The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-06

. " "Ati lHtlT rear CONtlH, Vet VIII nan II as
the dawn Of political mile MUM. '-.joshuQ
K. G tddtHgs.
Frighifui Earthquake.
The Indian mail brings adyiccs Of another
Of those dreadful earthquakes for which
/ Ternati and the adjoining localities in the
Mo!uccas are proverbal An eruption OF
the active Volcano on the island of Great
Sangir, in longitude l25 degrees, 80 minutes
east, and latitude g degrees and ~ minutes
north, has occurred. The northwestern
part Of the island Of Great Sangir is formed
by the mountain Awu, which has several
peaas the highest being about 4,O00 feet
above the level Of the sea. On the west
side the mountain runs very steep into the
sea, at the height Of the large village hand-
har, however IA ling away to q low prOInon-
tory.
/ Between and O'Clock on the evening
i of the 2d Of March a sudden and altogether
Undesirable crashing noise was heard,
which, indicating 10 the Sangi-cse az erup-
ton Of the volcano, filed them with con-
sternat'on. Simultaneous with this, the
glowing lava streamcd downw2rGs with ir
resistibie force in different directions, bear
I ing with it whatever it encountered on it's
obstructive course, and causing the sea to
i bOii NhSICftl ICY Cdiilt IN ColltaCt.
The hot springs opened up and cast out O
HUou OF UvIiIHg naEe'. --:---iI
carried away what the fire had spared. The
sea, obedicnt TO an unusual impulse, .lashed
the rot Ks with fiightful violence dashed up
on the shore and heaved itself with a WHO
haste against the land as if it strove TO over
master the fire stream
This frightfll picture OF destruction, the
horror Of which was increased by the snrieks
Of men and beasts, the wild roaring Of the
tempest, and the crashing Of thousands of
trees torn up and carried away was follow
cd. about an hour later. by peas of thunder
whi b shook the ground and deafened the
car. i black column OF stone and ashes
then shot up from the mountain to ar i'm
neEsc height, and f,ll, ilumined by the
glare Of the lava, like shower Of fire upon
the surrounding country below, producing
darkness that, only now and then momenta-
rily broken by the flashes Of lightning, was
so intense that people could not discern OBJ
jects 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 shops
which had not been destroyed by fire, sunk
and disappeared beneath the ashes and
stones, and the hill streams, stopped by
ing over their banks, soon proved a new
source of destruction.
This lasted some hours. About midnight
the raging elements sank TO rest but on
the following day, about noon, they again
sumed their work Of destruction, with re-
newed violence. In the meantime the fall
Of ashes continued without intermission,
and was so thick on this day that the rays
of the sun could not penetrate through it,
and an appalling darkness prevailed.
Scarcely recovered in some degree from
their fright, the inhabitants of this dcSolated
part Of Sangir were disturbed by an erup-
ton on the eth of March, which destroyed
many fields and large number OF trees on
the Tabukan side.
Since then the volcano has remained quiet,
and the only symptom of its working has
been the smoke rising up in all directions
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 account of the native peo-
pie, the top of the mountain does not appear
TO have undergone any noticeable change.
On the other side of Kandhar, on the ex-
treme north point of the island, the appear
arce of the devastation which has been
caused, is, if possible, even more frighttul
than what has taken place at Iaruna. For
here, where formerly were to be seen exten-
sve fields, bearing all kinds Of crops, and
thickly planted and endless groves of cocoa
nuts, we now find nothing but lava, stones
and ashes. The liquid fire seems at this
point to have flowed from the mountain with
irresistible force and in prodigious quanti
ty. Not only has this fearful flood, as it
o.! ,l, -l,1n IL, Ill. IL
was upon it, but after having caused this
destruction over an extent of several miles,
it was still powerful enough on reaching the
shore, to form two long tanjongs or capes,
at places where the dep h Of water formerly
consisted of many fathoms.
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-
timated as follows, in the under mentioned
districts: Taruna, men, women and children,
722; Kandhar, men, women and children,
As; Tabukan, men, women and children,
2,O39; total, 2,SO6.
The greater number met their death in |
the gardens. They fled in all directions,
but were overtaken and swallowed up by |
the fatal fire stream. Some tried to save
themselves in the trees, but were either car
ried away with them or killed by the scorch-
ing heat At Kalangan and Tarlang the
houses were filed with people, who were
stopped in their fight by the lava streaming
down on all sides. and the streams of boiling
water, and who mst their death under the
burning ashes and the tumbling houses.
Many who had reached the shore and tho't
themselves safe, became prey to the furious
waves, and many died through sheer despair
and agony.-London Times.
He submits himself to be seen through .
microscope, who suffers himself to be in .