The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-20
lisfeAaneuns.
ONE THOUSAND LIVES LOST.
COtopari'S --latest Eruption Darkness and
Dismdy- The Inca Ruins Destroyed.


OuITo, July 4.-The eruption took place
on July 2oth, with every circumstance
that could increase its horor-utter
darkness in the broad day, thunder and
lightning, fearful explosions that made
the earth tremble, subteranean noises
and wild gusts Of wind, accompanied by
rain of ashes. An eyewitness told me
that the volcano poured out a cataract
ten times the bulk Of Niagara, which car
ried all before it in its headlong course,
and submerged the whole surrounding
country. The torrent divided itself in
two opposite directions, as to give greater
scope to it's devastation, and to make the
confusion still more dire. One branch
took southerly course, toward the city
Of LatsCungS.
On its way the torrent converted the
plain of Callao into an immense lake.
There is but faint hope that the ruins OF
the palace of the InCas, described by
Humboldt and all other travellers through
the central valley of the equatorial An
des, have escaped the ravages of the
flood. Near Latacunga the furious cur
rent tore up from its very foundations
the cotton factory of Don Josee VILLAGE
mex, whose value was estimated at SSOO,
900; crops, cattle, buildings were swept
away: the massive bridges of Cutuche
and Pansalvo were destroyed. as well as
part of the fine carriage road lscarce
eaualled, even in Europe), which con-
meets Quito with the towns in the south
of the republic. =,
The branch that headed toward the
south of Cotopaxi devastated the pros
porous and enchanting valley of Chillo
and in particular the estate of Senores
Aeuirre, noted as having been the resi-
dence Of Humboldt. There, too, as in
Latacunga, arose the buildings of thri'
wing factory, which, only the year be.
fore, had been destroyed by fire, and had
inst been repaired at great cost. The tor
rent rooted it from the ground, and bore
It away in thousand fragments. 1t il
asserted that mill of Don Manuel Pala'
clos floated on the water like ship al
sea, until shattered by the current. The
loss in the valley of Chillo alone is esti
mated at over two millions of dollars
and the loss in other sections is equally
great. 1t is likewise calculated that the
number Of the dead exceeds one thou
sand.
A third cataract took an easterly direc
ton, destroying the bridge of Palate, an(
doing erevious injury to the estates il
that neighborhood, of which the mos
important is celebrated for its fine wine
well known as "Vino de Patate."
Although the surroundings of Quit,
have been laid waste, the city itself SUI
fered from only rain of ashes and com
plete darkness, which began on jun
26th, at 3 p. m, at MachaChee and othe
places in the night lasting for thirty con
secutive hours. In the midst of thi
OPAQUE gloom one could hear the bel
lowing Of the cattle and the cries o
other animals, who, deprived of thei
usual food by the shower Of ashes, sough
in species of frenzy for tie means o
satisfying their hunger. Other beasts
frantic with terror, careered hither AM
thither as if in despair, and :he piteou
bowling of the dogs pierced the air witt
its ominous sound; it was like that de
scribed by the younger Pliny in lette
to Tacitus, in which he relates the erup
ton of Vesuvius and the destruction Q
Pompeii. ut was" he says, "as II tn
lights in a room had been extinguished.
At Onto the showerat first was OF coars
heavy sand, which subsequently turne
into ashes SO fine and impalpable tina
thew penetrated not only into apart
ments, but into the most carefully close
receptacles. In the depth Of the dark
ness, men and women, Drawing the raj
of ashes, sailed forth into the streets
screening themselves with umbrellas an
lighting their way with lanterns, and a
the while these strange apparitions ren
the air with their cries and prayers 70
mercy. The umbrellas, as well as tn
green eyeglasses used here on journey
were no superhuous precaution, althoug
they afforded but scant protection againt
the subtle powder, which it was remen
bered had in many cases produced blinc
ness during the eruption of lS43, and I'd
rain of ashes of thirty hours that attenc
ed it.