The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-22
EARTHQUAKES and EruptIons in 1877.


In the whole Of 1877 there occurred,
according to the compilations OF Pro-
fessor Fuchs, 100 recorded earthquakes,
though from our own observations we
believe the number to have been some
what larger. In the three months OF
June, July and August there were only
eleven earthquakes; while thirty -four
occurred in September, October, and
November, and the rest in the previous
six months back to December 1, 1876.
As usual, the most violent of these phe-
nomena were those occurring in South
America. The damage done to Iquique,
Valparaiso, Lima, and other cities by
the outbreak Of May 9, 1877, was enor-
nous, the vibrations recurring with
startling rapidity, and lasting over sew
eral days. A few days later subma-
rine volcanic eruption occurred off the
coast of Peru, which also did great
damage to shipping. The effects Of
these disturbances we're felt in all parts
of the Pacific. During the year, several
minor earthquakes, though of unusual
intensity for the part Of the world in
which they were felt, occurred in
Europe. Those of April 4, May 2, and
October in Switzerland, and, of. No
vember l and and December % at
Lisbon, were the most alarming. For
tunately, little or no serious damage
was done.
The volcanoes of Europe we're unusu-
ally inactive during the year, but in
South America, in Japan, and in the
Pacific generally, the year was marked
by several very violent volcanic explo-
sions. The frequency with which out
breaks of this nature were observed in
the open sea was a popularity of the
year. Thus in February a very remark.
able eruption occurred in the seas sur
rounding the Sandwich Islands, ten
days after violent outburst of the era
ter of Mauna Loa, on the mainland of
the group, and u few weeks before
another most remarkable outflow OF
lava from the celebrated lava lake of
Kilauea. Here vast jets of liquid lava
were elected to great height through
the hard crust of the solidlfying lava of
| the lake, which had lain undisturbed for
| many years. Much more serious was
the eruption of Mount Cotopaxi in June,
accompanied by terrible showers OF
ashes, dust, and mud, which were car
ried by the wind far and wide over the
country, devastating the fair lends and
destroying hundreds of lives. The in
sular volcano of Ooshima, in Japan,
broke out in flames and burning lava on
January 4, and continued in violent ac-
ton till the first week in February,
causing, in combination with the earth
quakes which accompanied it, disas-
trous loss of life.
Among the more noteworthy events
of the year was the eruption of a new
volcano in a district hitherto supposed
to be free from volcanic disturbance
namely, on June II, in new crater near
the Colorado river, California. About
the same time en earthquake was felt
in Canada. The subm rgence of sew.
eral islands in the great archipelago ly-
ing between the Malay Peninsula and
Australia, the upheaval of new lands
in the same district, and the observance
of the effects of volcanic phenomena III
the deep waters of the South Atlantic,
and where the sea is some 20, ZOO feet
deep, would have been sufficient OF
themselves to mark the past year as al
uncommon period of strange volcanic
phenomena. We believe, however, tha,
the current twelve months will, unless &
sudden cessation of activity occurs
prove to be even more prolific of sucl
events than any of it's recent predeces
sors.-LOndon Times.