VOLCANO'S AMFUL VISITATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1938, 22 December 1913, Page 5

VOLCANO'S AMFUL VISITATION.

-4 AMBRYM ISLAND!®;? ruins. .^jgtgg RESCUE STEAMER'S THRILLING EXPERIENCE. ' GRAPHIC STORY OF THE ERUPTION. By Tskirasli—Vr«s» Association—OopyrlsM', Sydney, December 20.w Passengers by the t\iciflque : f:a: vivid description of tho Ambrym eruption. . ' :, <-<. i :- i 5.-;i The outbreak was not .'unexpected,'j excepting in degree, as the volcano ■at j Mount Maruni, on Centre Island, had been in eruption some weeks..,': Whale Island T( mul s On the morning of December 5, how-! ever, it was discovered that-iivo new i craters had opened iu the range of mountains, the subterranean rumblings became more ominous, and attinies tremendous csplosio is shook the earth j the whole island trembling and plunging like a frightened horse. ■ '■ • The natives, who had hitherto regarded tho volcanoes complacently took fright, and fled panic-stricken to. the coast. Entering their catoes, they, took refuge oil ot-hor islands. Scsne of Awful Grandeur. In the night time the flames from the volcano shot a thousand feeti into xno air, illuminating tho whole scene of destruction. Streams of lava rushed down tho mountain slopes and the ocean boiled. Huge meteors were thrown -from the vocanocs and plunged into the water. ■' . The air was filled with, dusi, reaching a distance of ten miles from the scene of the outbreak. . . .... ■ ■■ v - : A great black cloud spread over ttie new craters, making a darkness .; that could almost be felt. ■ Tho upheavals wore so severe that the entire coast between Olai and Sessivi was devastated and transformed. Dip Point and Craig's Give were wiped out. At what was previously the- anchorage at Dip Point a new peninsula, ono ami a-half miles in length, was formed, with a submarine volcano at ■ its extremity. Rescue of Hospital Patients. Six white people on the island, including Dr. Bowie, took refuge in- a launch. The patients at Dr. Bowie s hospital were also removed aboard, a nil hardly had the launch left the landingstage when a lava strcfliu rcaciicu ftiul destroyed the hospital and mission station and a number of residences. . .-■ There were over forty patients in the hospital. Their rescue was a perilous proceeding, with lava streams running on each side of the budding and a.\ol.cano belching forth''fire behind. ' . . - Tho patients were carried on stretchers to the launch- j'.vcfihi.illv the rescuers, including tho wives of Dr. Bowie and Dr. Bailey, his assistant, had lo run for their lives, as the nro cang;U the building. Y' Tho launch proceeded t« I-ort Sandwich, on an adjoining island, and reported the catastrophe to tho steamer La France, after which it immediately returned to the scene, touching at various points of the island, and pickcd up panic-stricken natives. Altogctncr three ships.vcscued over'six iiUHUrccJ, could be found. .? Steamer's perilous Experience. The Pacifinue was at Api at the time of the outbreak and hurried to Port Sandwich. Captain Cltarvin, mi benalr of the Messageries Maritimes Company, offered his services, and the Pacibque was dispatched to skirt the coast ot Ambry Island to pick up other possible refugees, . Tho vessel had a- trying experience, red hot boulders fell all roiuul rtlld WW'" gation was difficult, owing to trees winch had fallen from the cliffs flooring in the sea, which was ako strewn' With great quantities of dead fish and turtles. . Tho island itself, which was one ot the b'eautv spots of tho Pacific, presented a desolate appearance. Si reams ot lava and dint had wiped out all the beautiful vegetation and destroyed tjm buildings. Fissures everywhere were issuing smoko and sninmuous vapours. Everv large crnntmn of I he craters was followed by a tidal wave, though of no great- size, wmle tho force of the. explosions caused the steamer- to qui\u like an asnen leaf. ' '

Five Hundred Missing. v '; The population of Ambrynl Wand is stated to he ••.bout eleven hundred therefore it is supposed that some mo hundred are -missing, though all accurate estimate is impossible. - Ono villago wn» surroi.ndcd by !ava, the residents being _ unable to escape, fifty or sixtv polishing in view of the watchers. There were nnny other liarrowing instances of life destruction reCO 'u < Ranon Buy. ten., miles from the cceno of tiie outbreak, the durt. was so thick that it brok's down the palm intense heat dried uo . all ■..the water, and the cattle were dying. .