WAIMANGU ERUPTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15189, 9 April 1917, Page 6

WAIMANGU ERUPTION.

THE INQUEST. ROTORUA, April 3. The’ inquest touching the death of Harry McCormack, adjourned from the morning, was resumed last evening before Mr K. W. Dyer, District Coroner. Senior Sergeant Cummings conducted the proceedings for the police. Harriet P. Wood, wife of Gordon Wood, residing at Wairaungu, deposed that she heard the sound of the eruption at Waimangu at about 6.20 a.m. She lived about 2| miles from Waimangu. The rumbling noise attracted her attention. She and her husband saddled their horses and galloped down to see what had caused it. She met Mrs McCormick coming towards their house, about half-way between the two places. Mrs McCormick was attired in white shoes and stockings, and just a wrapper over her night attire. She appeared to be burnt, with mud over her face and head. She thought Airs McCormick said that her house was knocked down,, that she had lost everything, and she wanted Air Wood to go along for her husband and child. Witness galloped home, because when witness asked her if she would like to get on the horse Mrs AlcCorinick said, “You could not touch me.” Witness came back with the buggy, but Mrs AlcCormick could not get up. Witness went on to Mr McCormick, who was about half a mile from the house. Mr AlcCormick had just a coat and trousers on, with no boots. Do was groaning a.s if in great pain. Air AlcCormick said he had had an awful experience, and asked where his wife was, to which witness replied that she was along the road because she could not get up. Witness drove back with him, but Mrs McCormkk would not get up. She said she could not. Witness's husband, meanwhile, had taken the little boy in front of him. She drove on with Air AlcCormick, and handed him over to her husband, who had prior to her arrival. By this time Airs AlcCormick was quite close to the house where she met her. She had walked the whole distance. Witness sat. in the kitchen and gave them some brandy. That was all she could do for them. She got them into the back bedroom on the bed, but they would not allow her to touch them. Everything was dripping with water. At last they allowed her to undress them. Witness put all the oil she had on them and wrapped (hem up in sheets and rugs, gave them hot water bottles, and everything they asked for. Aleanwhile, her husband left on horseback for Rotorua to get medical aid, and to send out a motor-car to bring them into the hospital. The car arrived at 9.45 a.m. They were on the car and away at 10 o'clock. Witness accompanied the patients to the hospital. They met Dr. Osborne on the road. After a little while, the doctor put wadding around the : r heads and faces. He said he would not give them morphia. The doctor returned with them. There was no sign of any mud where she met, Air McCormick. At three minutes to 6 Mr AlcCormick .said he heard a rumble like an earthquake. He said he did not think it was much, so he did not take any notice. The next rumble woke his wife, who got up and looked out of the window. She said, “Oh ! Waimangu is playing.” Very soon after there came the outburst, and they were in semidarkness. They heard the stones on the roof, and that made them get under the bed. They were about to dress and get out of it, wVien a tremendous gust of wind came and blew off the roof. It came ou them as a sort of gas, or dry burst cf flame, which burnt them all. They found the back door jam bed with mud. They went straight out of the front door over the broken roof, and came straight up to her. They got their faces covered with mud after they left the house. Witness had seen the place that day, and the house was a wreck, with the roof blown in all directions. The country all around for a considerable distance was covered with mud. It was a perfect marvel that the patients got out alive. Witness rode over the actual scene of the outbreak about a week ago and noticed nothing unusual. Mr and Airs McCormick said they had no warning. The boy was very badly burnt. Gordon Wood confirmed all the evidence of his wife as to what took place while he was present. Very little was said to witness by cither Mr or Airs McCormick. Mr McCormick just said the house was gone. Witness’ time was chiefly occupied with the little Ivoy until" he left for Rotorua. He came into Rotorua and got the doctor and the motor-car. He understood from Air AlcCormick that the telephone from Waimangu was down. He saw the condition of the house and country, and confirmed what bis wife said about it. It is 17 miles from Waimangu to Rotorua. Witness rode from his place in 45 minutes, a distance of 151. miles. The Coroner said that no one could have done more than Air and Mrs Wood. They had behaved splendidly. Their conduct had been highly commendable. Sergeant Cummings also bore witness to the help given by Mr and Airs Wood. Mr Wood had saved them no end of trouble. He had rendered every assistance, and had not spared himself at all. At this stage of the proceedings the hearing was adjourned until the following day.