Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/125

 had just got off the old dress to have the new one tried on, when the earthquake took place. She jumped through the window into a tree, and thus saved her life. The dressmaker was killed.

"Most of our party, all Members of Parliament, with the exception of one, were at the Myrtle Bank Hotel. It was lucky I did not go. I believe nearly 20 people were killed there.

"That night I made my way to Constant Spring Hotel, a few miles out of Kingston. The scene there beggared description. The ladies, who had been taking their afternoon rest, rushed out into the open wrapped in blankets or anything they could get hold of. I managed to get my baggage from my room, the roof of which had fallen in, and we slept in the open air that night without any covering. Next to me was Mr Arnold Forster, M.P., with his wife and boy. The hotel staff were very kind to us, and kept bringing tea and fruit to us during the night.

"It was a long night. An hour before dawn, about four o'clock, I saw a most beautiful sight. Just above the line of fire, which was distinctly visible blazing all night at Kingston, was the Southern Cross, standing like a beautiful sentinel over the stricken city with its thousands of homeless people. It was a most impressive and touching sight. I have seen the constellation of the Southern Cross in Australia, but I had never before seen it looking so sadly beautiful as this.

"Next morning I drove into Kingston and saw the true extent of the destruction. An extraordinary spectacle was presented by the inner walls of a house being left standing, the outer walls having fallen away; and on every wall could be seen pictures, potraitsprotraits [sic] and paintings, making a curious feature amid the scene of desolation, yet so painfully eloquent of the ruin that had been wrought among the homes of the people.