Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-09

nave TO give, rs she was coming from the quar-
er from whence the firing hal heen heard Th
rpw was from the Island OF Salayer. a Dutch
IAN who commanded her, stated, that he had
card the firing the whole night, but had seer
| 10 vessels or boats. He also stated that two
lays previous to his leaving Salayer, about the
l'h or 5th, hesv, firing had been heard 60 the
nouthward ct the island /; that the guns of the
ort had been manned in consequence, conceiv.
| g 1t to be an attack blythe Pirates on some part
9fthe island, but as no vessels or boats had ap
peared it was as length concluded to DE an erup.
/ on from the Volcano on the Island of Sumbawa
inconsequence of this information, and being
| It the same opinion, anchored the ship abreast
| ~ Macassar and wenton shore to the Resident
with the intelligence. found ihat captain Who'd
entertained the same opinion as the house had
been shook b., some of the reports n
indeed, by his time which was about 8 A. NJ.
1t was very apparent that some very ex,raordina.
ry occurrence had taken pla e he face of the
heavens to the Southwark and Westward had
assumed most dismal and lowering aspect, and
u was much darker than when the sun rose at
first it had the appearance of avery heavy squsl
or storm approaching but as il came nearer, il
assumed dusky red appearance and confirm ed
to spread very fast over the heavens Bv 10 L
was so dark that could scarcely discern the
sup from the shore though not a mile distant
II then returned on board t-
place from some Volcano, and that the air was
hiied with ashes or volcanic dust, which already
beSan to fall on the decks; BY III the wholcraor
The heavens was obscured, except a small space
near the horizon to the eastward; the wind be.
ing from that quarter, prevented for short time
me approach OF the ashes it appea, ell ike q
streak oflight at day break The mountain. ON
Ceiebs beng clearly visible, wnile every other
part OF the horizon was enveloped in darkness
The ashes now began to fall IN showers. and the
appearance altogether was truly awful and alarm
ing by noon the light that had emained m the
cas- ern part OF the horizon disappeared. and com
plete darkness had covered he face the day
our decks were soon covered with falling matter
- the awnings were spread fore and aft. TO pre-
vent 1T as much as possible from getting below
but 1t was so lght and subtle that It peryaeled
every part of the ship.
The darkness was so profound through the
remainder OF the day slaI / never saw any thing
equal to 1t in the darkes night IL was ;mpos So.
bic to see your hand whsn held up close to You.
eyes the ashes continued to tall without inter
mission through the night At SIX The next
morning when the sun ought to have been seen.
It still continued as dark as ever. bur nj baiii
past seven, lhad the satisfaction to perceive that
The darkness evidently decreased, and by 8. 1
could family discern objects on deck, from tbs
lme II began to get Ugh Ter very fast, and by hair
lpast the shore was dstngushable the ashe,
Iailmg in considerable quantit es though not ~,
heavily as before The appearance of the SHIN
when daylight returnedwas most extraordinary.
he masis, rigging, deck and every part beinor
covered with the falling matter; it had The an.
lpearance OF calcined pmnice stone nearly tie G.,
Tor oil wood ashes; 1t lay in heaps ola foot IL
depth IN many parts OF the deck, and am coli.
I Vlnced several tons weight were thrown over
board /: for al hough perfect impSpable pow
deror dust when it fell, it was when compressed
Tor cons lderable weight apnt measure filed with
~ weighed IL Sd ounces, was perfectly taste.
less, and dd rot affect the eyes with any painful,
sensation, had faint burnt smell k,t nothinQ
ke sulphur.
BY noon on the 10Th, the sun again appeared
but very family through the dusky atmosphere
tie ar still beng charged with the ashes, and
which continued TO fall lightly all that dav, and
the succeeding one.
Do going on shore at Moressa, found the face
tof the county completely covered to the depih OF
an inch and quarter; great fears were enter.
famed for the crop OF paddy that was on the
tsround, the young plants beng completely beat.
en- down and covered byit. The FISH IN he ponds
a Moressa were killed and found floating on he
isurface, and many small birds lying dead on the
ground. II took several days to clear the ship o,
the ashes when IN xed with water, hry fDrmet,
= tenacious mud, difficult to be washed Off nv
lChronomeer stopped, owing, Iimagme, 10 SON.
particles OF dust having penetrated lHts it,
| From The 18th 10 the 18th the atmosphere III
continued very thick and dusky from the ashe
mat remained suspended; the rays Of The su
scarce able to penetrate through 1t, with little
no wind the whole time
On the morning of the 18th, weighed from Ma
lcassar with very light wind, and ON the I8. i
made the island OF Sguibawa; on approaching do
coast passed through great quantities of pum,ct
stone floating on the sea, which at frs had the Z.
lpeaIancs OF shoals, so much 20, thstI hove to ,..
sent boat 20 examine one which, al the dstanc5
fless than mile took for dry sand bank, u.
wards OF miles in length, with black rocks tpam
IseVeral parts OF il, concluding 1t to have been
thrown up during the eruption approved o be !.
complete mass of pumice fl aIlng OH the sea, some
inches IN depth, with great numbers Of large
trunks OF trees aud logs among Il, thaJ appeared
to be burnt and shivered as II bias ed by rhtning
The boat had much d tficuity in pushing through
IT, snd until we got into the entrance OF t3ima bay
the sea was literally covered with shoals of pu.
nice and floating timber.
On the 18th arrived at Bima bay in coming 20
anchor, grounded on The bank off Bima 60 .rn
shoaling suddenly from fathoms; as the tide wa.
rising, hove offagaIn without any difficulty or da
mage. imagine the anchorage at BrIna mus
have altered considerably, as where we grounded
the Ternate cruzer few months since lay at an.
Choir IN six fdthOms. The shores Of tie bay had a
most dreary appearance, being entirely covered
with ashes, even up TO the summit of The mountains
the perpendicular depth OF the ashes as mer.
sured in the vicinity of Bima town, found to be
three inches and three-qua-ters.
From the account given me by the residents OF
Bims, 1t appears that the eruption proceeded from