Letter, J E Smith
Maker
Smith, J E
Object detail
Brief Description
A three-page letter from J E Smith titled: A Story of Survival, recalling experiences during the days before and after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
J E Smith writes that her mother, Eva Kathleen Brunton, had been released from Napier Hospital on 1 February, 1931, as being a wife and the mother of six children, she had to be home for the beginning of school on 3 February. The author writes that this, along with not following the doctors orders by being on bed rest, probably saved her life, as when the earthquake struck, the Napier Hospital was badly damaged; and the chimney of the house in Queen Street, Hastings fell in onto the bed where her mother should have been resting.
J E Smith, elder sister Dot and younger brother Joe, were at Hastings Central School when the earthquake struck. Children were screaming and crying, and not being able to find their younger brother, J E and Dot ran home. Joe was later found in Stortford Lodge and brought home. Other family members also safely arrived home .
The family slept outside, and J E and her sister slept in a bed made for them in the bath. The family had an artesian well which was damaged and men came with tanks on the back of trucks to collect the water for those in need. Following the second large earthquake which struck around 9pm they saw the bank, on the corner of Karamu Road and Queen Street, on fire, with the material and paper coming across to their yard. The family then moved on to Windsor Park where other families were gathering.
A specialist from Palmerston North arrived looking for Eva, to help enable her to get continued medical treatment. He took her, along with five children, back to the Palmerston North camp where they stayed for approximately one month before moving to Hawera, where they were billeted out. She writes that her mother was given her first cigarette by the specialist. Eventually the family returned to Hastings, and J E Smith writes that they were lucky to have survived the earthquake without any loss to members of their family.
J E Smith writes that her mother, Eva Kathleen Brunton, had been released from Napier Hospital on 1 February, 1931, as being a wife and the mother of six children, she had to be home for the beginning of school on 3 February. The author writes that this, along with not following the doctors orders by being on bed rest, probably saved her life, as when the earthquake struck, the Napier Hospital was badly damaged; and the chimney of the house in Queen Street, Hastings fell in onto the bed where her mother should have been resting.
J E Smith, elder sister Dot and younger brother Joe, were at Hastings Central School when the earthquake struck. Children were screaming and crying, and not being able to find their younger brother, J E and Dot ran home. Joe was later found in Stortford Lodge and brought home. Other family members also safely arrived home .
The family slept outside, and J E and her sister slept in a bed made for them in the bath. The family had an artesian well which was damaged and men came with tanks on the back of trucks to collect the water for those in need. Following the second large earthquake which struck around 9pm they saw the bank, on the corner of Karamu Road and Queen Street, on fire, with the material and paper coming across to their yard. The family then moved on to Windsor Park where other families were gathering.
A specialist from Palmerston North arrived looking for Eva, to help enable her to get continued medical treatment. He took her, along with five children, back to the Palmerston North camp where they stayed for approximately one month before moving to Hawera, where they were billeted out. She writes that her mother was given her first cigarette by the specialist. Eventually the family returned to Hastings, and J E Smith writes that they were lucky to have survived the earthquake without any loss to members of their family.
Maker
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Handwritten in blue ink on lined paper. Name and address stamp in black ink.
Media/Materials
Measurements
Height x Width: 298 x 208mm
Signature/Inscription
H B C TRUST / -6 MAR 2001, Stamp
H M & J E SMITH / 9 PORTER DRIVE / HAVELOCK NORTH / Phone 877 7803, Stamp
H M & J E SMITH / 9 PORTER DRIVE / HAVELOCK NORTH / Phone 877 7803, Stamp
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
Pre 03 Feb 1931
03 Feb 1931
Post 03 Feb 1931
03 Feb 1931
Post 03 Feb 1931
Other number(s)
73445
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