Terrific Earthquake

Extraordinary Earth Movement on Northern Coast of New Guinea

From Our Own Correspondent.

WEWAK, October 2.

SHORTLY after 11 a.m. on September 20, the whole of the Aitape coast of New Guinea was violently shaken by an earthquake, accompanied by heavy low rumblings.

Houses rocked from side to side, and many crashed. Where Europeans were living, crockery, bottles, etc., were thrown about and smashed.

Parts of the beaches and river-beds sank, whilst other parts rose, the average movement being about six inches. Heavy logs showed markings on the ground where they had slid backwards and for wards for over a foot.

No disturbance was noticeable at all at sea, but the Torricelli Mountains, at the back, suffered severely with terrific landslides. Many hamlets, perched on those pinnacles, were thrown down and destroyed, and created panic amongst the natives. Several casualties, with a small death roll, resulted.

Later, another earthquake of less severity came, followed by many more over the following 48 hours—tremors, with rumblings and shakings, as if the earth underneath was trying to heave itself up.

For over a week, at different periods throughout the day and night, the tremors continued.

This is the worst earthquake experi enced here for many years and, as far as the natives can recollect, for about two generations.