The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-23

rated BY the particular snesthness Of some psrts
OF the slope The height Of this mouatx,n il NOT,
~. .nnn, more than 100 ises The anniversary Of
manner throughout all Central America.
The volcano Of San Miguell in Salvador, Is a
regular truncated cone, rising 900 ieet above the
top. but ts eruptions, which are frequent, takes
place near the base. The last of these occurred in
lsaS, when several vents were opened about 1000
feet above the plain, on its eastern slope. II was
attended with more Of those appalling phenomena
which were observed at the eruption Of Cozeguina,
and lava only was elected, with a little ashes from
the great crater. The lava currents radiate from
this mountain for many leagues, in every direction,
inteposing vast barriers TO the traveller in approach
ingit
The valcano of San Salvador, near the
city Of that name, is remarkable for the ex-
uaordinary size Of its crater, which is
timated by DIR. Weems, American Consul ia
Guatemala, to be nine miles in circumference,
soping like an inverted cone to the depth of 600
feet-amost large enough TO receive the entire vo-
lume OF vesuvlus A small lake is visible at the
bottom. The volcanoes in the vicinity of the city
OF Guatt mala are better known than many others
IN Central America, chiefly in connection with the
earthquake OF l77S, which caused the abandonment
of the city of old Guatemala. This earthquake,
however, does net az EN- TO have been violent as
many Others which have happened since and the
accounts which have been published Of the earth
opening and swallowing entire houses, vomiting
hre, &c., are, as observed by late writer, incor-
rect and absurd and in copying the mOnkish ac-
counts OF the catastrophe, modern authors may as
well add the other interesting particulars of devils
being seen 10 ascend out of the earth where II
yawned, 10 assist in pulling down the sacred
edIficts and wooden images OF the saints, running
away and beckoDing the inhabitantsio follow them,
with other occurrences equally novel and surprising.
A number 0fvery severe earthquakes have hap
pened VII hin the last few years. One occurred in
Guatemala III 1890, nearly If not quite
that of 1773. la February, 1884, and September,
in 1871, in Costa Rica. The last nearly destroyed
the city of Castago, which had previously suffered
a similar catastrophe. May, 1874, was distinguish
ed throughout Nicaragua by a series of earth
quakes or shocks, occurring at regular intervals
ever period of several days. The city of Nicara-
qua suffered much, and the waters of the lake
were observed to rise and fall with the shocks.
Much might be said on the phenomena Of earth
quakes, as they occur in this country. The shocks
seem To be of two classes-the pendicular, which
are felt only in the vicinity OF volcanoes, aud the
horizontal, which reach over wide tracts of coun-
try. The latter are very unequal, in some places
beng violent, and in others, nearer their assumed
source, comparatively slight. The undulating
movement seems TO be only modification Of the
horizontal or vibratory. Sometimes these notioas
ere all combined, or rather succeed each other
with great rapdity. Such the case with the
earthquake Of October last, which experienced,
and Of which can speak more authoritativsly
Mr. Squier bere read from an article descriptive
OF this earthquake, published in the National In
teHigercer, at Washington, and dated at Leon,
Dec. ~, 1919
There are many striking features in the topo-
grspby Of Central America, which seem entirely
due 10 volcanic agency. Those which have more
particularly attracted my attention are what are
popularity denominated extinct ordters, now par
tally filled with water, formerly lakes, without
outlets or apparent sources of supply, save The
rains Some Of these occur on the mountain and
hill ranges, and are surrounded by evidences of
having been volcanic rents. But this is not always
the Gaze. will take what is called the Lake Of
Massage es an instance. This is not less than
10 or IL miles in circumference, and not far from
loco feet, perhaps more, below the general level of
the country. The sides are sheer precipces Of
uachyuc rocks, spintered and clustered, and exhibit
ing every indication OF having been exposed TO the
intensest heat Yet, if these YeV true craters,
where are the lava, ashes, and other materials
which they have elected! There are certainly
none in their vicinity, which have emanated from
thenl-no traces OF lava streams surrounding them,
nor their edges elevated above the general
level. Upon one side OF the particular one which
! have mentioned, rises the extinct volcano of
Massga, or Nindiri. with its proper crater, whence
have flowed vast quantities of lava, part Of which
falling over the precipous walls OF the lake, have
quite filled il up on that side. Some OF the lakes
are more or less mpregnated with saline materials,
Tut others perfectly fresh, and abound in fish.
The burned and blistered walls indicate, il APP
pears TO me, that they have not been caused by
subsistence, or the falling in of the earth or rock
strata.
elevated something less than 200 feet above the
yet, In the vicinity OF the range of volcanoes
which traverse it, beds Of lava fifteen feet thick,
have been found, in digging wells at the depth Of
seventy-fiye Spanish varas, about 2l0 feet, and
this at point not the highest OF the plain, but
according TO my calculations but 100 feet above
the OCEAN Unless there is some great error in
these datG-sIs can conceive of none the ywould
seem Ia prove that there has been a subsistence Of
the plain since the almost infinitely remote period
when the red Of lava famed upwards from the
depths Of the earth. | may mention that in the
vicinity Of the volcanoes, water is scarce, and can
only be obtained by digging 10 great d. pths The
particular well which refer to, at a cattle estate
eighteen miles northeast of Leon, is upwards Of 800
fee in deptb-the water pure, with no saline mate
risls in solution.
I'VE have already In type the report Of the con-
clusion Of the third together with the fourth days
proceedings, bat the crowded state Of colum MS
this morning, compels us to defer its publication