AMBRYN ERUPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 5

AMBRYN ERUPTION.

THE ISLAND DEVASTATED.

FIVE HUNDRED PERISH. VILLAGES OVERWHELMED. BY MOLTEN LAVA STREAMS. FACE OF COUNTRY CHANGED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Passengers by the Pacißque give a vivid description of the Ambrj-n eruption. The outbreak was not unexpected, excepting iv degree. Tbe volcano at Mount Marum, in the centre of the island, had been in eruption for some weeks- The morning of December 5, however, it was discovered that five new craters had opened in the range of mountains. The subterranean rumblings became more ominous, and at times tremendous explosions shook the earth. ■WHOLE ISLAND TREMBLING. the whole island was trembling and plunging like a frightened horse, and the natives, who had hitherto regarded the volcanoes with complacency, took fright and fled, panic-stricken, to the coast. Entering their canoes, they took refuge in other islands. At night-time the flames shot a thousand feet into the air, illuminating the whole scene of destruction. Streams of lava rushed down the slopes, and the ocean in the vicinity boiled. Huge boulders were thrown from the volcanoes and plunged into the water, while the air was filled with dust reaching a distance of ten miles from the scene of the outbreak. GREAT BLACK CLOUD. A great black cloud spread over the new craters, making darkness that could almost be felt. The upheavals were so severe that the entire coast between Olai and Sessivi was devastated and transformed. Dip Point and Craig's Cove were annihilated, and at what was previously the anchorage at Dip Point a new peninsula 14 miles in length was formed, with a submarine volcano at its extremity. JUST IN TIME. Six white people on the island, including Dr Bowie, took refuge in a launch, and the patients at the Bowie Hospital were also removed aboard. Hardly had the launch left the landing stage when a lava stream reached and destroyed the hospital, and mission station and a number of residences. The launch proceeded to Port Sandwich, on an adjoining island, and reported the catastrophe. The steamer La France and Dr Bowie's launch immediately returned to the scene, touching at various points on the island. They picked up panic-stricken natives. Altogether three trips were made, and over GOO —all that could be found —were rescued. The population of Ambryn is stated at about 1,100, therefore it is supposed that some 500 arc missing, though an accurate estimate is impossible. One village was surrounded by lava, and the residents were unable to escape, fifty or sixty perishing in view of the watcheTS. Many other harrowing instances of destruction are recorded. The Pacifique was at Apia at the time of the outbreak, and hurried to Port Sandwich. " MAGNIFICENT, BUT GHASTLY." The captain of the Pacifique describes the eruption as magnificent, but ghastly. There were continuous detonations from great red-hot boulders thrown into the sea, and causing tbe water to rise in colnmns scores of feet high. The air was filled with choking dust, and the whole island was lit up by an unearthly light. The Pacifique while skirting the coast of Ambryn to pick up other possible refugees, had a trying experience. Redhot boulders fell round her, and navigation was difficult owing to the trees which had fallen from the cliffs and which were floating in the sea. The sea was also strewn with great quantities of dead fish and turtles. TIDAL 'WAVES. The island itself, formerly one of the beauty spots of the Pacific, presented a desolate appearance. Streams of lava and dust had wiped out all the beautiful vegetation and destroyed the buildings. Fissures everywhere were expelling smoke and sulphurous vapours. Every large eruption of the craters was followed by a tidal wave, though of no great size, while tbe force of the explosions caused the steamer to quiver like an aspen leaf. At Ranon Bay, ten miles from the outbreak, the dust was so thick that it broke down palm trees. The intense heat dried all the water, and cattle are dying. A DIFFICULT RESCUE. There were over 40 patients at. Dr. Bowie's hospital, and their rescue was a perilous proceeding, with lava streams running on each side and the volcano belching fire behind. They were carried on stretchers to a launch, and eventually the rescuers, including the wives of Drs. Bowie and Bailey and his assistant, had to run for their lives, as the lire caught the buildings.