Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1886 — EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES. [ARTICLE]

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES.

Twenty Persons Killed and Numerous Villages Ingulfed in New Zealand. [San Francisco telegram.] The steamer Alameda, which has arrived from Australia, brings particulars of fearful volcanic eruptions in New Zealand last month. Natives of Taranga, in the Auckland lake district, were awakened by terrific lightning flasnes. which continued for two hours, when a tremendous earthquake occurred. People fled from their houses in their night-clothes. The earthquakes continued to follow in qpick succession up to 7 a. in., when a leaden-colored cloud was observed advancing from the south, spreading out until it covered the sky. While still moving it burst with the sound of thunder, and shortly after showers of fine dust having a sulphurous smell began falling. Accounts from other points state that Mount Tarewera was the first to break out, followed shortly by the entire Paeroa range, hurling flame, burning lava, and stones over the surrounding country. For the first time in tradition the extinct volcano of Ruapeta was awakened ~into activity. The entire country, over an extent of 120 miles long by 20 in breadth, was nothing .but a nias-i of flame, and hot, crumbling soil. Numerous small native villages were totally destroyed. Wairoa was covered to a depth of tenfeet with dust and ashes. Rahtomahana was completely ingulfed. Twenty persons, among them several English residents, are known to have lost their lives. One old Maori ehief, at Rotoura, was dug oat alive after having been buried in ashes 104 hours. At the date of the departure of the steamer the volcanoes were still very active, and the temperature of the hot was increasing. .