THE ERUPTION AT TARAWERA. ACCOUNTS BY RETURNED TOURISTS.
When our reporter reached O\ford yesterday afternoon, great ma^es of white cloud*. could be seen using over the Pateteie range in the dhection of Rotoiua, which took a south-easterly direction in a (succession of heavy banks, and were a clear indication of the magnitude of the eruption. A ciwch load of tourists returning fumi the Lake.s arrived at Oxford, and being interviewed by our rei«>rter full particulars of the terrible citaxtroplie were obtained from them, together with thrilling accounts of the panic and drstructiou at the scene of the disaster.
A Tourist's Experience. An English gentleman who was staying at Brent's, Rotorua, hays:— "The ."hock* commenced at about 1 a.m. I did not Uke any notice at first, until the ladies in the hou*e came out into the pas-.ige in great alarm. When we looked out through the windows I s>a\v th.it some mountain was in a state of violent eruption. The reporta were like the roar of heavy guns in a field of battle, with the incessant i.ittlo of musketry arid heavy shots. Flames of lurid red *hot up into the air, and great b*lls of livid fire were thrown np, which burnt and flew out in all direction* like streaks of forked lightning. The rl.unes appeared to extend a considerable distance. Huge clondi of black smoke rose up, and gradually spread over tho whole hea\ens. Then allies began to fall of a very fine description, and continued foraeveial hours. It was the grandest and most awful sight I «ver witnesxed. I walked to Ohinemutu at about 3 o'clock. A great number of new springs had sprung up, some right across the road. There was great excitement in the township."
Another Tourist says when the shock and terrific explosions were continuing, he thought his last day had come. The night was a dreadful one, and they were glad when daylight appeared. The ground about the township was covered with a, fine grey ash, and the whole country presented a greyish appeaiance.
Gallant Attempt, Mack, Carter's, coach-driver, made a very gallant attempt to reach Waiioa with a double buggy in order to succour the people at that settlement, and drove forwnrd notwithstanding the darkness and falling ashes. When he reached the Tikitapu bush hi* progress was stopped as the road was quite blocked with great trees which had been thrown across the road by the weight of fallen ashes. The bush was> on tire and its beauty quite destroyed. He met Miis Hafcaid and her cister and two servant girls from Macraes Hotel who had escaped the destruction of Wairoa, and were making their way on foot to Rotorua.
The Girls were in a Pitiful State. They were disfigured and greatly distressed, the two servant girls being very scantily dressed, one of them with only a window curtain wrapped around her over her nipht clothes
Complete Destruction of Wairoa. Wairoa bas been completely destroyed ; every house, both European and Maori, having been crushed by the fallen lava, stones and scoria and burnt to the ground. Macraes Hotel was smashed to a pancake, Mr Macrae and all the other inmates of the house just managed to escape before it collapsed, with their lives, but only w ith scanty clothing. Wairoa is covered with volcanic debris to a depth of sevnr.il feot. The loss of lives ainonpst the nathcs is thought to he Aery great, and several Emopeans are also nursing.
Te Ariki and Moraa. The native settlement? at To Arik, W Morea on the lower end J Lake TarvAvra,
and «ittuted dene ihkJii the volcanic iiiniiiitaiii imiit bo ntteny f]titi<>}H> and it ii u\|WLtt'il ih.it nut .1 mul in-, escaped.
LO9S of The Hazard Family. The most lament iblc !()-.■< nf lues nc* curled in tin* family 'if Mr Ha/.tul, the nitivc scli'ioliiuixtei .it 'IV Wiiid.u It is sml tl> it VVudrie-vl iy \i.i« Mr*. Ha/nrd'ii bntliday, and the f. urn ly h.ul celehiatpd it Inppily before retiring for tin 1 night. When the hr*t paithqu.ike shocks occurred »t iin>> o'clock all the childti'ii r.ui into their p mint*' Kioni. Mr H.izud tried to allay then" le.ir-, .md told them not to be .il.u mod. Mix H.i/ nd dic-M'd hciiclf and two younpfcr children, and they all ■i-MMiililed iv tho Mtting-room, ulmro they lit a fare, and cnyijfod tv prayer. Mis« Hazard .-oated herself at the m^an. When the l.ix.v and "Jtonp-, foil they thought it won hail, but it ciinc down tho cliiinney and dro\p the hie over tho room. The r<x»f shoitly aftei fell in, and the lioumj caught tire. The loof filling on the otgnn made an open "pic", wlulli mmi| Mim H.i/.ard, and u (mo understand it was Mr Stulibinp) iftc rw ard-> ])till.>d nor out of her dmKftoui situation. Her >omii;pr sister, ltijoais of age, w.h by the window, and 'she nl«»n was dr.igopd out by a Maori wonnn. Mr and Mis H.uaid and three childit'ti. one of whom wa> a niece of theiru of tlio naiii" of Ui^n.ill, were- killed. Mr Hi/ird, to^'etlier with hi-, family, were highly lespected, und lud done very much goin.l anioncst the Maoris during their residence at Wauoa. and their sad end is much deplored. Capt. am 1 Mis Way, who occupied tho old mi-Muti lioiise, were \eiy
Providentially Away at M.iketu with the Re\. Mr Sjiencer. Mr« Way's father. The outlet from L ike Rotokakatie tn Luke T.uawer.i, which fli>wed past Wainu and formed the beautiful Mina FalK, in aaid to
Be Quite Dried Up. An English tourist at Waiicu is wild to h.i\i! suiic I'Ut^idt 1 1<» a hill to witness the grandeur of the eruption, and declared bo would not have
Missed Such a Sight for a fortune, but when the la\.i and scoria began to fall thickly about him, his> gladness was
Turned to Sorrow. Several mud holes bur.^t out at Watroa, and :i Maiui woman was semi to f:ill down one and disappear fmri bight with sibhriek
No one could help her. It is the tfenpnl belief th.it ouhigto th«ir proximity t" the ;"Ican<> the bcmtiful
Terraces are DestroyedHurry Korr, di i\ or of Cartel's coach from Oxfoid, st itph that when hi* was driving up he noticed h\v> line ash f.illinp in tho Ritcterc bu^h, <md that it covered the coach and •HiiKiyod tho |Kis-<cns;ers. All the way through the Rotonu t)ii>h the
Atmosphere was Quite Dark, and at Kotorua the people had to hum Limps duriufr the day. On ht* way ho pa^ed refugppti fleeing from the di*tmb"d repiori*, w»rne on foof, mime on horseluck, and home in traps. The Maoris had nude
A General Stampede. One native ho met was teinbly excited, and told him not t<> p<> on, as
Botorua Pukeru ! Rotorua Pukertt ! Mr Kerr thinks tlii'ie must b» fully 100 li\es lost. He tin 1 liprht in thn bush as lie drove through was vi'iy extraordinary, " n.isty," .md he wai to -jet out of it.
A Lady from the Scene h i>» Mipplicd us uith tlio ,il)(,\e particulars (tf the t.ite of thu H.i/.ird>, and describes the teirble cxpeiiciic"^ ot the night a« awful. She alv> uiforiiit n> that the Blue Bith li.us fijionnd one m -luwial --iningH, and [\<\*> changed t > .1 d.rty bnmu olnur.
Lake Rotorua Rose several feet, <uid was quite discoloured, and wajN cmeied with volcinio .i-.li and burnt lock. Mok u i Inland, m the lake, wan alw> coated with .iihi'"». Tli"ie <vie .-.itnated 10 or 12 milci from Tai.iwiMi*. Mr Wilkinson anrl family, of the Call ton Club Hotel, has iiiitwd hi (Kford. Mr Unitows, government architect, .md Mi Ivi'v, builder, left on foot, tintl uibt K"rr'- coach in the biihh, and letunied by him to Kotmua.
A Tidal Wave w.w p\pprienced on Like Tarawera last Monday week, which hc?ms to h.ive been a pienimiiton of the coining catastrophe. The mo-,t carious «tory is told of
A. Phantom Canoe i which crossed the Like <>n the sune day. A party of tomtit*, with Sophia a-> were crushing the lake whan a str.vnge doublehe.uled c moe, liku iv w.vr c.\no », was seen pas-ing them. The paddlcrs were clearly distiußiii^hed, and Sciphia h tiled them. But no reply was gnuu, and the ennoo disap|)earcd round .1 coiner. 'The natives declare that there is no canoe «{ thatdescnption mi the Like, .uid swore it was A fjhost. They rcfiihcd to proceed, and it was with difficulty their alarm w.is sta3'ed, and induced to pfoon their journey. Tlietourista .saw the ci.ift, but do not gi\e it a supernatm.il cieatiou.
Taupo. Major Scanupllrupoih from Taupo:— "Nn ci upturns bqre. Sharp shock of earth* quake but m» damage.' 1
What Rev. Mr Fairbrofcher Says. Tlu> R»v. Mr Fairbi'nther was with our special reporter <>n liis vv.iy to the scene of et upturns, and he states that he always heard the nati\es at Wiiro.i and Rotonmh.ina s.iv that they had iio traditions of Mount Taraw era ever lieing in a state of activity. Mr Fairbrother was stationed as Baptist Minister at Waiioa, and occupied a .small cottage below the old Minion Church, and is thankful that lie was not there during the calamity, as it was only by >\ combination of circumstances that he happened to be Aw.iy from the place.
Feeling in Wellington. Our Wellington corie^nndent telegraphs as follows : — The most infrnsQ excitement prevailed here to-day in consequence of the alarming newt, received this morning of volcanic disturbance lit Rotorua, and the telegrams teemed during the day were looked for with the most eager interest. Your readers no doubt are fully posted up in all particular-., but, Mr Kelly of Ohincinutu, who is now in Wellington has just >hown me a telegram from Rotorua which says that all danger is now considered over. Although Mr Kellys family with many other residents have fled to Tauranga for 'safely.
Previous alarm amongst the Natives. The natives were convinced that something serious was- ltnjjcnding. They on several occasions refused to take tourist* t« see the Terraces, and once or twice parties of excursionists bad great difficulty in persuading M.iori guides to accompany them. At Lake Taruwera it was observed that the water rose and fell in a rapid manner such an had never been witnessed before, and a like phenomenon was to be seen on Lake Kutomahana. On one occasion the water of the Lake rose like a tidal wave, and those who had not lauded had to wait till the wave subsided before they could do so. ' Near the White Terrace many changes were observed in the holes and geysers, so that the Maoris were apprehensive of some impending disaster. It was observable that the geysers had been working with greater energy than ever was known before— the mud and stones ejected from them reaching points which had hitherto been beyond range. - No doubt is now telt that these were premonitions of the terrific outburst of volcanic energy which has overwhelmed in ruins the pr«at sanatorium of New Zealand, and strengthened the claim of tho district to the title of the Wonderland of the Pacific.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2173, 12 June 1886, Page 2
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1,847THE ERUPTION AT TARAWERA. ACCOUNTS BY RETURNED TOURISTS. Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2173, 12 June 1886, Page 2
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