Logan’s madness: burn down your school

Invincible Strangers 29 Chapter 13.3

Logan’s behaviour became central to later criticism of New Zealand’s response. Major Richardson offered an explanation. Richardson had discovered the scale of the disaster and telephoned Logan at Vailima. Military secretary Captain Rupert Westmacott told him Logan had influenza. Later in the day Logan showed up at the barracks and asked Richardson what was required. He replied; ‘I must have whisky’. It was needed for the soldiers burying the dead. Logan and Richardson drove to Nelson’s general store on Beach Road. Richardson said there was no one about. Logan was too ill to leave the car so he ordered Richardson and his chauffeur to break the door down on the store. The noise brought an influenza stricken Nelson out onto the balustrade of the verandah above the shop. He was not then on speaking terms with the colonel.

‘Hello, Richardson, what are you doing?’

They needed whisky.

‘Richardson, you are welcome to the whole store and everything I possess if it will do good for my people,’ Nelson said.