The Earthquake of 1883.

Manawatu Herald, 6 January 1894, Page 3

The Earthquake of 1883.

No thunder from the skies was ever acoompanied with a roar of such vehemence as that which issued from the throat of the great volcano in Krakatoa, an islet lying in the Straits of Snndra, between Sumatra and Java, at 10 o'olock on Monday morning, August, 27, 1888. As that dreadful Sunday night wore on the noises increased in intensity and frequency. The explosions succeeded each other so rapidly that a continuous roar seemed to issue from the island. The critical moment wag now approaching, and the outbreak was preparing for a majestic culmination. The people of Batavia did not sleep that night. Their windows quivered with the thunders from Krakatoa, which resounded like the discharge of artillery in their streets. Finally at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, a stupendous convulsion took place which far transcended any of the shocks which had preceded it. This supreme effort it was which raised the mightiest noise ever heard on this globe. Batavia is 94 miles distant from Krakatoa. At Carimon, Java, 355 miles away, reports were heard on that Sunday morning which led to the belief thal},.thlere must be some vessel in the distance which was discharging ita guns as signals of distress The authorities sent out boats to

make search. They presently returned, as no ship could be found in Svant of succour. The reports were Bounds which had come all tbe way from Krakatoa. At Macassar, in Celebes, loud explosions attracted the attention of everybody. Two steamers were hastily sent out to find what was the matter. The sounds .had travelled from the Straits of Sunda, a distance of 969 miles. But mere hundreds of miles will not suffice" to- illustrate the extraordinary distance to which the greatest noise that ever was heard wag able to penetrate. The figures have to be in thousands. This seems "tflmost incredible, but it is certainly true.-- I Q tn © Victoria Plains, in West Australia, the shepherds were startled by noises like heavy canno

nadjing.

It was some time after-

- ward before they learned that their C tranquility had been disturbed by the grand events then proceeding at Krakatoa, 1700 miles away.