The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-06-25
~SUBTERRANEAM FIRES.
Destruction of Six South American
TOwns-A Great Calamity in Iceland
Hundreds of Lives Lost.

A letter dated SalaZar. New Granada,
May 10, gives the following account of a
terrible earthquake in the Andes:
11:30 a. III. yesterday QSth) a severe
earthquake visited this city and region.
In this city a large part of the church fell,
several houses We're destroyed, and some
people killed.
The city of Cucuta is entirely destroyed,
only a few families being saved. The
BOtica Alcniana German drug StOre) WAS
set on fire by Il ball of fire which vas
thrown out of the volcano, which is con-
Stantly belching out lava. This volcano
has opened itself in front of Santiago, in
a ridge called FL Alto tie Ia Giracha.
San CavetanO was destroyed; Santiago
in the greater part. In Grairalote there
was treat destruction. ArbOleda. Cucutil-
la and San Cristobal are nearly destroyed,
principally the four last.
The population of these towns is esti-
mated by a person we'll acquainted in
that region as follows: San CayetanO,
1000: Santiago, 1000; GraEalOtc. 5000;
Arboleda. 5000: Cucutilla, 5000: San
CIINlObli. lp.ppp = IOliis pcSVOV. Il SUI
ton of country above referred to embra-
ces the regions round about where COlOm-
bia and Venezuela join. the Colombian
portion embracing the State of Santander.
1t is in some respects the most productive
part Of this republic. and the coffee Of this
section is famous all the world over. San
Jose de Cucuta, the city Of the most i'm
p0Itancc of any in that section, was stu
ated on the boundary of the republic, lati-
tude 70 80 n, longitude 720 1V W., and
wa founded by Juan de Marten IN 1874.
1t was a port of entry (f an inland town
can be called a port, and here was the es-
tabliShed Custom House. The population
Of the city at the time OF the disaster is es-
timatcd at about $4,000. 1t had a large
commercial business, and was the great
depot for coffee and cocoa for shipment.
either through the Venezuelan ports or
down the Magdalcna to this city.
The shock was felt sharply in BOgOta
and adjoining sections. \ gentleman who
was at the time in Facatativa says that the
movement lasted three-quarterS of a min
ute. 1t was also slightly felt in Barran-
quilla.
\ London dispatch of June II says:
About six weeks ago there was a heavy
rain of ashes and ciuders along the north
ern coast of Norway. covering the ground
several inches deep. investigation re-
vcaled the fact that these strange materi-
ais. coming from a nOrthweSterly di-
rcction like immense clouds through the
air, We're Of volcanic origin. 1t was at
once thought that there must have been
an eruption of Mount Hecla III Iceland.
\ steamer was dispatched from COpcnha-
gen, and that vessel has returned from
Reikjayik. with news OF an unparalleled
disaster. 1t seems that the outbreak be
Gan on Christmas. and has continued ever
since with scarce any interruption. For
seven weeks before Christmas the inhabi-
tants We're terrified by subterranean noises
like thunder, which extended through
nearly twO-thirds of the island. Early in
January followed earthquakes in all di-
rectiOns, and at last, an old extinct volca-
no near Natravshud opened, and for four
weeks continued to eject immense quanti-
ties of liquid fire, lava, ashes, and a mud
dy fluid mass at boiling heat. The vii
lage and some smaller hamletS and farms
Within a radius OF twenty miles We're de-
strOyed, and over a thousand people had
to flee for their lives.
After four weeks this volcano ceased.
but at that moment another extinct VOL
cane. nearly 4 hundred miles away, near
Myvatu. sent its burning mass upon the
peaceful habitatiOnS around. This erup-
ton lasted for several weeks, the village of
Myvatu became Il prey TO the fiery ele-
ments, and the whole country for more
than fifty miles around was devastated.
More than eight hundred OF the people
are reported as having been rendered
homeless. Early in March there seemed
to he a general upheaval of the earth in the
whole central portion of The island; new
mounds, as it We're, rOse to the surface,
some to 4 height OF several hundred feet
and over Il thousand feet iii diameter at
the b&>c, amid tremendous shocks OF
laundering beneath. They split open AZ
the top and VUmited forth their burning !
contents upon the surface around them,
covering 4 distance of 200 miles. Ten
thousand peol.l" are said to have lost
nearly ali their possessions, and the re-
maindcr. who i've nearer TO and along the
coasts, some 40, 600 III number, are them
selves too poor TO support such a vast
number Of needy people. Several hundred
persons are also reported to have persisted.
The wOrld-renOwned GeyscrS have dried
up since the terrible eruption began, and
instead of water, these mysterious tunnels