
of New Zealand are always struck by
this fact, and one sees the same thing
in Italy and elsewhere. So 1t was with
us. We paid little attention to these
happenings until at last the crater COM
menced to vomit red-hot stones and
ashes and the lake to dry up. Then
my brother did begin to get alarmed!
X
MATTERS continued to grow worse,
AVA and soon the fumes became so
to leave our quarters and. take refuge
In the boathouse, which was in more
protected position. Even then the
ground became so hot that miniature
volcanoes would spring up like mush-
rooms In night, giving out little spoutS
of steam and .vapor.
About this time the cutter was due
to arrive, and day by day We scanned
the horizon anxiously for signs of her
approach, but all in vain.
It was essential that We should get
away as soon as possible, in case the
whole island blew up, and at night we
used to burn casks of tar, OF which
there we're numbers on the island, in
the hope OF attracting the attention OF
some passing ship, but without result
Very often we fancied we saw lights
moving out at sea, and promptly re-
doubled our efforts, but nothing came
of 1t, so we finally came to the con-
cl,lsion that the lights must be either
fires on the mainland or the effect OF
our own overweight nerves.
At last matters became so bad that
Hawker. after consultation with big
Charlie" decided to make an attempt
to reach the mainland in the whale
boat.
There is small island called Whale
Island on which we knew there was
fresh water, about halfway to the
mainland, and we thought that with
good weather, by starting very early in
the morning. we should be able to make
this shelter by nightfall. There we
could rest. making another dash for
the coast when a favorable oppor-
tunity occurred.
Provisions and kegs of water were
made ready and slowed away In the
boat We had no sail. so We manu-
featured one out Of sacking. The boat
itself was not In good shape and
leaked badly, but we calked her seams
as best we could and waited with no
little trepidation for suitable weather
conditions for the attempt.
Luckily, we had not long to wait, and
one morning at break of day we set off.
With our cargo Of people. Ida's cats and
the stores. we were pretty heavily la
den: there was very little free-board be-
tween us and the surface Of the Pacific.
Hawker, Of course, was in command
at the steer-oar Big Charlie" pulled
stroke, "Griff" was our second oar and
George No 8: my job was bailing
ship and I bailed that day from day
light until after 10 o'clock at night.
Hour after hour we toiled on. until
White Island became but blotch of
smoke in the distance.
AS the day advanced, however, the
weather conditions began to alter. The
wind veered point or two to the north,
increasing In strength. and the sea be-
gan to rise alarmingly At last Hawker
abandoned all hopes of making the
passage in safety and gave the order
to bout ship"
Down came the sail and mast, the
boat swung round into the wind and we
headed once more for our sulphurous
homeland what?
I will not dwell on that struggle, for
such it was. Momentarily the seas grew
worse. but reach the shelter Of that
island we must before they rose sufa-
GENTLY to swamp us, and reach 1t we
did. How We managed 1t I do not
know: all remember Is that some time
during the night after a rare buffeting,
the boat ran into calm water In the lee
of the island.
EVEN then our troubles were not over,
- for the wind was blowing fumes and
ashes out over the bay in volumes so
dense that we were unable to land.
That night, therefore, we had to lie of
the island. With daylight, fortunately.
the wind changed and we were able
to get ashore. We were very glad Of
a breakfast of salt pork and tea and to
rest our weary limbs in the shade OF
the boathouse.
The reason why the cutter was de-
layed I do not know, but she did not
turn up. and we had to remain IN the
boathouse for a little over fortnight.
while daily the grumblings of the vol
cano became more violent. Hawker
refused to make another attempt at the
boat voyage; 1t was too risky.
At last one misty Sunday morning we