Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-31


| cad many persons to conjecture that.
some tremendous convulsion of nature
must have visited some part Of the
globe. This conjecture has at least
been verified by volcanic eruption OF
the old volcano Of Eyafjeld Jokkul,
which has has been in quiet state
since the year 1919.
This mountain, otherwise called
Mount Hecla, is about 1866 feet in
height. 1t is nearly equi distant from
kolla and Hecla, and is the souther-
most of the chain where the dreadful
eruption broke out about the middle OF
the last century.
| On the 10th December. 1921, the e.
ruption began. The crater was formed
at the distance of 5 miles from the mi
nister's house at Holt, and discharged
itself thro' the thick mass of ice that de-
veloped IT, and which it seldom melted.
The ice was dispersed in every direc-
ton, and mass Is feet high and 80 in
circumference fell towards the north.
A number of stones Of different sizes
| rolled down the mountain accompanied
with noise like thunder; and this was
Immediately followed by discharge OF
an enormous and lofty column offiame,
| which illuminated the whole country,
and allowed the people at Holt to read
as perfectly within their houses at
night as if it had been day. Ashes,
stones, gravel, and heavy melted mas.
ses of rock, some of which weighed a
bout SO lbs. were thrown up, and .'ne
of these last was found at the distance
of FIVE miles from the crater.
On the day Immediately following
the eruption, great quantity of fine
greyish white powder of pumice was
| discharged, and carried about by the
wind so as to fall like snow, through e.
very opening. 1t axhaled disagreea-
BILE smell of sulphur, brought on atfec-
tons in the eyes, and occasioned disea-
ses among the sheep in Vester Eyaf-
ield and Ostor Landoe.
On the 25th December, violent
storm ragged from tho south. and by the
united action of the wind and rain, the
fields were cleaned of the sulphureous
dust which had covered them. On the
26th and eth OF December, there was
heavy storm from the north east, and
the barometer, which had been gradu-
ally falling since the 18th OF December,
when it was 2s deg l6, had reached.
on the 10Th December, its lowest point
at % deg. 40. tits curious fact, how
| ever. that on the 9th of February the
barometer fell to 90 IS, time when no
earthquake was felt, and no apparent
change had taken place in the eruption.
On the 18th of February the barome-
ter, which had been at go AZ, on the It'll
fell to "a 72. SO late as the Esd of Feb
ruary, the Eyafjeld Jokkul emitted
smoke greatly resembling the steam OF
boiling water; and some persons were
| of opinion that the mountain had de-
creased, and was lower near the crater,
as it evidently appeared TO be when
| viewed in direction from north to
south.
1t is stated that the water in the IL
vers that flow from Jokkul and she sur
rounding mountains, had been consid-
erably enlarged during the first days
eruption. A constant rumbling noise
was heard in the vicinity of the volcano,
attended occasionally by dreadful
crash. as if the immense masses of
stones and ice were on tie eve of being
precipated down the mountain.
Two other volcanoes to the east in
the mountains of Kolla and Orfena.Jok-
kul, Sre said to have broken out but no
certain information have been received
on the subject.
The vessel which brought the ac-
count Of the volcanic eruption to Coz
penhagen, left Iceland on the 9TH Of
March; and it is reported that the SAL
Tors when at sea, again saw violent
| fire in the direction of the volcano.