The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-30

Thousands OF People swallowed rp-The
Work Of the Volcanic Erupsisns ON the
Island or Java Completed By the Furious
wavss-FuI Details OF the Great Disaster.


sal Of the island OF Java show that the
volcanic eruptions In that island are much
more serious than at fra indicated. The
disturbances began on the Island OF hra-
katoa, In the Strait OF Sxuda, about fifteen
mikes OF tho coast OF Java. The deep rum
blings were distinctly audible at surakerta
md Batsyia, about foTty-five and twenty
two miles of. respectively. Little alarm
was felt at first, but within few hours
showers Of stones began to fall at Jokto-
kc,ta. Surabaya, and Serang. All through
The night showersof red-hot rocks and ashes
sen, making complete darkness in all these
towns. In Batavia there was an occasional
fall. and IL was difficult TO keep the street.
lights burning in the European quarter.
BY the next morning all communication
with Anjier was cut of. all the bridges
having been destroyed by the descending
rocks and ashes and the road rendered inn
passable.
THE CRATERs OF JAVA IN FULL BLAST.
The first eruptions were on Saturday
night. On Sunday morning the disturb
nnces bad extended beneath the waters OF
the strait, and they were soon boiling and
Missing violently. while great waves dashed
upon the.Javanese shores, and the tempera-
sure OF the sea went up. nearly twenty de-
grees. Even as far away from the original
point Of disturbance as Madura the furious
waves were lashed into mountains OF foam
ms they came rolling in. The threatened
rtImbIings gradually became more ana
more distinct. and by noon the Maha Meru,
the largest OF the volcanoes OF Java, was
belching forth flames at a very alarming
rate. This eruption soon spread 10 the
Cunning Tengger, the crater OF which is
the largest in the world, being near
ly four miles in diameter; the Cunning
Gunter and many other minor noun
tains. until more than third OF the
forfy-6ye craters OF Java were either IN
active eruption or seriously threatening II.
Just before dusk great luminous cloud
formed over the Cunning Gunter and the
crater OF that volcano began TO vomit up
enormous streams OF white, acid, Sulphu-
rous mud. besides smaller quantities of
lava There were rapidly successive cX-
blossoms. followed by tremendous showers
of cinders and enormous fragments, which
were hurled high into the air and scattered
in all directions, 10 fall. after the force was
spert, upon the valleys below, carrying
death and destruction. With these ter
rible eruptions came sympathetic demon
STATIONS from the sea. The oyerhanging
clouds were so surcharged with electricity
that at one time over fifteen huge water.
spouts were seen. These have continued
at somewhat long intervals ever since.
BURIED IN THE RUINS.
Men. women. and children rushed in
terror from their tottering dwellng-places,
filing the air with their shrleks OF horror.
Hundreds were unable 10 get out before the
houses fell, and were buried beneath the
great masses OF rocks and mud which were
piled up where n few hours before all was
peace, happiness, and fancied security.
The Cunning Tengger has not had an erup-
ton before since the year 1900. when an
extent OF land seventeen miles long aud
seven broad was completely covered with
the white sulphurous mud so peculiar to
the eruptions OF Java. The peak OF
Cunning Tengger is C,000 feet high,
and the monument OF flame on top OF
this made scene OF very impress
sive grandeur. Every moment huge
boulder, at a red or white heat, would he
hurled from Tengger's crater with terrific
force, and. after going hundreds Of feet
into the air, would fall back with whirr,
perhaps crashing through the matched
roof Of some Chinese fisherman's hut or
crush beneath its huge mass the form of
some native peasant. FIssure after assure
appeared in the sides OF the mountains,
and here and there in the valleys there
came q great, yawnlng chasm. On the
elevated plains OF Kediri and Bandong the
showers OF stones, mud, and lava were not
so frequent rs in the lower portions Of the
island, but were still quite destructive.
IN A BLAZE OF FLAME.
Much OF the northern portion Of the
island, which was covered with tracts of
forests, was soon in one great blaze of
fame. The red-hot vomItings from the
craters had set the trees on fire. and as the
giants OF the woods fell one after another.
like so many sheaves Of wheat before Il
gale, the scene was one Of awful grandeur.
AS the eruptions increased in frequency
and violence the disturbance of the waters
surrounding the barren coast became more
and more violent. Here the waves rushed
in terrific force up the steep, rocky incline,
breaking upon the Overhanging crags and
receding rapidly, leaving lava flow cooled
just at the moment when it was about to
fall over a preciplce and there remain
ing, quickly hardened by contact with
the waters and forming distinct strata
of black and bright red, purple,
and brown lava, all thrown about
in the most eccentric masses, while
huge peaks OF basalt rose at frequent inter-
walls. There the waves came wleming
over marshy plain along the shore, sud.
denly enguiing hamlet OF fishermen's
rude houses, and, turning suddenly back,
swept away almost every yestige OF what
had q moment before been scene of bus
Ting activity, where family after family
had been rushing around i'm the vain en-
deavor TO save their effects aud get away
with their lives from the awful combina-
tion. elements threatening them. What
a few hours before were fertile valleys,
covered with flourishing plantations Of
coffee, rice, sugar, indigo, or tobacco, the
staples OF the island, were soon but mud
stone and lava, covered fields OF destruc-
ton and ruin. Probably not single crop
OF Java will be saved.
APORrIoN OF BATAVIA SWEPT AWAY.
At the entrance to Batavia was large
group OF houses, extending along the shore
and occupied by Cinnamon. This portion
Of the city was entirely swept away, and
of the twenty-five thousand Chinese who
lived on this swampy plain it is hardly
probable that more than five thousand
managed 10 save their lives. They stuck
TO their homes till the waves that washed
them away came, fearing the torrents of
the flame and lava OF the interior morr
than the torrents OF water from the ey
terror: The population OF Europeans and
Americans In Batavia suffered loss OF per-
hape eight hundred souls out OF the three
thousand 1--WE hundred whites living there.
Many Of the baxaars in the higher portions
OF the clty were demolished, and it Is i'm.
possible TO make any estimate OF the great
pecuDiary loss. The Exchange and the
military Hospital suffered great damage.
SWALLOWED ~ BY THE WATERS.
AT AIier the European and American
quarter was first overwhelmed by rocks. |
mud, ana lava from the eraters and then
The waters came I'm and s,rallo...-I 4, :