Disaster

Napier, seaport on the east coast of New Zealand's, North Island, a noon last week was at its usual occupations. Housewives from the hilly suburbs to the North, in town for shopping; children at school; a few people resting in the brick Cathedral of St. John or the well ordered art museum. Freight cars from Wellington, 200 mi. southwest, were on sidings; ships were loading frozen and corned meats for export. It was a normal summer noontime.

Then the earth wobbled; stone buildings fell apart; wooden ones crumpled: Earthquake. A tidal wave tore over the sea wall, sucked the low-lying shore buildings into its wash. Fire broke out, swept over the debris, for scarcely one building remained erect in Napier. News of the disaster spread fast. Wellington rushed doctors, nurses, medical supplies and food by train. By sea New Zealand's two cruisers Dunedin and Diomede sped to help.

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