Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-02-01

Nicaragua.
THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION NEAR THE
CITY OF LEON.-
WAsHIHGToN, ID. G.. Jan

~ - i''''''
WAsHIEGToN, ID. c., Jan. ).
The following letter has boon re-
coivcd from the Secre tQry of State
from Hon, A. B. Diclicrson, United
States Minister to'Nicaragua, dated
Leon, Dee. / 1867:
SIR:-On the 14th Of November
last II now volcano broke ont in
Nicaragua, about eight leagues to
the cast Of the city Of Leon, on Il
crowded line OF volcanoes running
through the State parallel to the Pa
ciiic. coast.
1t commenced at one o'clock in
tho morning, with succession of
explosions, which were distinctly
felt and heard ut Leon. These eX-
plosions opened fssure through
the earth crust about half mile in
length, running from the old fissure
in southwest direction, about mid
way between the extinct volcanoes
of Las Pilas and Oroth, which are
two of the numerous cones studding
the ancient fissures,
Before daylight on the morning
of the 18th, fire was seen issuing
from the new volcano in various
places. The explosions continued
irregularly during the whole time
that the volcano was in eruption,
sometimes in rapid succession, and
at other times at intervals of half
an hour. Low rumbling sounds
were heard almost necessarily. In
the course Of a few days two craicrs
were opened on the now tiSsure,
about one thousand feet apart, the
one ut the south western extremity
discharging pcrpcndicularly, an d
the other shooting out toward the
northeast, at IN angle Of forty five
degrees. T he flames from these
two cratcrs slowly increased in size
and height, whlo jets of flame and
slighter discharges were emitted
from two or three other side tis-
sures
On morning Of November %
| went to the new volcano, for the
purpose Of observing il more closely.
although ! had seen and heard il
every day and night from Leon.
The best view obtained of IL Oh
that occasion. was just before day
light, from mountain summit,
about one mile 20 the north east of
the fssure, and at right anglo with
it. Tho main crater at the right
was actively at work, throwing out
flames and half melted C cindors
through a circular ogificc about six
ty feet in diameter, which was con-
stantly flied to its utmost capacity
with the ascending masses. A reg
ular cone, built up entirely by the
falling cinders to tho height of about
200 ieet, had already formed around
the crater. .r
The rim of the cone was white
with heat, and the oatside was red
hot for half way Gown, while the
remainder of its background work
was gliltcring with innumerable
glowing sparks. IL was putting
quite regularly abou. once a second
with strong, constant blast, which
kept mp a colamn Of fame, filled
with flying cinders, to the height of
about 500 feet above the mouth Of
the orifce Irregular explosions
occarred at Intervals. varying from
ten TO thirty minutes, increasing
the force and volume OF Tire dis
charges, aud scndin, them far up
into the rolling cloa.ls above. The
ciuders went HP ia halffase1 blaz-
( ing masses. from one TO three feet
in diameter. and came down Bpoa
the cone bardcncei, striking with a
clinkiar. metaiic sound Afier day.
light the red appearance ofthe cone
changed TO a blush black. The
Ten hand crater was shooting ont
cbliaus discharges Of Game aad Gin
ders ef a similar character q; an