The Sunda Disaster.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 260, 6 October 1883, Page 2

The Sunda Disaster.

ISLANDS SPLIT TO PIECES. . A VOLCANO V ENGULPHED. (By TrxTeoraph.) (united press association.) ..." Cooktown, Sept. 26;- ' Tbe latest news from Bat i via states that over an extent of 80 miles of country complete darkness was cast m consequence of the recent eruptions m the Straits of Sunda. White ashes fell al over the city and at Cheriboh.During the night all gasligh'S were extinguished, and m the day time lamps had to be Her The sea rose to: such a height iv the Straits of Sunda that it totally swept over Anjer Ty origin and Teloh Betong. It flooded all rivers, which, rushing down a<?ain, carried . away bridges, and destroyed several Malay -villages. All boats on the coast were completely destroyed or carried far inland. AU lighthouses lin the Straits have disappeared ; and; tbe i Island of Caratoa has. been rent into j pieces by the strength of the volcanic j action, and has sunk into the sea . Charts of the Straits are no longer trustworthy, as the channel nas entirely changed. Between the Islands of Karatoa an I Cibessie, sixteen vol" canoes have appeared. Island Span* e;ar pan has been split into fiva islands Bantam has been made an ashy desert, cattle are dying for want of food, and a famine appears to be imminent. Residents are m despair. The volcanic mountain, -Rawoon" distant 10 miles from B-injorngie, has also been m active eruption, emitting huge volumes of Bmoks. \- The following^ telegram has-been received -by -the. Governor,^fl^S[ngappre from the British Consul at Batavia : — "Inconsequence of volcanic action, configuration of Sunda Straits, , and southern : entrance- thereto, has -been changed. Some islands have | disr, -appeared, and also upheavals.- are suspeoted.. Anjer, With its lighthouse has been destroyed, and prooably other lighthouses m the neighbourhood have been damaged. A survey is proceeding. Recommend manners, to .use e*Cv treme caution." . ...j ir , ? .. ,' At Anjer, on Sunday evening, strong detonations were heard .and felt, j Tbe sea-rose and fell three 1 eet , at interval's of from ten to fifteen j minutes. I Six distinct- shocks of of earthquake: were/ 'felt during the night,, and; early: on the following morning a7 high column of water struck the, land with a 'roaring; noise.' An hour later there was another of the same sopb, but . still higher, causing great- destruction, of. life and property. ,7 During the nighiof the 27th August strong detonations from iKrakatoa were/ heard at Soerakrata, abd the' flashes of volcanic fires were visible at Batavia. At' noon Serang was m total and stones were falling aU , over : the town, Numerous villages near Anjer were washed away. It -was almest dark at Batavia, {aad telegraphic communication with !A.njer ; was interrupted; owing to the telegrapn line, being down. The river overflowed, through the rush of the sea inland. All shops- .and offices were closed, and business suspended. The Telegroph .Inspector , at Java repot ts that while trying ; to pair tbe lineajbetween Serang .and Anjer, he saw a high column of sea approaching with a roaring noise.. , He fled inland but believed Ahjbrdes-. troyed. At Batavi* at noon on the 28th August, everything was quiet, the sky being clear and the temperature down ten degrees and quite chiliy to*, wards nightfall. The bamboo houses along the beach weie washed away by a tidal- wave, which was not veryvhigh> Tbe fish m the sea were very dizzy j and weie caught with ease*by the natives. The townjwas covered with a thin jayerof ashes, giving rbads a quaint, bright look. Dufingjdafkness an ashy rain was distinctly heard falling. The mountain.; 'of 'Rawoon was -iin / active eruption, emitting columns of smoke. All lighihouses on the coast m <tke Straits hare_ been totally destroyed. Where Mount Kraikatoa stood the -sea- now.>play ~.