’QUAKE NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11450, 26 February 1931, Page 6

’QUAKE NOTES

Exaggerated reports of tho deathroll in tho Hawky’s Bay earthquake were circulated in the United States and Canada, according to Mr J. S. Fletcher., M.P.. who returned by the Niagara on Monday from -a yjsit to America. “I was in Vancouver ••when the first news' of the earthquake came through”, said Mr Fletcher, “and the statement was published in the Vancouver press that the deaths numbered 1000. Later they were said to bq 1500; and when I joined tho Niagara the ship’s wireloss news estimated', the deaths at 2000. The publication of this kind of thing created a had impression”, said Mr Fletcher. “Two of the passengers on tho liner werq asked how .they dared to go to a.country where disasters- of such magnitude happened.”.

■ Storiqs, of experiences- during the earthquake will, ibo told, for many years, for. practically everyone in tho towns affected hud a lucky escape front injury at the least. . An old Aucklander, M r H. Edwards, felt the devastating . shake when .in ail unusual'"position. , He was_ out. in liis boat fishing, and. wondering why the sclinapper on his favorite ground wore' not biting.. Then his small craft was lifted, about oft. off tho.sea. His first thought was that he was on top ■of a * winter spout, hut then ho looked at JUtift’ Hill,■ and saw part of it crashing down.. ‘‘Talk about France” ho writes; “it was! not;..in it. The noise was, liijfkq great 141 b. .shells.'” AVlien he negyed t)m I-shore, he .found 4ft. of -water wlmrb 10ft v had been before. -After landing hq helped (to drag . three' women and a. boy from the ruins of thy Masonic Hqfcql, .