The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-31
LUTHERAN.
VOLCANIC.
The Recent Eruption of the IZulcO Volcano
Ofiicinl Exploration Of the Mountain.

Official Exploration of the Mountain.
The following account of the recent eruption
of the 1zalco volcano, in the Republic of Saliva
dor, is taken from the official report of the dis
trict alcalde of Izaco. This officer says:-
At sunset on the 10th of May last there was
every prospect of heavy rain. dense cloud
enveloped the Cordillera. At about P. NJ.
light issuing from the volcano was deserted be-
hind the cloud, which became more and more
clear and intense as the cloud broke up. At 9 q
current of lava was observed descending from
the crater in the same direction taken on other
eruptions, the present one being so copious that,
when the descensiOn ended it still produced
considerable illumination. The volcano con-
tinued vomiting lava in the direction of Santa
Anna, and about 10 o'clock three large null
berry-cOlored lights, and also red one, appeared
| over the crater with intervals of five minutes
! between them, lighting in flashes the whole of
! the Cordillera and its surroundings. The alcalde
| then determined to make a thorough survey at
| daylight of the volcanoes sHmmlt.
On the 20th at 9 A. NJ, the party found them
selves at the place called Tortolita whence the
travelling became difficult, owing to the wet
sand that had fallen during the night in such
quantities that the trees upon the mountain had
| given way under the weight; fallen branches
and trunks of trees were scattered in all direc-
| tions; the explorers experienced the effect on
their clothes, which were stained by the sand,
| having become a red mud. At 1l'30 they were
standing upon pile of lava OF the previous
eruption, completely put out and covered with
the same sand tlat tell during the nlgnt. Inc
travellers walked over it with some difficulty,
and reached several places where they found
piles of red hot stone, forming salts on their
surface by the combination with other sub
stances, which, upon being examined, had very
acid taste and disgusting OdOr.
The survey on such spots was extremely dis
tressng, as the parties had fire under their feet
and all around them; but they were determined
to use their utmost eXertions and to bear all in
order to examine, if possible, the curiOsiteS
about the small craters of the volcano; in some
of them salt as white as snow, in large grain and
in layers of the thickness of half an inch; in
others large piles in pieces of various colors
dark sky-blue like caustlc stone, greenish like
sulphate of iron, grey like mercury, yellow ai
sulphur, besides some red layers like ruby
colored mercury
The explorers Immediately afterwards visited
the "RincOn del Tigre," where the cOlOreC
lights had been seen the previous night From
the high road in the direction of Caatepeque a
the place known as the Iona del Garrobo (thC
GaTobo hill), the committee took to the lef
within the mountain, and after a miles walk
they were thunderstruck Mt the sight of the in
Vulnerable trees knocked down and charred
and in front of the enormously high quantities
of lava that had come down from the west t
east, and forming q curve at the base of thu
5 volcano took its course towards the south
Trees entirely burned up and destroyed to th'
, roots by the volcanic fire were yet falling a
l times, and rendering it impossible to advance
e | without great peril.
1t was an utter impossbility to get to any O
t the still smoking craters, not only because o
the crumbling of stones, the heat of the flames
- and the gas emanating therefrom, but OF tn
+ dangerous nature of the undertaking, more pal
+ ticularly when at certain places was felt thong
# only slightly, that the ground was sinking. /
b some spots flames rushed out through tn
cracks, at which cigars and papers were lighted
y In this difficult position, and being convinced {
d their inability to advance any further the con
e mittee agreed to retrace their steps and abando
It the enterprise.
30 According to the report of persons who, froi
Il a short distance, saw the eruption, the course
G the current of lava was three hundred and fit
3. yeras Spanish yards) per day, in all the sloI
; of the mountain, and from fifty to thirty on Il
If fiat. The town of Izalco, on account of its ell
yation, ran no risk.