THE EARTHQUAKE

Evening Star, Issue 18158, 26 December 1922, Page 8

THE EARTHQUAKE

AN EERIE SPECTACLE. FACADES OF BUILDINGS CONTORTED. CATHEDRAL SPIRE SWAYS LIKE TREE. STRANGE SENSATION AT SEA. [Special to the ' Stab*’] CHRISTCHURCH:, December 26, The scene from (he windows of the ‘Press’ Office, facing Worcester street, and overlooking the south-east comer of Cathedral square, was as remarkable as it was startling. The huge bulk of the Government buildings opposite appeared to be heaving up mid down. Tho long continuance of the quake and the distinctly noticeable contortions of tho front of the big brick and stone pile, wqre such that it appeared every moment, as if the building would be rSlit into pieces. The long lines of windows, especially on the first and second floors, distinctly assumed different levels as the waves of the rocking earth passed along. From the front window the lofty spire of tho Cathedral was seen to be swaying like a tall poplar tree in a strong breeze, its motion being sufficient to set the bells clanging. As one ex-soldier described it, the sensations experienced inside the ‘ Press ’ building were akin to those of being in a town under shell fire. Hundreds of people lying about on the New Brighton beacli felt the full shock of the quake. A peculiar aspect, and one which added to the eeriness of the whole affair, was that sharp, distinct knocks, increasing in rapidity, could bo heard by those lying down during_ the first and most violent shakes. Inquiries made among some of tho bathers confirm the statement that the knocks were really heard after the tremors had completely ceased. Many people were left with a, dizzy sensation, and some complained of a feeling of sickness. There was no noticeable, effect on tho tide during and after tho quake. A SHIPMASTER’S EXPERIENCE.

Captain Ye'enoth, of tlio Union Company’s Kaitangata, -underwent a strange experience. When six miles off Lyttelton Heads a sensation was felt similar'to Unit of the vessel being changed from full speed ahead to full speed astern. There was a bumping, as though the stern had grazed a sandbank, the whole ship- being shaken and the masts quivering. It was at first thought that a. serious mishap had occurred in tho engine room, but it soon became apparent to all that, tho ship- was experiencing the strange phenomenon of an earthquake at sea.. It was on November 16, 1901, that the last big earthquake was felt in Canterbury. On that occasion the shock was of such severity that .the Cathedral, spire was thrown out of alignment, and widespread damage was done in the city owing to tanks overflowing and crockery'and -plaster falling. The heaviest damage occurred at Cheviot, where the township was practically devastated, and the tremors continued intermittently for several days until not a, chimney or window was left intact. People were thrown into a state of panic, and many residents were rendered homeless, and had to he given temporary shelter in Christchurch.

The earthquake which resulted in the total destruction, of the upper portion of the Cathedral spire occurred on September 1, 1888. SOME DETAILS OP DAMAGE. CATHEDRAL SPIRE UNDAMAGED. [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. At tho Cathedral, tho bells were rung down by the earthquake, and two of the largest shifted from their place, but did not fall.' It is stated that the roof was damaged, but evidently the spire is uninjured. The crowds on the beaches had a queer experience owing to the knocking sensation -of the earthquake, but the wave motion was inperceptible. AT RANGIORA.' At Rangiora a chimney was displaced in the post office, and extensive cracks developed in the new high school building and Presbyterian Church. A glasshouse belonging to Mr W. A. Bowse (Rangiora) was greatly damaged, and the chimney fell on a bicycle. The total damage is estimated, at £3OO. “NO MORE,” SAYS MACLAREN. MacLaren’s team never had a similar experience, and MacLaren-’s comment was: “ No, never before; and I don’t want another.” MILD IN DUNEDIN. Tho 'quake was generally -felt in Dunedin, but it was very mild. Just after 3 there was a slight tremor that caused a little vibration of window frames, and set the hanging fixtures swaying. The telegraph officers at Dunedin say that their Wires south of Christchurch, were not affected. There was a break somewhere north of Christchurch, possibly in the Kaikoura district, anti, communication between Dunedin -and the north by tho eastern line was interrupted till about 9.30 this morning. _ The messages that came and- went during the interruption were transmitted, by way of tho West Coast. So far t-hero are no particulars as to where the break occurred, CAMPERS’ ALARMING EXPERIENCE. GEYSERS PLAY ON REACH. [Special to tub ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. Parties of campers at Waikukn Beach had alarming experiences. Immediately after the earthquake ceased, cold water geysers commenced to spout from the sand in various places, fissures having evidently .boon made in the ground down to artesian water strata. The water commenced to gush out in heavy streams, and fearing there was more to follow (possibly a. tidal wave) those with motor cars made off as speedily as possible. In one case a geyser started below a car, causing tho machine to sink in the sand to a considerable depth. Only the strenuous efforts of a crowd of people on a tow rope saved it from being deeply engulfed. One picnic party had a unique, experience, and one so alarming that it caused a lady member to faint. A cloth had been kid on the sand for afternoon tea when the earthquake occurred. Suddenly the tablecloth commenced to rise, a geyser having burst through in tho centre of it. There was a- hurried rescue of tho comestibles and a rapid stampede. CHEVIOT BADLY DAMAGED. ONE CASUALTY REPORTED. [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH. December 26. Tho anticipation that Cheviot would be ono of the worst sufferers from the ’quake vtm realised, and very few. places escaped without some reminder. The damage is fairly extensive. The chimneys are practically all down, or bound to come down. All private houses have suffered, and, added to structural damage, there are heavy losses ( in crockery and lionsehold ornaments. The earthquake was .felt at its worst on aMuvid, flat land, the hill land escaping comparatively lightly. There were several -narrow escapes from injury. One casualty is reported, and a young lady who was visiting at Mr and Mrs Graham’s was struck on the head by a falling brick. Lady OamipbelTs residence is reported to be damaged.

The new farm concrete bmldin-tr feeing erected ,iu Mackenzie Towndhip for Daljjety and Co., stood, yeiy .well, but a-lot

of the plaster work was shaken loose. Cracks <uro visible in. the road, and shops and their contents also suffered. The local chemist (Mr J. Rintmil) had to clear his floor of debris by using a long-handled shovel. In some of the gardens apiaries were upset, much to the discomfiture of the bees. Two small shocks were experienced this morning, but they did not add to ,(he damage. In the opinion of some of the older hands, who experienced the 1901 earthquake, yesterday’s shock was not so severe in Cheviot os on that occasion. TERRIFYING SCENE IN HOSPITAL. OPERATING THEATRE SMASHED. ORDEAL FOR STAFF AND PATIENTS. VICARAGE WALLS CRUMBLE. [Per United Press Association,] CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. Hardly any buildings in Waikani escaped damage as the result of the earthquake, the extent of which is worse than that of the Cheviot ’quake in 1901. With few exceptions the chimneys in tho .township are down or damaged in some way. Tho greatest damage was sustained in the hospital and the Anglican vicarage. There wove only two patients in the hospital at the time—a woman suffering from a nervous breakdown, and a baby a- few months old. The matron and two other members of the staff were present-, and shared a terrifying experience. The hospital is :i----two-story wooden building, which was opened in September, 1920. The shako it received was terrible, the building swaying from, side to side. To this terrifying motion was added the terrific crashing of chimneys on the roof, and the bricks were scattered in all directions. The adult patient was in a room in the upper story, and tho bricks from two chimneys crashed) on to the roof outside her window, breaking through by sheer weight into tho operating 1 theatre l>elow. and making a total wreck of it.. The plaster work throughout the building was cracked, and largo pieces broke away, crashing to the floors. The roof above the operating thont.ro looked as though it bad been cut with a giant- knife, so clean, was the hole made by the tumbling bricks. A number of doors were damaged, making it difficult to use them. The matron was leaving the ground floor to go upstairs to the patients when Ibo- shock occurred, and she was thrown down by the violence of the ’quake. The I,roubles of tho hospital were added 1C by the splitting of the concrete water tank, the escaping water flooding the gutside of the building. A crack was loft in tho ground near the gate of the hospital, the fissure being two yards long an-d an inch wide.

The vicarage, occupied by the Rev. E. R. Rawle and Mrs Rawle, is a stout building. erected about forty-five years ago. It is in line with the hosnital, about 100 yards away, and both buildings are on the side of the hill. Tho e-arthouak© cracked tho building very badly, and tho whole of the west side broke up, about thirty tons of stone tnpolimg to the ground and leaving some of the rooms exposed. Mr Rawle was away attending a funeral, hut Airs Rawle was in tho building, and had a terrible experience. When the wall fell she attempted to get out of on© door on to tho lawn, but it was jammed, and she had to use another exit. Mr Rawle, on his way home, saw the great cloud of dust thrown up by the wrecked wall, and thought the building was on fire. Old residents siv that the ’quake was the worst ewer felt in Woikari. In Ha warden district, Air Saundercock, of the Co-onera.tive Stores at Hawarden. states that hundreds of pounds’ worth of groceries and bottled goods were damaged, and it is considered that very few chimneys escaped. At Cheviot tho shock was very severe, considerable damage being done to the buildings and contents.