Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-11-21
4 Volcanic Eruption in One Of the
Azore Islands in the
Year 1903.

from Fayal eighteen miles-the nine
Azores composing the Fayal Consul
ate. St Jorge is about twenty mile:
in length, but narrow, and contain:
upward of 20, 900 inhabitants. There
has been no volcanic eruption at St
Jorge since the year 1903, but there
have been occasional earthquakes:
U. 5. CONSULATE, FAYAL,
June 20, A. d. 1903.
TO HIS FxcErLENoY Thomas JEFFERSON,
President Of tae Uasted States;
SIR 1t affords me satisfaction,
resretting the calamity, to have a
subject worthy for report and the
narration have now the honor to
lay before you may, | flatter my self,
be received with some degree of in
lerest.
A phenomenon has occurred here,
not unusual in former ages, but of
which there has been no example 10
late years. Ii was indeed well cal
culated to inspire terror, and was al
tended with destruction to life and
property, On Sunday, May l, at /
o'clock p. NJ, walking in the balcony
Of my house at st. Antonio, Fayal,
heard noises not unlike the report
OF heavy cannon at distance, and
concluded that there must be some
sea engagement ia some vicinity of
the island. But casting my eye to-
ward the Island of st. Jorge, ten
leagues distant, | perceived dense
column OF smoke rising to an I'M
mense height and it was soon iudg-
ed that II Volcano had broken out
near the center of the island this
was confirmed when night came on,
the fire exhibiting on awful appear.
auce.
DESTROYS Of viewing this sublime
exhibition of nature, / mbarked on
the morning of May 3. for st. Jorge,
accompanied by the British Consul
and several other gentlemen, aud we
arrived at Vellas, a principal town,
at one o'clock A. NJ. We found the
people perfectly panic-stricken, aud
given up TO religious ceremonies and
devotions. We learned that the fire
had broken out in lake, in the
midst of fertile pastures, 3 leagues
5. Il. from Vellas, and had immedi
ately formed crater, in size about
600 feet, and which in Two days had
thrown out cinders or small pumice
stones, which the strong north wind
had carried souther.y, and which, be-
sides the mass accumulated about the
crater, had covered the earth from
Que TO four feet In depth, half a league
IN width, and three leagues in length,
then sending a channel of ire in the
samo direction had done some iuiu-
~ 10 mat part of the island, and to
even the east part Of PIcO, some
miles distant,
The ire OF this large crater bad
nearly subsidized, when, on the eve-
nlng previous TO our arrival small
crater had opened one league north
Of the large one, and only one
league from Vellas. After refresh
meuts we visited this second crater,
The sulphurous smoke of which drivr
ing southerly, rendered our approach
20 the large crater quite impractica"
bic. But, when within mile from
il, we found the earth rent in every
direction, and we found these chasms
often six feet wide at our nearest APP
proach TO the crater. BY leaping
over them, and winding about 70
avoid the larger ones, we at length
arrived within 200 yards Of the era
ter. The mouth appeared about tif.
W yards in circumference only, and
the fire appeared struggling for vent,
the force with which u pale flame is
sued forth appeared as the steam
from a powerful engine multiplied a
hundred told. The noise was deaf>
ening, and the earth where we stood
had a tremulous motion. The whole
island seemed convulsed, and most
horrible howlings were occasionally
heard from the bowels of the earth
earthquakes being frequent duri ng
the fiery issues.
After being here about ten min
utes we returned to town theInhab-
itants had mostly quilted their hous-
os and remained in the open air or
under tents. We passed the night
at VelIas, and next morning went in
our boat to q small sea port town one
leagI re south from Nellas, named Ur-
zuIna, and viewed that part Of the
island, finding it covered with cin-
ders and the most valuable vineyards
desolation and desert. On the
same day, May 4, we returned to
Fayal and on the 9th and succeed
ing days from twelve to fifteen small
VOLCANOES broke out in the fields we
had traversed on the Sd, and from
the ehasms before described quanti-
ties Of lava and liquid matter travel
ed slowly toward Nellas. The fire.
OF these however suhsded and th,
lava ceased running about the It'll
of May. on which day the large era
ter, after being quite dormant for
nine DAYS, burst forth as roaring
lion. and with horrible bellowings dis
tinctly heard twelve leagues distant
throwing out prodisious large quau
titles Of stones and lava, aud in tie
night Illuminating the whole islam
and neighboring islands. This con
tinued with tremendous force unit
! tie fifth OF June, at times exhibiting
the awful yet magnificent spectaci
Of a perfect river CT fire running int
the sea, and all in distinct view iron
FayaL
On the day last mentioned, its fore
appeared falling, and in few day
it entirely subsidized. The elevation
| of this large crater is reckOned at 3
| 500 feet. and its distance from th
sea about five miles. The inundatio
of lava swept away the town of U
zulina and the country houses an
cottages in its way TO the sea tn
ava flowed sluggishly, giving timeI,
! warning Of its approach, and most