INDIA'S VISITATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 794, 10 April 1905, Page 2

INDIA'S VISITATION.

WKSTERH PROYIHCES DEVASTATED. BARRACKS COLLAPSE. GOOHKHAS ENTOMBED. ' i 138 KILLED, 186 WOUNDED. (Received April 9, 4.29 p.m.) * CALCUTTA, April 8. The earthquake originated in the ' Western Himalayas, the centre being ' about Dharmsala, The intensity in- ' creased through the Punjuub and ' United Provinces, while from Raja- ' putana northwards it decreased rapidly. There was apparently no wide ' extension of the disturbance towards ' Asam and Afghanistan. Information ' westwards, however, is imperfect. ' Communication with Dharmsala is diMcult owing to the destruction of the roads, bridges, and telegraphs. ' Repairs are proceeding. ' Tents, medical comforts, nurses, and doctors were scut to the affected ' districts. A regiment of O'oorkhas had just I moved into the newly-completed Brit- ■ ish-built stone barracks, which collapsed bodily. Other troops to be quartered there had not arrived. One hundred and thirty-eight Goorkhas wero killed, 180 injured, and 71 are missing. Tho list includes 29 women and children and some camp followers. The Deputy-Inspector of Police at Dharmsala lost his whole family, bo himself being crippled for life. Colonel Robinson, commanding at Dharmsala lost his life, as did his two daughters. A number of other military and civilian officials suffered bereavement in their families'. FOOD AKD SHELTER DRGEHTLY HSEDED. NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED GOOHKHAS KILLED. SERIOUS DAMAGE IN THE CITIES. ONE-FOURTH THE NATIVES DESTROYED, j (Received April 9, 4.29 p.m.) j CALCUTTA, April 9. Tho Viceregal lodge at Simla was declared unsafe after the earthquake. Lady Curzon, the children, and staff have therefore removed to , houses within the grounds. Lady Curzon's bedroom was badly daiu--1 aged. Tho Rev. Rowlands, Mrs Danebre, and Miss Lorbeer were buried in the ruins of the Kangra Mission House. : The fate of tho other missionaries Is as yet unknown. , Many houses and Government . buildings in tho Kangra district col- • lapsed, especially at Parampur. Food and shelter for the homeless '' natives arc urgently needed. Very serious damage is reported , from Mudki, Sailkot, and elsewhere. ; But few houses at Lahore absolutely ■ collapsed, though many need to bo [ rebuilt. '. Later reports state that seven Eu- . ropoan children and 470 Goorkas were killed at Dharmsala by the fall of the barracks. One-fourth of tho native population of tho villages in the vicinity perished. King Edward and the Prince of Wales sent messages of profound condolence at tho calamity, and earnest ' sympathy with tho sufferers. APPALLIKG SUDDEHXESS. • HUNDREDS OF GOORKHAS 1 BURIED. THE MOUNTAIN RATTLES. j A TERRIBLE CRASH. I (Received April ,9, 4.46 p.m.) CALCUTTA. April 8. The suddenness of the Dharmsala . catastrophe was appalling. In a mal ment tho barracks were shattered I from end to end, and hundreds were . buried for several hours before afc- | tempts at rescue could be made. It , was impostible in many cases to remove tho heavy blocks of masonry. I By Wednesday afternoon two hun- " dred wero rescued, many being tcr- ' ribly crushed. A Hindu survivor relates that nt | six o'clock on Tuesday morning, af- ; ler a cold boisterous night, the I mountain rattled, and the whole ' place heaved up, and then subsided. , The Hindus fled from their huts in I panic, and prayed in the open, while I a roar like tho discharge of heavy J guns continued. Then came a tcr- , riblo crash. The Hindu soys he saw . u great gap oijen and swallow two I houses ; then the barrack's were up--1 lilted two feet, and collapsed in [ ruins. Tho terrible cries from those pinioned in tho wreckage soon ceased. Many natives were Kjlled by tho 1 falling bricks and stonework.