The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-01
From The Boston Daily advertiser.
TERRIFIC ERUPTION.

southern part of the district of Soumadang in
the Island of Java, and is part of the chain
of mountains which divides that district
from Limbangan. At the foot of it is a
valley surrounded by hills, which is water
ed by two rivers, the Tj-Tandor, and the
IJl-Woulan, which are formed by the I'M
Ion OF a great number of streams which
take their rise in the Mountain. The
country between these two rivers was one
of the most fertile, pleasant, and populous
parts of the whole province. There is no
tradition of any previous eruptions in the
mountain, but some months before this
disaster, some remarkable appearances had
been observed in the streams descending
from it, such as an unusual agitation of the
water, and a sulphurous and bitumnous
smell and taste.
Between one and two O'Clock in the af-
ternoon of Oct. s, 1922, a violent explosion
was heard from the side of the valley, and
thick column Of black smoke was seen 10
rise from the foot of the Galoungoun ex-
tending some distance up its side, and driv-
en- into the air with terrific force. Soon
the mountains were entirely enveloped in
black cloud which darkened the whole
country. The explosions were continually
repeated with increased force which made
the whole earth tIemble. The mountain
then threw out to a prodgious height enor-
nous bodies of flaming lava,* mixed with
burning sulphur. Three burning masses
were thrown beyond the river Tji-Tandor
which is more than ten leagues from the
mountain. The rivers, INSTRUCTED with these
enormous masses of burning lava, were
transformed into boiling streams, the over
flowing of which arrested at every step the
wretched fugitives, and doomed them to a
painful and cruel death in the midst of riv-
.ers Of liquid fire, or boiling water. The
rivers above named, and the Tji-Losse, and
the Tji-Kounir floateG down in great num-
hers the bodies of men and animals, and
the inhabitants of the lower districts saw
whole houses, with their tenants still living
floating down these swollen and heated
streams, without the possibility of giving
them relief! The clouds which enveloped
the mountain were illuminated from time
TO time by the most vivid flashes Of light
ming, accompanied with deafening roar of
thunder, by which many inhabitants of the
forest, beyond the reach of the eruption,
were killed. At 3 o'clock the eruption had
attGiKed its greatest degree Of violence.
At that time there fell shower of cooled
lava, mingled with ashes, which destroyed
than twenty-five leagues. Nearer the wa
ter redish sand obscured the air and COW
cred the fields About 4 o'clock the explo-
sions became less violent, and at 5, there
reigned death like silence, the air grad
ualIy cleared up, and the mountain became
visible. A more dreadful scene of devas-
4ation was never witnessed. For distance
of six leagues from the water, where few
hours before were flourishing villages and
happy population, not house, a planta-
ton, forest, or living being was to be
seen, but the whole had been buried under
a boiling mass, which had now become of
blueish color, but which retained lis heat
for a long time after. Farther from the
seat the volcano the scene was still more
dreadful. There were to be seen the life
less and half consumed bodies of men. wo-
men and children who had escaped wounded
from the burning flood, or had been inter-
cepted in their flight, and the still living
who were seeking in vain for an asylum
amidst the general destruction. On the
9th, 10th, and 18th, it rained without inter-
ruption ard the wretched inhabitants who
had fed from their houses, were left without
shelter, and were intercepted in their flight
by the overlooking of the rivers, and the
destruction of all the bridges.
In the evening of the 18th, there was a
new eruption, very violent, and cCmpanied
by two violent shocks ofan earthquake. This
was accompanied by neither fire nor light
ming, to interrupt the deep daIkness which
settled over the terrified inhabitants. On
the morning of the thirteenth, it was OBJ
served that the SUBMITS of Mount. CALCIUM
goun were changed. The tops were brok-
en- of, and the side from the border oe the
valley presented an immense crater, opened
in the form of a semcircle, and forming
frightful gulf. New hills were formed, and
the courses of several rivers were entirely
changed
The Resident of the province, as soon as
he heard of these disasters, repaired to the
Heighborhood, and took every Measure in
his power to succor the sufferers. 1t was
found on thorough official inquiry, ia vii
lagos were destroyed, 40l1 persons perish
ed, many were severely wounded, many
horses, cows, and oxen were destroyed,
many rice and coffee plantations were de-
stroyed, and others greatly damaged, Al
canals for irrigating rice plantations were
destroyed, and 46 were damaged, 775,795
coffee trees were destroyed, and $685., ZAP
were either destroyed or damaged.
We translate this Lara for want of a more ap-
proprate term, though said not to have been lava,
properly called, and in this respect the eruption
was different from mostvolcanic phenomena, here
.tofore known.
IrcnING FEET. Among The minor evils
to which the human frame is subject there
are few more tormenting than that ofViolent
itching Of the feet, during severe frosty
weather, caused by inctpient chilblans.-
The following specific is so simple and
cheap, that no person ought to be ignorant
of IL; it is merely one part muriatic acid,
mingled with seven parts water, with which
the feet must be well rubbed for night or
two before going to bed, and perfect relief
will ha evnarianceu The annlcation must