VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4946, 21 September 1914, Page 4

VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

DISASTER ON WHITE ISLAND. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A volcanic eruption has occurred at White Island, in the Bay of Plenty. Half the hillside has fallen into the crater. It is believed that ten or eleven men have been buried in the debris. Large sulphur works were in course of development on the Island. A TERRIFIC UPHEAVAL,. FATE OF MEN AND WHARE. BLOWN INTO THE SEA. Auckland, This Day. It is practically certain that damage to the extent of about twenty thousand pounds has been done to the works and plant at White Island. It appears that- a large cliff at the northern side of the lisland slipped forward towards the sulphur lake and the debris covered a Large sulphur blow-hole vent which formerlv existed at the base, of the cliff. This eviHksnqly caused a terrific eruption. Another largo blow-hole, about forty yards across, has appeared four chains nearer to the lake, emitting fierce sulphurous flames. The lake no longer exists. The appearances suggest that the eruption took place in the evening. It is not improbable that the eruption blew the employees and their quarters over the Troup Head. 150 feet high, and into the sea on the south-eastern side of the island, as the side of that cliff is whitened by erupted material. Portions of the manager’s house and the employees’ whares, also part of the manager’s wire-stretcher were found by a search party floating in the sea. A pair of heavy truck wheels and large boulders, sevqral tons in weight, were found four chains away from where they originally were. It is estimated that quite forty acres have been affected by the upheaval. A search party has started to clear away the debris, but the material is so hot- that they had to stop work, the uames of the men whom it is feared are lost are: A. J. C. Mooin. manager, R. Walker, Stephen Young. tiV iY- vron ’ 'I Donohan, R. Lamb, H Wiliams A. Anderson, R. Waring and Kelly. There is some doubt, as to whether Anderson, Waring and Kelly were on the island, but it is believed they wore. All, except the manager, were qunrrymen or labourors.