Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-05-14

precipitatcd such quantity OF a kind of ash
es or caLined dust, (powder) that many per-
sons found it difficult TO follow in the process
sion, or even 20 find their own houses, and
some shocks now began to be felt. At 5 o.
clock in the afternoon, the ground was COW
cred to the depth of three inches with the
dust; at o'clock, its density was diminishing
considerably, leaving the respiration more
free. In the midst OF great atillctlon, and in
the performance Of acts Of religion. we pas
sed that memorable night Of mourning and
alarm. At II o'clock on that night and at
A in the morning, there were two violent
shocks, and alternately various slight ones,
all preceded by rumblings, as well as sharp
dctonations, which were heard from an early
hour in the evening. The 2lst the day
dawned serencly, dissipating in some meas
ure orr apprehensions. At 8 O'clock in the
morning, our hopes were dampcned, on find
ing that the great quantity ofvolcanic matter
with which the atmosphere was charged, pre-
vented the passage Of the rays Of the sun,
which, however, for some moments, display
ed an opake and sulphurous surface. On this
day, the dust fell in less quantity, and much
finer. In the same manner the shocks con-
tnued strong and slight During the night
of the same, the noises and reports which
have been already mentioned, continued
At the dawn Of day, the shower of dust was
abundant. We had arrived at the break of
day on the 22d without our sad situation ha-
wing been amelorated; on the contrary, the
opacity was greater. The noises and shocks
continued. The neighborhood of this city,
its square Tor ctadeD and streets, were COW
cred with four or five inches of the exhala-
tions mentioned, and SO fine that at the least
breath Of air they would rise, filling the Or
gans of respiration the trees in the fields
the roofs Of the houses were the same, and
the rivers were infected by baneful stencil
In this situaton this municipality, with the
concurrence of their pastor, thought proper
to assemble the inhabitants for the purpose
Of adopting suitable measures for the exi-
gency. The only ones which have occurred
until now, is to endeavor to wet the dust,
which we believe to be the most injurious to
health, and to supply the people with provis-
ions. In both which the inhabitants have as
sisted with promptness as well as by their
personal services, as pecunary, considering
in the mean time what other measures Of po-
Ilicy and saubrity they might adopt. On
this day, the horizon was observed to become
clear, and the atmosphere freer From time
to time slight shocks and rumblings were
experienced. The evening twilight was
clear; the stars were soon discovercd; the
sky became clear, and at l2 o'clock at night,
praises and thanksgivings to the Supreme
Being were heard, for the now asccrtained
Improvement Of our critical situation. But
at this very hour rumbing noise was heard,
which continued increasing without Interrupt
ton until violent report took place as of
the discharge ofmany heavy cannon. Twelve
minutes after the commencement, it contin-
ued until quarter past IL, when a violent
shock took place, which was then the pres
age of a new eruption; the rumblings now
continued with some intervals of frightful
silence. dark column was seen to ascend
anew from Cosiguina, covering this place,
concealing the stars, and filling our hearts I
with mourning and atfliction, now terrified
by the incessant noise for quarter of an
hour, Of the dreadful reports and shocks. At
5 o'clock on the morning of the Odd, day
broke without Witnessing any increase in the .
clearing Of the atmosphere, which however
was sufficient to discover the cloud, and new
eruption, which threatened us.
Prayers and supplications to the Omnipo-
tent God again began; each quarter of an
hour augmented the general terror; this reach
ed its greatest height at half past 8, when the
darkness considerably decreased the little
clearness of the twilight. This whole popu-
latlon believing that their last hour had now
arrived, was assembling every moment in
groups Of persons Of both sexes and all clas-
ses, at the house of our venerable pastor,
who with lamentations and sobs, begged for
absolution from their sins. The latter who
unfortunately for us was quite i'll, absovcd
them III part, until Notwithstanding his pain
iul situation, he repaired to the square that
he might DC the better enabled to excite them
to contrition, to absolve them as he could in
such terrible circumstances. At 9 o'clock
all terminated, and scene more terrible
than any preceding began. The dreadful
rumblings were repeated, the sky notwith-
standing the darkness, displayed rcddened
gIarcs, which excited fears Of the atmosphere
being enkindled. At half past 10, thundcrs
were heard IN various directions, with sharp
hghtnlngs, caused by the combustibe mat
ter foatlng about in our atmosphere; the
same effects, without any difference, which
the most violent tempest causes in the most
rainy months OF winter. In short, Senor
Minister, every description falls short of CIV
ing an idea OF this memorable event, no ex-
presslons can be found to convey it. The
darkness continued the whole of the day
the noises and rumblings began to subside at
two o'clock III the afternoon, the dust with
which the cloud was impregnatcd fell abun-
dainty, accompanied by fine sand night ar
rived, which was passed in the deepest con-
sternatlon, awaiting the day break to dispense
the darkness which was continued unintcr-
rupted, except for very short time, for the
space Of 36 hours. On the 9th, at day
break, although somewhat clear, the vapors
with which the atmosphere was loaded, like
whirlwinds of dust, which the slightest wind
raised, it was considerably obscured. The
25th and 26th continued in the same manner.
Our ground and buildings are covered by the