WAIMANGU DISASTER

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 April 1917, Page 5

WAIMANGU DISASTER

A TERRIFIC ERUPTION.

GOVERNMENT ACCOMODATION HOUSE WRECKED.

OCCUPANTS BADLY INJTKED, ROTOKUA, April 1,

Information was received this morning, about 5.30 o 'clock, of a most terrific and disastrous eruption that had taken place at Waimangu resulting in the wreck of the Government Accommodation House and serious injury to the inmates (Mr and Mrs McCormick and their child). The news was brought in by Mr Wm Wood, who has a selection in close proximity to the great geyser. The resident officer, on learning that Mr and Mrs McCormick had been injured, procured a motor-car and made arrangements to proceed to the scene, accompanied by Dr. Osborne. On the way out, when about half way, a car was met with the three injured people, and the doctor accompanied them into Rotorua, where they were taken to Nurse Ghison's private hospital, and are progressing as well as can be expected. Mr McCormick is much scalded about the body and face, while Mrs McCormick is severely scalded all over, having evidently received the full brunt of the awful blast that wrecked the house.

The eruption took place at 6.20 a.m., at which time the clock in the house stopped. From what can be surmised the whole of the Frying Pan Flat must have erupted, and a blast of steam, mud and wind swept up the valley,| which, in. its onward march, unroofed the house, parts of the roof having been driven a distance of 800 yards across the valley and on to the ridge beyond. Recovering from the first shock of the oui,.:rst, the inmates appear to have taken refuge under the bed, but, realising that the mud was being driven into the house, and fearing that the exits would be jammed by an accumulation of the mud, MeCormick and family, after much trouble, got clear of the building by the back door, ; it being impossible to face the fury of the steam, mud and wind that was raging in the front of the building. Notwithstanding her injuries, Mrs MeCormick started for the residence of Mr Wood to give the alarm, telephonic communication being impossible, as the telephone was wrecked. Mr Wood seeing that more than an ordinary eruption had taken place, was proceeding in the direction of the geyser, and picked Mrs MeCormick up, removing her to his home, where she was cared for by Mrs Wood. In the meantime Mr Wood returned for Mr MeCormick and the child, The surroundings ©f the Accommodation House indicating that the force of the eruption must have been terrific, the roof of the verandah having blown off and lifted onto another knoll. The roof of the main building was scattered all over the valley and .ridges adjacent. The escape of the inmates is nothing short of a miracle.

The scene of the eruption—Frying Pan Plat —resembled Hell let loose, mud, water, and steam being shot to heights varying from 600 to SOO feet. Black mud, red mud, stones and steam of all colours were to be seen, and a remarkable sight was the immense blocks of stone being hurled immense distances, and silhouetted in the white steam in the background. Another peculiar sight was the falling of what was no doubt stones; but they appeared to resemble a comet or shooting stars, saving a brilliance like a comet.

Mr A. Warbrick, who., at the instigation of the resident officer proceeded to the scene of the eruption from YVairoa, across Lakes Tarawera and Sotomahana Is of opinion that the whole of the Flat —some forty acres in extent —has blown out, and, so far as he could see, he considers that Gibraltar Rock Iras also erupted. The country to the south of Waimangu, for a distance of about three miles, is covered with a dirty whitish sand or mud, all vegetation being smothered. The force of the steam and wind can be gauged from the manner in which the fern has been swept down and levelled to the ground. The configuration of th e Flat will be altered entirely, and it is not likey there

'Mtn euros .101 sdui punoj ine a q Ilt-u. the tracks through the Flat forming a portion of the land embraced by the eruption. Hundereds of the residents of Eotorua travelled to Waimangu to witness the eruption, which commenced evidently at 6.20 a.m. At the time of leaving everything was still very active, the roaring of the escaping steam being heard at some distance. It is estimated tint the damage to the Government Accommodation House is much greater than that to McCrae's Hotel at Wairoa during the eruption of TaTawera 31 vears ago.

After seven hours there appeared to be as much power behind the mud as at

fhe start. Mr McCormick will be a heavy loser, as th e furniture and effects at the house were his property. Much sympathy is felt for him and his family. It is only on Thursday last that he returned -from a holiday. -A NARROW ESCAPE. Yesterday many visitors took the round trip and passed over the ground that erupted this morning. Several were out and viewed the scene of desolation, and expressed their gr.it-f-v—--? tbat the eruption did not take place while they were on their journey across the flat.