New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-08
THE LAST ERUPTION OF MOUNT HECLA

Al the commencement oil toe year iofJ nou"' A'
had for seventy nine years been in state OF quiesceoce
period Of rest longer than any that had cccu''ed
within the historical recollection OF man. AZ eHiy
1885, however there indications thatthe smoidef-
ing fires contained in its bosom were far nom eH'h'
eusbed. STILL the recollection Of the last fearn efuP
ton being long since forgotten, the minds OF the huao
itans retained h cir newlygsined serenity ana ~nen
the outbre ak did come took the public mind az mucn
by furpfise as though Nature had not already oeeh
frequently convulsed by the titanic struggles OF tne
mighty Fire monster hidden in the depths of Heclas
bowels.
On the I'd of September, lS45, commenced the
eighteenth eruption Of Hecls, that has taken place
within the memory Of man. Heavy murky clouds
hung over the billy Districts in the vicinity of the vol
cano and dull oppressive quiet pervsded the atmos-
pierre when at O'Clock in the morning both earth and
air were suddenly cohyused and all nature was thrown
into confusion. The earth shook the heavens thun-
dered in one continued roar, like the dsshpg OF the
surf on the southern coast in the Winter season. and
impenetrable clouds Of fog and mist wrapped them
selves as a vail about the summit Of the mountain
hiding it from the strained and anxious gaze Of the
trembling inhabitants.
About 10 O'Clock this cloud dakened, and raising
slowly from the peak of the volcano spread itself over
the whole sky delugiDg the earth with shower OF
ashes and scora and obscurng the atmosphere to such
degree that the people could with difficulty grope
their way to their homes for shelter At 3o'cock In
the afternoon daylight was restored, and the fall OF
ashes changed into shower Of volcanic sand which
continued to pour down until the close Of the succeed
ing day. by which time it covered the ground to the
depth Of nearly two inches
1t is worthy of note that the thunder which accom-.
panied the commencement of this shower was very
feebl, heard in the immediate vicinity of Hecls, while
in remote places it was distinctly audible. On the
island of Grimsoe, lying 80 miles distant, 1t was ms
taken for the discharge Of artillery on board OF Preach
privaeer cruising in the vicinity. slight trepdatlon
of the earth also perceptbe in some places, while
in others II was not at all noticed.
When the cloud cleared swey and daylight again
made it's appearance, Hecla was seen to be belching
forth it's contents through three dheren. craters-one
on the northeast summit of the mountain one on the
highest central peak and the third lying further back
toward the south west From the central cra.er Issued
dark column of ashes, which, pierced by irregular
Aa.hes Of lightning, and attended by mighty psal' OF
thunder raised its lofty head to the clouds before
broke in shower of ashes the eastern plains Both
of the other openings emitted dense clouds OF white
eeamy smoke, but it seldom clear enough TO dis
tirgush them from each other, and the macs eJected
BY the three eraters mixed Tito dusky cloud Of
asbes, which appeared to issue from sing'e source.
Measurements taken of this cosmn Of ashes indicate
its actual hight to have been twice that of the moun
tain tse varying at different times in altitude from
6,774 to IL, 926 feet.
About Z, o'clock in the evening shock occurred,
shaking the Island to its very foundations and filling
the minds of the inhabitants both brute and human,
with CONSERVATION and alarm. The dogs, those faith
full companions and assistants Of the islanders in all
their out door and domestic operations, ran bowling
into the Wilderness and did not make their appearance
in the vicinity of human habtatiops until after the lapse
OF week. At the same time an immense fan.shaped
fame issued from amid the vapors which flowed
from the crater throwing pieces OF scoria in every d-
rection and bearing in it's midst huge masses tf red
bot stone, which, after being whr ed about short
time in the air fell back into the fiery chasm whence
they bad emerged. AZ twilight approached, the lava
was eeen streaming down the wet side of the noun
tain in food of liquid fire. overwhelming everything
in its course and heating the streams in the neghbor
hood almost TO the boiling point 80 that hundreds Of
dead fishes were thrown to the surface, while at the
same time the hot springs in the vicinity deprived
of their chars ctenstic high temperature.
From the 4th to the 9th of September Hecls was
completely enveoped in clouds and mist. There vase
only an pcessant rOa Ing and the constant showers Of
ashes to indicate the continued activity of the volcano.
The violence of the eruption seemed, however, to be
abstng not withstandng the lava continued to flew at
the rate Of about so feet an hour with heavy clouds
Of steam pursuing ts irresistible course, crushing and
pushing the cracking masses of scoria sideways in
syery direction BY the 9th, this stream had advanced
about half mile when il commenced hardening, and at
-
length ceased to fow altogether On tie 18th, it again
commenced the roaring inside of the crater increased
and the column of ash rs reappeaTed The wind veered
to the east, and for the first time the southwestern
districts received sprinklng OF a.hes destroying the
plants and dsprivng the cattle OF their means Of sub
s,tence The volcano continued in activity until the
18TH roaring ard putting forth gobuar clouds OF smoke
and ste am ike the breathing OF an immense subtena
mean giant while the snow-capped mountains, Treleld
and Oefed Jokeln which had never been seen other.
wise than OF dazzling white oolor, were for a time
snvelop,d in black clouds. The volcano after bus
terne harmles,ly few days longer, appeared to
have become appessed; strong smeH was at the
,ame time emitted resembling nothing that had ever
heep noticed at previous eruptions The lava stream
seemed to have accelerated tie speed, opposing hills
having turned its course into narrow valley.
On The Sth of October the thunder increased IN vio
lsnce and the lava again 'oSmed IN broad glowing
stream around the alus of the bill On the 4th Of No
vember the hill appeared Like mass OF fire from sum-
nit to base as the lava cOursed down its sides in three
streams aud so Heca continued in state of eruption,
O. times more or less violent until the middle Of March
At times it was altogether hidden by miss and Clouds
its existence and position only demonstrated by its
tipued groanipg Some days would be entirely quiet
and thin white vspory cloud played in the cir d.
rectly over the crater. Then again the lava would
TOW forth, the column Of ashes would be raised on
high smidst the uproar of repeated peas Of hunder,
and would be swayed from aide to side BY the wind