Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-01-16
Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Erup.ion.,

Earthquakes, HurrIcnnes, Eruptions.
The numerous destructive hurricanes
and earthquakes that have occurred
since October last, and the coincident
activity of several volcanoes, together
with the unusual severity of the Winter
weather, all 60 to show how much there
is yet to be learned Of meterology and
the kindred sciences relating to matters
on or near the surface Of the earth.
The hurricanes VIC refer to, beginning
on our Southern coast in October, and
continued in many Of the West India
Islands in November, extended also to
the East Indies in the latter month,
there having been n especially severe
ut Calcutta, by which more than n thou
sand lives were lost, and as many as
thirty thousand native huts destroyed
in the suburbs Of the city. At about
the same time there have been q series
Of earthquakes, doing great damage in
tho West Indies, and We have had in
the United States the rare sensation Of
a shock, extending through northern
New York and across Vermont to the
sea coast. Simultaneous with this is
the carly Winter and severe cold wealth
er already referred to, and the renewed
activity Of Mount yesuvius, in the Med
~iterranean, and of Mount Hecla, in Ice
land. AL these events seem to be so
connected rs to justify tho conclusion
that they are effects Of ono general
cause. Nor is this the first time that
such condolences have occurred. The
nearest to our own times was in 1858.
There WIS IN eruption of Vesuvius in
June of that year, with more or less Of
continuing activity until August, 1850,
when there was another considerable
eruption. The same year was marked
by earthquakes along the whole
valley of Mexico and in Naples. In
Mexico the earthquake occurred in
the same month (June), with the
eruption of vesuvius Houses and
other property were destroyed to the
amount Of many millions Of dollars.
In some districts the shock was the
greatest ever experienced. In the fol-
lowing March, the city Of Quito was
almost totally destroyed and thousands
of lives lost. In October of the same
year, one Of tho most extensive and
destructive hurricanes on record swept
the West India Islands and extended for
seven hundred miles eastward of the
Bermudas. Its effects were felt on our
own shores, and as in all similar con.
vulsions, there were enormously high
tides and great and destructive waves
rolling in from the sea. 1t will thus be
seen that in 1889, continuing over a
period of several months, there wcrc
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and
hurricanes, extending from the interior
Of Europe to the continent of America,
as in the past three months Of the pres
cnt year. There were similar violent
disturbances of the crust of the earth in
1922, when the most destructive earth
quake that ever visited the United
States occurred. This was in the Vi
cinity of New Madrid, Missouri, and
other parts of that State and Arkansas,
where On immense tract Of territory was
entirely devastated. Over al extent Of
country three hundred miles in length,
tho earth rose and sunk in waves like q
sea, flooding some districts and drain
ing water from others, and in many
places great yawning assures were
opened in the earth, threatening to en-
gulf the unfortunate inhabitants.
In the same year there was IN erup-
ton of Vesuvius that opened q vast
chasm in the mountain 1000 feet deep,
and three miles in circumference. We
might give other instances Of simulta-
neous earthquakes, volcanic activity,
and devastating storms. Volcanic ac-
ton is usually ~precedsdby earthquakes,
and the latter are most frequent and
destructive in volcanic districts. There
is u concealed spot in the Atlantic
Ocean, about midway between the coast
of Brazil and that of Guinea, in Africa,
that seems to be over o submarine
volcano, and that is in o state Of con-
tinual activity. It Is. scarcely ever
passed by o vessel without some shock
or disturbance being felt. In the course
of this action mountains and islands
have been thrown up like those Of Monte
Nuovo and Graham Island, in the Med
%iterranean. Monte Nuoyp was thrown
up in q few days to a height Of 44O feet,
and a mile and a half in circumference.
This remained permanently, but Graham
Island disappeared in a few months.
Of course, there is not enough known
to make it certain how such terrific COLI
yulsions are caused, but the vast chasms
that have been opened at different times
on the outer surface Of the earth, give
sufficient reason for the belief that they
extend to that part of the interior where
the vast volcanic fires ore always 10 q
state Of activity. Tho prevailing theory
is, that the pressure of the mighty vol
umes Of pent-up gasses evolved by vol
canic fires rend the crust Of the earth
into assures, and these admitting the
waters Of the ocean, allthe other con-
vulsions and violent disturbances Of the
and of the season must
Ledger.