Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-26
CotOpaxi's Latest Eruption.
QUITO, July 4th

QUIT0, July 4th.
The eruption took place Cd the Goth of June,
with every circumstance that could increase its
horror--utter darkness in the broad day, thunder
and lightning, fearful explosions that made the
earth tremble, subterranean noises, andwild gusts
of wind, accompanied by a rain or ashes. An
eye witness told me that the volcano poured out a
cataract ten times the bulk of Niagara, which car
ried oil before it in headlong course, and sub
merged the whole surrounding country. The tor
rent divided Itself into opposite directions, as if
TO give greater scope TO its devastation, and to
make the confusion still more dire. One branch
took southsry course toward the city Of Lata-
cungs, situated twelve miles from Cotopaxi.
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 de-
scribed by Humboldt and other travellers through
the central valley Of the equatorial Andes, have
escaped the Bavsges Of the food. Near Latacun-
g the furious torrent tore up from its very foun
dations the cotton factory of Jose Vallagomez.
whose value was estimated at $500, 600; crops cat
tie, buildings were swept away the massive brdg-
e. of Catuche and Pansalvo were DESTROYED as
well ss part Of the fine carriage road (scarce
equalled in Europe) which connects Quito 18th
the towns in the south Of the republic.
The branch that headed toward the south of
Cotepaxi devastated the prosperous and enchant-
ing valley of Chillo, and in particular ihe estate
of the Senores Aguirfe, noted for having been
the residence of Humboldt. There, too, as in Lat
aeunga arose the buildings of a thriving factory
which, only the year before, had been destroyed
by fire, and had just been repaired at great ex-
pense. The torrent rooted it from the ground,
and bore II away in thousand fragments II is
asserted that mill Of Don Manuel Palacios
foated on the water like a ship at sea until scat
tered by the current. The loss in the valley of
Chillo alone is estimated at over two millions of
dollars, and the loss in other sections is equally
great. 1t ID likewise calculated that the number
Of dead exceeds one thousand.
A third cataract took an essterly direction, de-
stroying the bridge Of Palate, and doing greivous
injury TO the estates in that neighborhood, of
which the most important is celebrated for It's fine
wines, well known as the "Nino de Palate"
Although the surroundings Of Quito have been
laid waste, the city itself has suffered from only
rain Of ashes and a complete darkness which be-
gan on the 18th of June at three in the afternoon
At Mschacke and other places the night lasted for
thirty consecutive hours In the midst of this
opaque gloom one could hear the believing of
the cattle and the cries of the other animals whe
deprived of their usual food in the shower Of
ashes, sought in species Of frenzy for the means
of satisfying their hunger. Other beasts, frantic
with terror, careered hither and thither as if 10
despair, and the piteous bowling OF the dogs
pierced the sir with its ominous sound. Iu"eaito