Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-22
naiIp Ntnufbtt yournal.
ruS EARrHQuAKEs IN ICELAND.

Our dispatches briefly announced that a
series of terrible earthquakes had occurred
in Iceland, and that thousands OF people
had been reduced TO great distress. The
following is more detailed account:
"About six weeks ago there was a heavy
rain of ashes and cinders along the North
ern coast of Norway. covering the ground
several inches deep. Investigation re-
yealed the fact that the strange materials,
coming from northwesterly direction like
immense clouds through the air, were OF
volcanic origin. 1t was at once thought
that there must have been an eruption OF
Mount Hecla in Iceland. A steamer was
dispatched to Copenhagen, and that vessel
has returned from Rejkjavik, with news OF
an unparalleled disaster. 1t seems that
the outbreak began on Christmas, and has
continued ever since with scarce any in
terruption.
For seven weeks the inhabitants were
terrified by subterranean noises like the
noise of thunder. which extended through
nearly two-thirds of the island. Early in
January followed earthquakes in all direc-
tons, and at last an old extinct volcano
near Vatrayskud opened, and for four
weeks confined to eject immense quanti-
ties of liquid fire, lava. ashes and muddy
fluid mass at boiling heat. The village
and some smaller hamlets and farms within
a radius of twenty miles were destroyed.
and over thousand people had to flee for
their lives. M
After four weeks this volcano ceased,
but at that moment another extinct volca-
no, nearly 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 prey to the fiery ele-
ments, and the whole country for more
than flftv miles around was devastated.
More than eight hundred of the people are
reported as having been rendered home
less. Early in March there seemed to be
q general upheaval of the earth in the
whole central portion of the island; new
mounds, asst were, rose to the surface,
some to the height of several hundred
feet and over thousand feet In diameter
ut the base, amid tremendous shocks Of
laundering beneath. They split open at
the top and vomited forth their burning
contents upon the surface around them,
covering distance Of two hundred miles.
Ten thousand people are said to have
lost nearly all their possessions, and the
remainder, who live nearer to and along
the coasts, some 10000 in number, are
themselves too poor to support such o vast
number Of greedy people. Several hun
bred persons are also reported to have
persisted. The world-renowned Geysers
have dried up since the terrible eruption
began, and instead of water, these mys-
FERROUS tunnels emit immense quantities
of hot smoke and ashes, which, during
the night, rising several thousand feet in
to the air, appear like gigantic columns OF
flameless fire, visible for hundreds OF
miles. 1t is said that no historic record
of any volcanic eruption anywhere in the
world compares with this, either in terri.
terry over which it extends. the number OF
newly-opened craters, or the time OF its
duration. The Copenhagen Government
has issued an appeal for aid to the suffer-
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