OVERWHELMED BY FUMES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 5

OVERWHELMED BY FUMES

BODIES COVERED BY PUMICE Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, June 6. Tragic news comes from the Rev. Father George Borgershausen, Catholic missioner in New Guinea. He reported that 251 natives perished in the volcanic eruptions, the victims being overwhelmed by lava and fumes at Tavui and Walaur, in the vicinity of Vulcan Island. The natives belonged to the Gunan Tunan tribe. They consider themselves the “true people.’ ’They number about 2500 and live in the bush jungle on the New Britain coast. A later report expresses 'the fear that literally hundreds of natives are dead, chiefly women and pickaninnies whose decomposing bodies are covered with a thin layer of pumice dust. Another white man is also missing, a wireless operator on the freighter Golden Bear. There is no trace of Elsworthy, who disappeared while photographing the eruptions. The volcanoes are now quiet, there being only a "wisp of smoke from Matupi. There are no further details of the natives’ deaths. At least 80 per cent, of the refugees at Kokopo are reluctant to return to Rabaul and declare that a new capital should be established preferably at Kokopo. The administrator so-far has reached no decision on the matter but he is surprised at the smallness of the damage to Rabaul. It merely requires cleaning up, which is being done by natives. The relief ship Malaita arrived today, with food, bedding and medical supplies. The sympathy of the New Zealand Government and that of the people of the Dominion with the sufferers in the Rabaul eruption has been conveyed to the Australian Government by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, states a Wellington message. Mr Fraser has received a reply from the acting-Prime Minister of Australia, Dr. Earle Page, expressing appreciation of his message.