San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-20
Volcanic EruptiOns In the South
Seas.


Seas.
We have received the particulars ap-
pended respecting the singular phe-
nomenon of the volcanic eruptions in
the South Seas from Mr.. Consul Lay
ard, Noumea. The accuracy of the ac-
count is vouched for by Swede named
Petersen, resident on Tanna, who was an
eyewitness to the events narrated: The
eruption occurred on the 10th of January
last, about 10 o. m. The bottom Of the
harbor at the west side rose above water
fol. about 80 fathoms length at the first
earthquake shock. A new volcano
burst out close to "Sulphur Bay" be-
tween it and the old volcano. The west
side of Port Resolution is all bursting
up with steam at this moment.
A second great eruption and earth
quake happened on the 18th Of Februa-
ry, and the bottom of the harbor was
again upheaved for about another so
fathoms, making the entrance of the
harbor very narrow. Three rocks rose
up about cables length from the west
point to seward out of II fathoms
water. There is now q bar with only 10
feet Of water where there used to be 5 or
81 fathoms, right across the mouth Of
the harbor, a little inside. A tidal wave
about so feet high swept the east point
Of the harbor, destroying all the native
plantations. Mycopra house was swept
away. The wave occurred on both &C.
sions, but the first was the biggest.
Every one, including myself, lives on
the hill-tops, so no lives were lost. My
vessel, the Suengone, was driven right
up among the trees, but carried out
again. lost both my anchors and all
my boats. I have come here without
either. 1t is wonderful how she
was saved. AS we came out l
saw patch of discolored water
about two miles due north from the
port. 1 did not examine it, but am sure
it is a new shoal. 1t extends, perhaps,
a cables length. left Tanna on the
9th of March. We had strong winds
and variable, very hot, with rain, at
times, before the eruption. The old
mountain was very active also, roaring
and throwing up huge rocks. The tidal
wave was very local; so was the shock.
The missionary on the other side of the
island hardly felt it, and there was no
wave there.
A high hill behind the rock called
"Cook's Pyramid, on the west of the
harbor, fell into the sea, and has made
new point of land; and Cooks Pyra-
MIDI is some 40 feet higher out of the
water than it was. We had several
small shocks all the time between the
two big ones; also after the last big one.
The natives say they never knew any
thing like it before. On the west side
the earth has cracked and sunk very
considerably; on the east side the land
was swept by the tidal wave; the planta-
tons on both sides are destroyed. 1t
will not affect the natives much; they
began to plant Immediately. The wave
did not destroy the trees. The whole
'harbor is so contracted by the upheaval
that I doubt if a large ship could find
room to swing in it. The bottom in the
place I have named has been raised Is
or 20 feet, or more, above the water in
some places along the shore. Two days
before the first shock the old mountain
was very active, roaring loudly. The
fish were violently affected; seemed par
alyzed, and unable to swim. Numbers
were left on the beach-so many that
the natives and the pigs could not con-
sumo them, and they rotted as they lay.
Colonies and India. ...
The Governor of Iowa pardoned