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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 237, 21 September 1914, Page 6

THE WHITE ISLAND DISASTER. LATEST 1 LET Al 1,8. NO HOPE FOR THE MEN. (Continued from Cage Auckland Sept., 21. It is practically certain that damage amounting to about £20,000 has been done to the works and plant of the New Zealand Sulphur Company on the island. There is some uncertainty as to the actual date of the disaster, but it would seem to have occurred cither on Thursday, September 10th, or Friday, September 11 th. According to advices received by the managing director of the Sulphur Company in"'Aucklnd, AV. FI. AVilioughby, from the pilot, A. Alakatnako, who visited the island on Tuesday, September Bth. The party on the island were then well. They had only arrived on the previous day, most of them hating left Auckland with the manager on Friday. September 4th. The pilot’s next visit, was paid to the island on Tuesdaylast, September 15th. Alakamoko did not reach the island until 6.30 p.m. He then steamed quite close in, but was unable to land as he had no dinghy. It was dark and he noticed no change ashore. He rernained off shore until 11.30 p.m., making frequent signals to which, however, -he got no response. Then ■issuming that the men were on the other side of the island, he returned to Opotiki where lie reported his non-s:ie< css in attracting attention, to the company’s agent. On Saturday morning the pilot was able to again go to the island. He then found that a large portion of one of the cliffs had fallen away, forming a new hill beneath which the camp rind the wharf had been completely’ buried. He saw no sign of life on the island.

SEARCH PARTIES NARRATIVES Search parties, which visited the island yesterday, state that from appearances it would seem that a large cliff on the northerly- side of the island had slipped forward towards the sulphur lake. The debris covered a large sulphur blowhole vent which formerly existed at the base of the cliff. This evidently had caused a terrific eruption. Another large blowhole, about 40 yards across, has appeared, four chains nearer to the lake, emitting fierce sulphurous flames. The lake no longer exists. Appearances suggest that the eruption took place in the evening. It seems not improbable that the eruption blew the employees and their iiiarters over the trip head. 150 feet