Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-03
Shocks Continue After Napier
Is Laid Waste, With Death
List of 100, and Hastings
Devastated.
BUILDINGS TUMBLE DOWN
BY DOZEN IN WAIROA
Population Stunned by Worst Dis
aster Island Has Ever Suffered.
Firemen Are Helpless as Shocks
Cut Off Water Supply-Rescuers
Risk Lives to Hunt Victims.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand
Wednesday, February 4.-Three
towns were in ruins today, more
than 100 persons were dead and
upward CT 1000 injured, as the re-
suit of one of the most terrible
earthquakes that ever struck New
Zealand.
It began on North Island early
yesterday morning, bringing stone
and brick buildings toppling about
the heads of their occupants and
pedestrians in the streets, and set
ting fire to hundreds of frame
structures.
Then the water supply, wrecked
by the shocks, gave out and the
firemen were helpless.
In a series of recurring shocks the
seaport Of Napier was laid waste, the
fiourishing town of Hastings, IL miles
away, was devastated, and buildings
came turnbling down by the dozen in
the town of Wairoa.
Population Helpless.
The shocks were still continuing to-
day, ana the population was stunned
and helpless in the face OF inc olsastef
Oil tanks exploded and spread fam
ing horror through Napier. In that city
alone the dead were estimated at 100
and the injured at 1000. What the
tragic total would be from all three
towns and other settlements in the
Hawke Bay district, it was impossible
TO foretell
As the houses began topping hu1-
dreds of occupants ran IN terror 10
the streets. and when the streets be-
came unsafe because of falling build
ings they sought shelter in parked au-
tonobiles.
Then in several places walls tipped
over crafty to crash on the cars, killing
all those within.
First aid was offered by the officers
and crew Of the naval sloop Veronica
to which homeless and destitute women
and children were taken.
Debris Searched for Bodies.
Despite the constant menace Of death
rescue parties entered the topheavy
ruins of half demolished buildings
searching the debris for any who might
have been buried alive in the wreckage
In a Hastings department store the
searchers found 10 prisoners pinned un-
der the masonry and work began imme-
diately to free them before the remain
ing walls could fall in.
One man finally was rescued after
having been trapped for nine hours
but weakened wall fell on another
breaking both legs and his back.
The commander Of the Il. M. 3
Veronica, who organized the first re-
lief party shortly after the first quake
struck radioed this afternoon that TIT
shocks were continuing and that the
people in the devastated district were
stunned by this. the greatest disaster
which ever befell New Zealand.
Firemen Powerless.
Bluff Hill, a cliff on the outskirts
of Napier, fen in upon itself, carrying
with it the houses built along III
slopes. Fires broke out simultan Sousi.
in many places but the quake haE
wrecked a water supply system ant
firemen were powerless to cope VIII
the conhagration.
Il have Just returned from com
plete inspection of this town. Tn.
Commanders message from Napier SAID
practically every stone building ma
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