The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-06
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
ERUPTION OF MOUNT GA
LOuNGOIIN.

the frightful and destructive eruption
Of a Volcano in Galoungoun, in The
island of Java, on the 9th Of October
1922. Mount Galoungoun is situated
in the southern part oftiie district oi
Soumndang, and is past Of the chair
of mountains which divides that dis.
trict from Limhangan. At the foot ot
il is a valley surrounded by hills, which
is watered by two rivers, the Titan.
dor, and the Tji-Woulan, which are
formed by the union Of great num-
her of streams which take their rise in
the mountain,-Thc country between
these two rivers was one Of the most
fertile, pleasant and populous parts ot
the whole province. There is no ira
lition Of any previous eruption in this
mountain, but some moaths before this
disaster, some remarkable appearances
had been discovered ia the streams
descending from it, suc., as an unusli.
al agitation OF the water, and sui
phurous or bitumiaous smell and taste
Between one aud two o'clock in tho
afternoon of October 8, IA violent ex-
pIosion was heard from the side cfthc
valley, and thick column Of thick
smoke was seen TO rise from the foot
Of the Goloungoun, ey.s::aa;:-.g some
distance up its tide, and driven into
the air with terrific force. Soon the
mountain was entirely enveloped in n
black cloud which darkcncd the whole
country. The explosions which were
continually repeated with increased
force made the Whole earth tremble.
The mountain then threw out TO a
prodigious height enormous bodies Of
flaming lava,* mixed with burning sui
phur. These burning masses were
thrown beyond the river Tji-Tandor
which is more than ten leagues from
the mountain. The river, obstructed
with these enormous masses Of burn
ing lava. were transformed into burn
ing streams, the Overlooking Of which
arrested at every step the wrctched
fugitives, and doomed them to a pain
full aud cruel death in the midst Of riv-
ers Of liquid fire, of boiling water.
The rivers above named, and 1ji-Lossc,
ard the Til Kounir Hoated down in
great numbers the bodies of men and
animals, and the inhabitants of the low
er 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 mountains were iliumiacd from
time to time by the most vivid flashes
oflightening, accompanied with Il deaf
ening roar Of thunder, by which many
inhabitants Of the forest, beyond the
reach ofthc eruption, were killed. At
3 O'clock, the eruption had attained its
greatest degree of violence. At that
time there fell shower OF cooled lava,
mingled with ashes, which destroyed
all the plantations within a circuit of
more than twenty-five leagues. Near
er the water, reddish sand obscured
the air, and covered the fields. About
4 o'clock, the explosions became less
violent, and at 5 there reigncd DEATH
like silence, the air gradually cleared
up, and the mountain became visible.
A more dreadfuI scene Of devastation
was never witnessed. For distance
Of six leagues from, the water, where
n ca,a-l.------t--,fo-r--w rUuIfynfuy
villages and a happy population, not
house, a piantntion, forest or Iiv-
ing heing was to he seen; but the whole
had been burned under boiling mass,
which had now become of n bIueish
color, but which retained its heat for
a long time after. Farther from the
seat Of the volcano, the scene was still
more dreadful. There were to be
seem the lifelcss and half consumed
bodies of men, women nnd children,
who had escaped wounded from the
burning flood, or had been intercepted
in their flight, and the still living, who
were seeking in vain for an asylum n
midst the general destruction. On
the 9th, 10th aud llth, it rained with
out Interruption, and the wretched i'm
habitants who had fled from their
houses, were left without shelter, and
were intercepted in their flight by the
ovcrAowing Of tho rivers, and the de-
struction Of all the bridges.
In the evening of the 18th, there wns
n new eruption, very violent, and nc
conpanied by two violent shocks Of an
earthquake. This was accompanied by
neither fire nor lightning, TO Interrupt
the deep darkness which settled over
he terrified Inhabitants. On the
|morning Of the 18th il was observed