American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-08-30
Erlshl(ul Earthquake in MOluccas-
5000 Lives Lost,

he London Times says The In.
dian mail brings advices of another of
those dreadful earthquakes for which
Iernati aud The adjoining localities in the
Molucas ale prove,bial. An eruption
OF the active volcano on the Island of
Great SangIa, in Ion. 1859 So E., aud
LAT. 81 So N, has occurred. The mort tn
western part of the Island Of Great San
g'r, is tormod by the mountain Avn,
winch has several peaks, tho highest
being about 4 900 feet above the sea-
On tho ives, side the mountains runs
very steep into the sca-at the height of
the large village Kandbar, however fal.
ling away to low promontory.
Between 7 and O'Clock on the even
ing OF The 2d of March, sudden, aud
altogether indcscribable crashing noise
was heard which indicated to the San
9lrese an eruption Of the volcano, filled
them with CONSERVATION. Stimuli tancuus
with this the glowing lava streaming
downward with irresistible forco in diff.
ferent directions, bearing with it what
ever 1t encountered on its destructive
course. and causing the soa to boil wher-
ever they cane in contact. The hot
OF boiling water, which DESTROYED and
carried away what the first had spared.
The sea obedlent 10 an unusual impulse.
dashed the rocks with fearful violence
dashed upon the sh )re, and heavcd il,
self in wild haste against tho land, as if
It strove TO overmaster tho fire stlcam
This flightful picture Of destruction,
The horror Of which was increased by
the shrieks Of men and beasts, the wild
roaring OF the tempest, aud the crashing
OF thousands of trees torn a. and car.
ried away. was followed about an hour
later 10y loud peals of thunder which
shook the ground and deafened the ear.
a black column Of stones and ash,
then shot up from the m"u ,tain to al
immense height, and fell, illuminated
by the glare of The lava, like a shower
of fire upon the surrounding country be-
low, predicting darkness that, only
now and then m0menta'iIy broken by
the flashes of lightning, was so intense
that people cOnld not discern objects
close at hand, and which 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 by
hro, sunk and disappeared beneath the
ashes and stones, and the hill streams,
stopped by the barriers, formed lakes,
which breaking oveS their banks, soon
proved new source Of destruction.
This lastcd some hours. About mid.
night the raging elements sank TO rest
but on the following day about noon they
again resumed lheir work of destruction
with renewed violence. In the mean
time the fall Of ashes continued without
lDtermiSsion, and was so thick on this day
that tho roys Of the sun could not pene.
tra,e through il, and appalling darkness
prevailed
Scarcely recovered in some degree
from their flight, the inhabitants of This
desola'ed part Of Sangir we've again dis
'urbcd by an eruption on the l7th March
which destroyed many fields and proat
number Of trees on tho Tubuken side.
The loss Of life has been great. 1t
ls estimated as follows, in the under men.
tuned districts; Taruna, men, women,
and children, 1922; Kundhur, men, wo.
mon, and children, IS; Tubukou, men,
women aud children, 2,O30; total, $500.
The greater number met their death
in the gardens. Tho fed in oil diroc.
tons, but were Over,aken and swallowed
MP by tho fatal fire stream. Some I'll.
ed to save themselves in the trees, but
were either carried away with them, or
killed by the scorching heat. At Kal.
angan and Tariaug, the houses were ill
led with people, who were stopped in
their flight by The lava streaming down
on all sides.