Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-09-04
From the London Times.
Frightful Earthquake in the Mo-
luccas-.EruPtiOn of a Volcano
Three Thousand Lives Lost.

| lucc6Sss Eruption Oh a Olcan(
Three Thousand Lives Lost.
The Indian mail brings advices of anoth
er of those dreadful earthquakes for which
Ternati and the adjoining localities in The
Moluccas are proverbial. An eruption o
the active volcano on The island Of Great
Sangir, in long. 125 deg, so min. E., and
lat. 3 deg. so min., n, has occurred. Tht
northwestern part of the island of Greal
Sangir is formed by the mountain Awu
which has several peaks, the highest being
about 1000 feet above the sea. On the
west side the mountain runs very steep In
to the sea, at the height of the large village
Kandhar, however, falling away to low
promontory.
Between Z and o'clock on the evening
fthe I'd of March, sudden and altogether
indescribable crashing noiso was heard
which indicating to the Sangirese an erup-
ton of the volcano, filed them with con-
sternation. simultaneously with this, the
glowing lava streamed downwards with ir-
resistible force in different directions, bearing
with it whatever it encountered on its des-
tructive course, and causing the sea to boil
wherever they came in contact. The hot
springs opened up and cast out flood of
boiling water, which destroyed and carried
away what the fire had spared. The sea,
obedient to an unusual impulse, lashed the
rocks with frightful violence, dashed upon
the shore and heaved itself with a wild
haste against the land as if it strove to over
master the fire stream.
This flightful picture of destruction, the
horror of which was increased by the shrieks
of men and beasts, the wild roaring of the
tempest, and the crashing of thousands of
trees torn up and carried away, was followed,
about an hour later, by peals of thunder
which shook the ground, deafening the ear.
A black column of stone and ashes then
shot up from the mountain to an immense
height, and fell, illumined by the glare of
the lava, like shower of fire upon the
surrounding country below, producing a
darkness that, only now and then momen-
tarily broken by the flashes of lightning,
was so intense, that people could not discern
objects close at hand, and which completed
their confusion and despair. Large stones
were hurled through the air, crushing what
ever they fell upon. Houses and crops,
which had not been destroyed by fire, sunk
and disappeared beneath the ashes and
stones, and the hill streams, stopped by
these barriers, formed lakes, which, breaking
over their banks, soon proved new source
of destruction.
This lasted some hours. About mid
night the raging elements sank to rest; but
on the following day about noon, they
again resumed their work of destruction.
with renewed violence. In the meantime,
mission, and was so thick on this day that
the rays of the sun could not penetrate
through it, and an appalling darkness pre-
vailed.
Scarcely recovered in some degree from
their fright, the inhabitants of this desolated
part of Sangir were again disturbed by an
eruption on the 18th of March, which des-
troyed many fields aud great number
Of trees on Tabukan side.
Since then the volcano has remained
quiet, and the only symptom of its working
has been the smoke rising up in all direc
tions from cracks and assures in the ground.
The streams of lava on the slopes are still
so slightly cooled that people dare not ven
ture to any great distance from the shore.
According to the accounts of the natives,
the top of the mountain does not appear to
have undergone any material alteration.
On the other side of Kandhar, on the ex-
treme north point of the island, the ap-
pearance of the devastation which has been
caused, is if possible even more frightful
than what has taken place at Taruna. For
here, where formerly there were to be seen
extensive fields bearing all kinds Of crops,
and thickly planted and endless groves of
cocoanuts, we now find nothing but lava,
stones and ashes. The liquid fire at this
point, seems to have flowed from the noun
tain with irresistible force and in prodigious
quantity. Not only has this fearful flood,
as it were, buried the whole district and all
that was upon it, but after having caused
this destruction over an extent of several
miles, it was still powerful enough on reach
ing the shore, to form two long tanjongs
(capes) at places where the depth'o of water
formerly consisted of many fathoms.
A Anumber of other districts and places
have been, some wholly destroyed, others
greatly injured by the fire.
The loss of life. has been great. 1t is
estimated as follows, in the aforementioned
districts: Taruna. men, women and children,
1922; KanChar, men, women and children,
As; Tabukan, men, women and children,
2,9O6.
The greater number met their death in
the gardens. They fled in all directions,
but were overtaken and swallowed by the
fatal frestream. Some tried to save them
selves in the trees, but were either carried
away with them, or killed by scorching
heat. At Kalangang and Tariang the
houses were filed with people, who were
stopped in their flight by the lava streaming
down on all sides and the streams of boil
ing water, and who met their death under
the burning ashes and the tumbling houses.
Many who had reached the shore and
thought themselves safe, became prey to
the furious waves, and many died through
sheer despair and agony.
Mr.. Lewis Kent, son of Deacon Seba
Kent, of Pawtucket, Mass, died on Thurs
day last, from the loss of blood occasioned
bv the eyt r1cti ion of two tnafh Mr. X ont