EARTHQUAKES AT THE NEW HEBRIDES. VOLCANIC OUTBREAK AT AMBRYM. DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES AND LOSS OF LIFE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8141, 28 November 1894, Page 1

EARTHQUAKES AT THE NEW HEBRIDES. VOLCANIC OUTBREAK AT AMBRY M. DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES AND LOSS OF LIFE.

Sydney, November 13. A graphic description of a volcanic disturbance at Ambryin Island, in tho Now Hebrides' has been forwarded by command or Oust, of 11. M.S. Dart, to Admiral Bowdon-Smith. Ho states that on tho 10th October a remarkably heavy mist of cloud was seen rising over tho centre of tho island, and it then becamo evident that au eruption had taken plaoo, and that a lava stream, its course being marked by denso columns of .smoke, was making its way through tho hills to the se.i. Tho Dart was .stopping three hundred yards off the shore, opposilo where it was been tho lava btreatn would omerge, and presently tho head of tho Htream, heralded by biirbta of lla.no, was Been among tho trees, with lumps of slag tossing about on tho surface. When it reached the water a magnificent bight occurred. A douse pillar of steam roso rapidly in a perpendicular direction to a height which was afterwards found to be 4DUU foot, and a second later violent submarine explosions of steam took placo, tho water rising in huge bubbles some hundreds of feet high and then bursting in all directions in radiating tongues of water, mixed with black masses, presunnbly of lava. As tho area of tho explosions appeared to bo enlarging tho bhip moved to a safer distance.