Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-08-18
LATEST NEWS.

nc lnuian man brings hiNitts III "h''u'' W
those dreadful earthquakes, for which Ternaii and
the adjoining localities IN the Molueeas aie pro
verhal An eruption of the active volcano on
the island of Great Sanger, in Ion, l25. % T.. and
lat. 80 n has occurred. The Northwestern
pnrt of the island of Great Sanger is formed by
tho AVN, which has several peaks. the highest
being about 1000 feet above the sea On the
west side the mountains runs very steep into the
sea. nj the height of the large village of kanehar
however falling away to a low prononitory.
Between 7 and o'clock on the evening ct the
81 Of March, sudden and altogether indeseriba-
bic crashing noise was heard. which. indicating
III the Sangirese an eruption at the volcano" MI
I'd them with CONSERVATION. Simultaneous with
this the glowing lava streamed downwurds with
Irresistible force. in different directions, bearing
with it whatever i,eccountered in its destructive
course. and causing the sea To boil wherever they
came in contact.
The hot springs opened up and east out n Hood
Of boiling water, which destroyed aud carried
AWAY what the fire had spared. The sea ODE
dent to an unusual impulse, dashed the rocks
with trightfu violence, dashed upon the shore,and
heaved itself with wild haste against the land. as
if it strove to overnaster the firm stream.
The frghtfnl picture of destruction, the horror
of which increased by the shreks of men and
beasts the wild roaring of thetempest, and the
crashing of Thousands oftrees torn up ami car
,ied away, was followed about an hour later by
peals of thunder, which shook the ground and
deafened tho ear.
A black column Of stones & ashes then shot up
from the mountain to an immense height. and
fell illuminated by the glare of the lava. like n
shower of fire upon the surrounding country be-
low. producing n darkness that, only now and
then momentaiily broken by the flashes OF light
nlng. was So intense that people could not dis
Germ objects close AT hand, aud which completed
their confusion and despair. Large stones were
hurled through the mir crushing whatever they
fell upon. Houses and crops which had not beon
destroyed by fire sank and disappeared beneath
the ashes and stones, aud the hill streams, stop
ped by these barriers, formed lakes, which break
ing over their banks, soon proved new source
of destruction.
This lasted some hours. About midnight the
raging elements sunk to rest: but the follow
ing day, about noon they again began their work
of destruction with renewed violence. In tho
meantime the fall of ashes continued without in
remission, and was SO thick on this day TINT the
rays of tie sun could not penetrate through it,,
and an appalling darkness prevailed
Scarcely received in some degree from their
fright, the inhabitants of this desolated part of
Sangir again disturbed by an eruption ON
the 18th March, which destroyed many fields and
II great number oftrecs on the 'rebuknn side:
Since then the volcano has remained quieLand
the only symptom of its working has been the
assures in the ground. The streams of lava ON
the slopes still slightly cooled that people
dare not venture 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 noticeable alteration.
On the other side of kandhar, on tho extreme
point Of the island, the appearance of the devas-
tation which has been caused is if pos sible, even
more ftightful than what has taken place at Tar
tuna; for here, where formerly there were TO be
seen extensive fields bearing all kinds of crops,
and thickly planted and endless groves of cocoa
nuts, we now find nothing but lava. stone and
ashes. The liquid fire seems at this point to
have flowed from the mountain with irresistible
force and in prodigious quantity. Not only has
this fearful food as it were buried the whole dis
trict and all that was upon it, but after having
caused this destruction over an extent of several
miles it still, powerful enough, on reaching
the shore, to form two long tanjonge (capes) at
places where the depth of water formerly consist
ed of many fathoms
A number of districts and places have been,
some wholly destroyed, others greatly injured by
the fire.
The loss of life has been great. 1t is estima-
ted az follows in the aforementioned districts:
Tartuna, men, women and children 100
kandhar, as
Tabukan, " 5000