Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-04-30

HsSneS OF llSotning, and attended by
mighty peals of thunder, raising its lofty
head to the clouds before it broke in a
shower of ashes ON the eastern plains
Both OF the other openings emitted dense
clouds OF white, steamy smoke, but it was
seldom clear enough to distinguish them
from each other, and the mass elected by
the three craters mixed into one dusky
cloud of ashes, which appeared to issue
from single source. Measurement taken
OF this column of ashes indicate its actual
height to have been twice that of the noun
tain itself, varying at different times in
altitude from 6,774 to Ii, eos feet
About Z II o'clock in the evening a
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 faithful companions and assistants Of
the islanders in all their outdoor and do
nestle operations, ran bowling into the
Wilderness and did not make their appear
ancc in the vicinity Of human habitations
until after the lapse ola week. At the
same time an immense fan-shaped hameis-
sued from amid the vapors which flowed
from the crater, throwing pieces of scoria
In every direction, and bearing in its midst
/ huge masses of red hot Stone, which after
being whirlea about short time in the air,
fell back into the fiery chasm whence they
had emerged As twilight approached, the
lava was seen streaming down the west
side ina stream of liquid fire, overwhel-
mining every timing in its course, and heating
the stream in the ncighborhood almost
to the boiling point, so4hat hundreds of
dead fishes were thrown to!the surface,
while at the same time the hot springs in
the vicinity were deprived Of their charae-
teristic high temperature.
From the 4th to the 9th of September,
Iecla was completely envelopel in clouds
and mist. There was only an inccssant
roaring and constant shower of ashes to
Indicate the continued activity of the vol
cano. The violence of the eruption, SEEM
Ell, however, to be abating, notwithstand-
ing the lava continued to flow at the rate
of about 30 feet to the hour, with heavy
clouds of steam, pursuing its irresistible
course, crushing aud pushing the cracking
masses Of scoria sideways IN every direct
ion. Blythe 9th this stream had advanced
about halfa mile, when it commenced hard
ening, and at length ceased follow altogeth-
err. Onthe 18th it again commenced, the
roaring inside of the crater increased and
the column OF ashes reappeared. The wind
veered to tn, east, and for the first tim,
the southwestern districts received a
sprinkling of ashes, destroying the plants
and depiiving the cattle of their means of
subsistence. The volcano continued in ac-
tiyity until the 1ith, roaring AMI putting
forth globular clouds of smoke and steam,
like the breathing of an immense subterra-
mean giant, while the snow-eappea mount
aims, Trifjeld and Ocfcl1 .Jokeln, which !
had never been seen otherwise than of
dazzling white color, were for time envel-
oped in black clouds. The volcano, after
clustering harmlesslya few day longer, APP
pearcd to have become appeased a strong
smell was az the same time emitted, resem-
bling nothing that had ever been noticed at
previous eruptions. The lava stream
seemed to have accelerated its speed, oppo-
sing hills, having turned its course into a
narrow valley.
On the Sth Of October the thunder IN !
creased in violence and the lava again 7
foan,cd in a broad glowing stream around I
the talus of the hill. Ont the 4th of Novcm-
Der tho hill appeared like mass of fire
from summit to base, as the lava courscd
down It's sides in three streams, and SO Hec-
Ia continued in a state of eruption. at times !
more or less violent until the middle of
March. at times it was altogether hidden
/ n 4. Il
siiioa only demonstrated by its continued
grooming. Some days it would be entire
ly quiet, and thin white vapory cloud
played in the air directly over the crater.
Then again the lava would flow forth, the
column Of ashes would be raised on high
amidst the uproar of repeated peals of thun-
der. and would be swayed from side to
side by thc wind threatening one district az
ter the other, or driven downward By the
raging east-north least wind and rebound
ing from the earth would be rolled about
in the air with rcsistless fury.
On the 18th of March the fire again light I,
ed up. with hitherto unequalled glare
at first clear and distinct, and afterward
separating itself in every direction in dark
red beams Of light, shooting about so rap
idly that the eye could scarcely follow them
in their course presenting the phenomena
of the northern lights. This was the last
effort Of the volcano On the next day
the top of the mountain emerged from the
smoke and flame that had enveloped it for
over half year, and during the next few
weeks slight emission of smoke and ash
cs was the only evidence of the eruption
that had taken place After the 9th of A /:
pril these also disappeared, and by the
18th the lava hal cooled of to such de-
gree that the falling snow lay unmelted
upon its surface Since then Hecla has re-
NAMED at rest, and. all rumors and reports ,
of subsequent outbreaks may be directly
traced to the anxiety caused by this erup-
ton, the terrified inhabitants picturing re-
currence Of the catastrophe in every rumb-
ling sound and every shower Of dust carried
by an easterly wind from the ash-covered
districts around the volcano.-N. Y. 7ri-
bune, 9ks inst