Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-05-19
p -
From the Sandwich Islands

Terrible Earthquakes and Loss of Life-V OLGA
mic Eruptiens, Rivers.of Red hot Lava and
Fountains of Fire Overw helming Tidal
Waves-An Extensive Island of Lava thrown
up in the Sea, &C.
SAN Francisco, May T.
The bark Comet, from Sandwich Islands,
brings accounts of terrible volcanic eruption
at Mauna Lao 1t began March 9th, and on the
2Sth over 100 earthquake shocks were felt at
Niina. During the two weeks following, to
April 18th, 1000 shocks occurred at Waischira.
The earth opened in many places. A tidal wave
rose sixty feet high, overlapping cocoa trees a
quarter of a mile inland, and sweeping human
beings houses, and everything movable, before
it. A terrible shock prostrated churches, and
houses, killing many. One hundred lives were
lost, besides thousands of horses and CATTLE
The orators vomited fire, rocks, and lava. A
river of red hot lava five six miles long flowed
to the sea at a rate of ten miles an hour, de-
stroying everything before it and forming an
island in the sea. A new crater two miles wide
opened, which throws rocks and streams of fire
a thousand feet high. Streams of lava rolled
to the sea- At one time the illumination ex-
tended fifty miles, at night. The lava has pushed
out from shore one mile at Waischira.
Three miles from the shore coral island rose,
suddenly emitting volume of stream and
smoke, while the Kono packet was passing,
scattering mud on the vessel.
The greatest shock occurred April I'd. Prior
to the eruption there was great shower of ashes
and pumice During the great shock the sway
ing motion of the earth was dreadful. No per-
son could stand. In the midst of this, a tremen-
dous eruption of red earth poured down the
mountain, rushing across the plain three miles
in three minutes, and then ceased Then came
the great tidal wave, and then the streams of
lava.
The villages on the shore were all destroyed
by this wave The earth opened undeK the sea,
and Redeemed the water. The earth eruption
swallowed thirty persons and the sea many
more Great suffering and terror prevailed in the
whole region affected A sloop Give Yankee)
has been dispatched with provisions, &C., to
rescue and relieve the sufferers.
Honolulu correspondence to the Bulletin, of
this city, gives the details of the volcanic dis
turbances, showing that the earthquake shocks
group, but no damage, as known, except around
Mauna Loa Numerous and extensive land
slides, accompanied by other phenomena, oc-
Cured, destroying life and property. The
summit and side of hill fifteen hundred feet
high were thrown a thousand feet over the tops
of trees, and landed in the valley below. The
gases that issued afterwards destroyed vegetable
and animal life. Fathomless assures opened in
the mountain Sides A lava stream flows under
ground, breaking out in four jets six miles from
the sea, and throwing lava and stones ten OF
fifteen hundred feet high = -
The new island thrown up is four hundred
feet high, and is now joined to the main land
by stream of lava mile wide. A large stream
of water has burst from the mJuntain where the
earth eluptons occurred. The base Of the
volcano, about three hundred miles in circum.
ference, is desolated. At least half million Of
property is destroyed. The King of the Sand
wich Islands had issued proclamation for the
relief of the sufferers. Many visitors had gone
from Honolulu, and will go from San Francisco.
The worst is thought to be over, but the lava
flow continues, presenting grant spectacle
The earthquake shock at Heraldsburg last
night awoke all the inhabitants. Several shocks
were felt in California about the period of the
outbreak in Hawaii