A GRAPHIC DESRIPTION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8832, 19 January 1907, Page 7

A GRAPHIC DESRIPTION

TELEGRAM FROM MR HENNIKER HEATON. LONDON, January 18. Mr Henniker Heaton, telegraphing to the "Times," says that, after lunching at the club with the Governor and Sir James Ferguseon, who had just arrived after visiting the Panama Canal, he accompanied Mr Cork, a member of the Council, on a visit to the Post Office. When returning, the earthquake occurred. Directly tho ground quaked, thousands rushed into the streets. " A huge building fell across the street a. yard before us," says Mr Heaton. " Another blocked the street behind, and a third fell on our left. Then there was absolute darkness. Great clouds of dust and mortar filled the air for five minutes. When the light returned, we found ourselves as black as negi-oes with dust and dirt. We had a miraculous escape. Women were embracing their children. Others were on their knees crying ' Lord have mercy. Christ, save us.' Others were fainting, and some were wildly running after their loved Ones. We found the club in ruins. The dining-room was filled with tons of bricks that had fallen from the walls." " A young fellow without a hat or coat, and with a handkerchief Tound his head addressed me. After some minutes, flunking his manner peculiar, I asked if he was Gerald Loder, for many years a friend and an ex-mem-ber of the House of Commons. He repliedj ' Yes. I was . writing at the club when the roof fell and pinned me to the floor.' By freeing himself of his coat he escaped to the parapet, and j thence by a ladder to the street. He j saw Mr Bradley, a member of the club, dead in the street. My bedroom in the Constant Spring Hotel wae shattered. I found numbers of ladies who had been -resting in the hotel, encamped on the lawn, with blankets around them. We slept on the lawn." Mr Heaton continues: "There were three more shocks before sunrise. The blazing city was visible six miles joff. On visiting Kingston j I found ninetyeight out of every hundred houses hopelessly ruined, though many ought to have been destroyed before." Sir A. Jones is aboard a steamer in Port Kingston. Despite K his miraculous escape, he is coolly ordering the erection of two hundred light structures for the homeless, besides attending to the comfort of his own houseless guests. It is not believed that the future of tho island will be affected.