The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-18
Are we To- have more I:ruptIonse

Are we to- have more I.ruptIons?
\ German philosopher, Prof. Falb, has pub
lished n statement to the effect that the present
year is not to close without some terrific convul-
sious Of nature in the shape Of earthquakes and
other unpleasant phenomena. lie designated the
months Of August and September, as those in
which they are most likely to occur. His theory
is that there are currents in the internal fires
of the earth influenced by the moon, as are the
tides of the ocean on the surface of the earth. Its
novelty will attract to it general attention,
whether it prove true or not. 1t is possible that
volcanic eruptions are governed by certain fixed
laws Of nature, the operation of which we know
nothing of as yet in the same manner as the
periodic return Of comets. or of meteoric showers,
or Of the aurora b~orealis, which, it is now claimed,
reappears with unusual splendor every eieUenfh
year, the next recurrence to be in 1870, il being
supposed to have an intimate connection with the
increase and decrease of spots on the suns sur
face.
One thing is certain the earthquake shocks on
Hawaii have been So frequent and of such force
for the past few weeks rs to create some anxiety
among the residents of the southern part of that
island lest more serious results may follow. AS
yet no damage has been done, but the frequency
of the shocks tends to create suspicious that n
new eruption may be gathering force. In looking
over our exchanges, we find that recent severe and
very unusual earthquakes have been experienced
in New Zealand. An Auckland pepper says
On the 9Th June, between 4 and 5 o'clock a. NJ. in
Christchurch, a loud subterranean noise was heard,
which continued for upwards of n minute, and was
accompanied by n Light tremor of the earth. At five
seconds past 8 o'clock, a severe shock was expert
enced, its direction being from south to north,
and the vibration continuing fully twenty seconds.
Great alarm was caused in the more populous
thoroughfares, and especially in the vicinity Of stone
buildings. While houses were still shaking. and
chimneys falling in almost every direction, men,
women, and children were rushing terror-stricken
into the open air, and one person living at "a short
distance from the city, compared the mingled sound
borne through the ali to the rush Of n large railway
train, with the steam-whistle giving forth its shrili
shrek. Several slight Disturbances were noticed at
later periods during the day, one particularly ut
about half past twelve noon, and n still more distinct
one ut nine minutes past seven in the evening. On
the following day also, n smart shock was experienced
At twenty minutes past two, and although none Of
these were equal to the first in intensity, they were n
source Of much uneasiness in the city. The damage
to property was fortunately confined to the former,
and there are few quarters in Christchurch in which
evidences Of the shock are absent. These shocks con-
tinuei for four days
From South America, via Panama, w receive
the following Intelligence, bearing on the subject.
News from southern Peru is to the effect that ut
Iauiauc an earthquake shock occurred ON the night
Of July I3, Of such force as greatly TO alarm every
one people, in fact, are stated TO have started of
for the adjacent hills in the dread expectation of
another monster sea wave The volcano lsluga rs in
constant action, and this contributes to make people
apprehensive, and TO wait with dread and fear the
coming month OF September, when the great ca,ac-
lysm, as prognosticatei by the German astronomer,
NJ. Falb, IS to take place.
On July % and "a n shower of ashes fell over the
city Of Guayaquil, Ecuador, which was supposed TO
have proceeded from the old volcano Of Pichinchi, ON
the side of which mountain the city of Quito 10
situated. Both the volcanoes Of Piciiinchi and
Cotapa-i are now in active operation. Great un-
easiness continues to be felt on account Of the predic-
ton Of the German Professor Falb, that during the
autumn the coast will be visited by more destructive
arthquakes and tidal waves than those of last year.
We do not wish to excite any alarm, but it rs
well that people be on their guard, in case OF the
recurrence Of tidal waves or any volcanic phenom-
ena, to note when they occur, their force, and
other particulars about them. Ii is only by
careful study and the observance of the various
phenomena occurring in connection with Garth
quakes and volcanic eruptions that any theory as
to the cause can be established or disproyed.