The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-28
Destructive Earthquakes in M ,luccas

The Indian mail brings advices of ano
ther of those dreadful earthquakes for which
Ternati and the adjoining localities in the
Moluccas or Spice Islands are proverbial.
An eruption of the active volcano on the
Island Of Great Sangir, in lon. l25 so E.
and lat. SO N, has occurred. The north
western part of the island of Great Sangir
is formed by the mountain AVN. which las
several peaks, the highest being about 900
fee. above the sea. On the west side the
mountain runs very steep into the sea, at
the height OF the large village of Kandhar,
however falling away to low promon,ory.
Between and o'clock on the evening
OF the I'd Of March, a sudden and al,ogeth
er indescribable crushing noise was heard.
which, indicating to the Sangirese an erup-
ton of the volcano, filed them with cons,er.
nation. Simultaneous with this, the glowing
lava streamed downwards with irresistible
force in different directions, bearing with it
whatever 1t encountered in its destructive
course, and causing the sea TO boil wherever
they came IN contact.
The hot springs opened up and cast out,
Hood 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 wild haste against the land, rs il strove
to overmaster the fire stream
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 and great number of
trees on the Tabukan side.
Since shen The volcano has remained
quiet, and the only symptom of its working
has been the smoke rising up in all direc
tons 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 10 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 the ex.
treme north point of the island, the appear.
ance OF the devastation which has been caus
ed, is If possible even moro frigh,ful than
what has taken place at Tartuna. orhere,
where formerly there were to be seen exten-
sive fields bearing al kinds of crops, and
tlickly planted, and endless groves of cocoa
nuts, we now find nothing but lava stone
and ashes. The liquid fire seems ut this
point 10 have flowed from the noun tain
with irresistible force and in prodgious
quantity. Not only has this fearful Hood
as 1t were buried the whole district and all
that was upon it, bu, after having caused
this destruction over an extent Of several
miles, 1t was still powerful enough, on
reaching the shore, to form two long tan
Jongs icapes) at places where the depth Of
water formerly consisted Of many falhoms
he irighuuI picture of destruction. the
horror oi which was increased by the
Shneks ol men and teasls. the wild roaring
OF the tempest, and the crashings of thouS
ands OF trees torn up and carried away, was
followed about an hour later by peais of
thunder, which shoob the ground aud deaf,
ened the ear.
y black column of stou Is aud ashes then
shot up from the mountain 10 an immense
height, and fell, illumined by the glare of
the lava, like a shower of fire upon the sur.
rounding country below, producing u dark
ness that only now and then, momentarily
broken 10y the flames of lightning, was so
intense that people could not discern OBJ
Jects close at hand, and whicl: completed
Their confusion and despair Large stones
were hurled through the air, crushing
whatever they fell upon. Houses and crops,
which had not been destroyed 10y fire, sank
and disappeared beneath the ashes and
stones and the hill streams, stopped by
these barriers, formed lakes, which, break
ing over their banks, soon proved new
source OF destruction
This lasted some heurs About midnight
the raging elements sank to rest, but on
the following day about noon they again
began their work Of destruction with renew
Ell violence. In the meantime the fall of
ashes continued without interIEissou, and
was so thick on this day that the rays of
the sun could not penetrate through ii, and
AN appalling darkness prevailed.
a number 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 es
tmated as follows in the aforementioned
districts:
T"r'Gna, men, women and children, 722
kandhar, do. do. 45
Tabukan, DC. do 2O3O
Total 1896
The greater number met their death in
the gardens. They fled in all directions,
but were oveuaken and swallowed up 10y
tho fatal fire stream Some tried 10 save
themselves in the trees but were either car
red away with them or killed by the
scorching heat At kalougan and TAriang
the houses were filed with people who were
stopped in their flight by the lava stream
ing down on all sides and the streams OF
boiling water, and who met their death un-
der the burning ashes and the tumbling
houses. Many who had reached the shore,
and thought themselves safe, became a prey
10 the furious waves, and many died through
sheer desnar and agony.
A young lady OF Gotham, who is at the