Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-03-19

afated that two Gay tsCvi ~ $50
leaving Salayer. about the Ath or Sth
! heavy firing bad been heard to the
o,,shwarei of the island !; that the
,,,ns Il the fort had been manRed 10
3 eanseanence, concciying it TO Do On
attack by the Pirates on some par,
Of the island, but as ne vessels had
appeared, ii was at length concluded
to be an eruption from the Volcano
on the Island Of Sumbawa.
The consequence Of this infopma
lion. and being Of the same opfnion.
/ anchored the ship abreast OF Ma
eassar. and went ashore to the Re-
sidept With the intelligence. ! found
tbat captain Wood entertained the
same opinion. as the house had been
shook by come of the reports.
Indeed BY this time, which was a
bout 8 AM. il was very apparent
that some extraordinary occurrence
had taken place; the face of the
heavens TO the Southwark and West
ward had assumed most dismal 4
low eriDg aspect, and 1t was muci'
darker than when the sun rose /; al
first it had the appearance Of q yer,
heavy squall or storm approach
ing but as 1t came nearer. it as
sumed dusky red appearance AMI
continued to spreadsyery fast ovc'
the heavens. BY 10 itwas so dark,
that i could scarcely discern the
shin from the shore though got a
mile distant. / then returned on
board
1t was now evident that an crap
ton had taken place from some Vol
cano, and that the air vas filled with
ashes or volcanic dust, which aIrea-
dy began to fall on the decks !; by
fl the whole Of lbe heavens was
obscured. except small space near
the horizon to the eastward tue
wind being from that quarter. pre-
vented for short time the approach
of the ashes it appeared like a
streak of light at day break, the
mountains ON Calebs being clearly
visible, while every other part OF
the horizon was enseloped in dark
ress-The ashes now began to fall
in showers, and the appearance alto
gether truly awful and slarniDg.
Rs noon the light that had remain
ed in the eastern part OF the hOri
ron disappeared, and complete dark
ness had covered the face of day ;
cur decks we're covered witb falling
matter the awnings were spread
fore ard aft, to prevent il as much as
possible from getting below. but il
was 50 light and subtitle that it per
vaJed every part OF the ship.
The darkness vas so profound
through tho remainder of the day.
that never saw any thing equal TO
It in the darkest night it was i'm
possible to see your hand when held
up close to your eyes the ashes
continued TO fall without intermis
sion through the night. At s the
next morning, when the sun ought
20 have been seen, it still continued
AZ dark as ever, but at half past 7.
/ had the satisfaction operceive that
the darkness evidently decreased.
aud by s, could faistly discern
objects CD deck, from this time it
began to get lighter very fast, and
by halfpast 9 the shore was distin-
guishabie ; the ashes falling in con
siderable quantities Though not so
heavily as before. The appearance
Of the ship when daylight returned
was most extraordinary, the masts,
deck, and every part being
covered with the falling matter !;
it had the appearance Of ealcinef
pumice stone, nearly color of wood
ashes; it lay in heaps Of a foot IN
depth In many parts of the deck.
and am eonvisced several tons
weight were thrown over board !;
for although q perfect impalpable
powder or dust when it fell. it was
then compressed of considerable
weight a pint measure filled with
= a;nhnd 40 z AnnnAS. waa nan-