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

| horn, and rushing out were dlmly able
to discern the outline OF one Of the
U. S. S. Co.'S vessels lying In the bay.
Throwing on what clothes We could,
we quickly launched the boat through
the surf-there was fairly high sea
| in. getting drenched to the skin in so
doing. George, remember, lost one
of his boots In the process.
leave 1t to you to imagine what we
all looked like when We were hauled up
on to the deck of the steamer I
remember the passengers crowding
round and gazing at us as II we were
creatures from another world.
| When I told lady that liked being
on the island she nearly tainted! I
am afraid I was not strictly truthful in
this instance. but for some reason or
other We had agreed to say nothing
about the eruption. Probably was. too
young to realize our danger.
The only one who showed any signs
of nerves was Hawker. He. poor chap,
responsibility and his anxiety for us
| youngsters weighed upon his mind.
That he was not afraid on his own
account the following incident will
show:
| When we came alongside the steamer
the captain handed Hawker a telegram
| It was from my father (who, of course,
was quite unaware that the volcano
was in eruption), inStructing him to
send us all home Hawker himself and
the two men, however, were to remain
on the island until father was able to
fetch them himself. Hawker and his
men accordingly returned to the island,
| and were taken off about a fortnight
later. But poor Hawker was nervous
wreck when he left. and for years after
ward was under doctors care.
| Although he lived to be so, I think
he never really recovered from his ex-
| periences on White Island. I myself
have been many years away from New
Zealand and have lost touch with what
| has occurred there since. but ] have
heard that several attempts have been
made by different parties to work the
sulphur deposits there, but all have
ended in failure, owing to volcanic
| activity
| In any case. believe that the island
is now left to the tender care of the
mutton-birds and gannets-unless the
descendants of Blacksmith" and
Kitty Doctor" still roam its rugged
| heights In search of prey. For, alas! in
the hurry-scurry of the final exodus,
the two cats were overlooked and left
behind!
GEORGE BOURNE, who visited the
~ island on several occasions between
1910 and 1920. supplies information that
throws further light on Mr.. Wilson's
narrative.
Mr.. Bourne writes:
Prior to 1885 White Island was
cr g.
private ownership, and its rich sulphur
deposits were worked on a small scale.
the project being abandoned in a great
hurry within q year owing to the
alarm created by an eruption.
After that the possibilities of the
island remained unexpected for period
of 80 years. when, about IL months
before the outbreak of the Great War,
a Canadian company with capital of
100000 acquired possession, erected
works and dwellings and commenced
excavating operations upon a large
scale, one of the first tasks being the
drainage of the sulphur lake to reach
the presumed rich deposits below.
"At its best life on this weird island
cannot have been very alluring, but the
employees, averaging IL all told, no doubt
attracted by the high rate of pay, ap-
peared quite contented with the prevail
ing conditions. AS can be imagined,
their existence depended upon regular
supplies from the mainland. an arrange
ment existing between the company and
launch-owner of Opotiki, the nearest
township opposite. to visit the island
weekly, weather permitting.
Operations were hardly in smooth
running order when the first signs of
In II ly1nIr tI1at vrrne e. fl.ie
ond venture manifested themselves, and
explosion.
Before IL months had passed-the
same period as before-White Island got
rid of the intruders by means of a ter
rife eruption, the whole of the en-
ployes, together with the company'S
expensive plant, being wiped out of ex-
istence, presumably without moments
notice.
THE only living object connected
with the late works found on the island
was cat, one of five known to be with
the sulphur workers. (Were these, per-
haps. the descendants of BLACKSMITH"
and kitty Doctor?') BY some miracu-
lous chance 1t had survived the disaster
and existed precariously during the in
terval The cat was captured and
brought back by former employe of
the sulphur company who-fortunately
for himseif-had left the company's
service a fortnight before the eruption.
Interest in the island has again been
reused by renewal of subterranean &C
tivity on even a grander scale, 1t is sur
missed, than that of any of its preceding
eruptions.
Reliable Information from residents
Of the. mainland towns opposite shows
that plainly VISIBLE flames have been q