The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-30
FIRES OF INFERNO
STIRRED BY THE DEMONS OF DEATH

: STIRRED BY THE DEMONS OF oEATt
COnruIss the Volcanoes OfJava Which VOmIt FOrtl
/. the Flames OF DssOlatiOr, and Joined By
the aaddsnsd Sea Sweep Thousands
Of People iatO E.ernlty.
LONDON, August Ca dishatch from
Batavia, Java, says the towns ot AMER,
Tjiringene and Tolokobelong were destroy
ed by volcanic eruptions. All the light
houses in sunda Straits have disappeared,
and where the mountain Of Kramatia for
merly stood the sea now flows. The aspect
OF sunda Straits is much changed and nav
} igation is dangerous. The tidal wave COM
pletely destroyed Apier. Many persons
} were killed, and the loss OF life at North
Bantam is enormous.
The latest advices show that the volcanic
eruclions in this island are much more
serious than at first indicated. The dis.
turbances begun on the island OF Krakatra,
in the Strait Of Sunda, about fifteen miles
of the coast Of Java. The deep rumblings
werc distinctly audible at surakerta and
Batavis, about forty FIVE and twenty
two miles of respectively. Little
alarm was felt at first, but within few
hours showers OF stones began to fall ut
Jonkiokerta, Surabaga and Zarang. All
through the night showers OF red-hot rocks
and ashes fell, making complete darkness
in these towns. In Batavia there was an
occasional fail, and II was difficult 10 keep
the street lights burning IN the European
quarter.
TIDAL WAVES.
On Sunday morning the disturbances
had extended beneath the waters Of the
Strait, and they were soon boiling and
kissing violently, while great waves dashed
upon the Jayauess shores, and the temper
ature OF the sea went up nearly 20 degrees.
Even as far away from the original point
OF disturbance as Madura the furious
waves were lashed into mountains OF foam
as thej camo rolling in. The threatening
rumblings gradually became more and
more distinct, and by noon the Maha Meru,
the largest OF the volcanoes OF Java was
belching forth flames at very alarming
rate. This eruption soon spread TO the
Gunung Tengger, (the crater ol which is
the largest in the world, being nearly four
miles in diameter, the Cunning Guntur,
and may other minor mountains until
more than third Of the iorty.tive craters
of Java were either in active eruption or
seriously threatening it.
VOMITING DEATH AND DRsoLATIoN.
Just before dusk great luminous cloud
formed over the Cunning Guntur, and the
crater OF that volcano began 10 vomit up
enormous streams OF white acid and sui.
phurous mud, besides smaller quantities oi
lava. There were rapi lily successive ex.
plosions, followed by tremendous showers
OF cindsrs and enormous fragments, which
were hurled high into the air and scattered
in all directions, 10 fall, after the force was
spent, upon the valleys below, carrying
death aud destruction.
Men, women and children rushed in ter
ror from their tottering dweliing.places,
filling the air with their shrieks Of horror.
Hundreds were unable to get out before
the houses fell, and were buried beneath
the great mess oil rocks and mud which
were piled up where few hours before all
had been peace, happiness and fancied sc.
curity.
THE RUSHING wATERS.
As the eruptions increased in frequency
aud violence the disturbance Of the waters
surrounding the barren coast become more
and more violent. Here waves rushed in
terrific force up the steep, rocky incline,
breaking upon the overhauging crags and
receding rapidly leaving lava flow cooled
Just at the moment when it was about to
lall over precpice, and then remaining,
quickly hardened by contact with
lhe waters and forming distinct
strata Of black and bright red,
purple and brown all thrown about in
eccentric masses, while huge peaks
OF basalt rose at frequent intervals. There
tho waves came rolling over a marshy
plain along the shore, suddenly epgulfing a
hamlet ol fshermen's rude houses, and
turning suddenly back swept away almost
every vestige Of what had a moment before
been a scene Of bustling activity where
family after family had been rushing
around ina vain endeavor 10 cave their ei.
tecls from the awful combination oil ele.
ments threatening them.
FEARFUL DESTRUCTION OF LIFE.
At the entrance OF Batavia was large
group OF houses extending along the shore,
and occupied by Cinnamon. This part OF
the city was entirely swept away, and Of
the 1900 Chinese who lived on this
swampy plain, 1t Is hardly probable that
more that 5000 managed to save their
lives. They stuck to their homes until the
waves that washed them away came, fear.
ing the torrents OF fame and lava Of the
interior more than the torrents OF water
from the exterior.
The population OF Europeans and Amer
leans in Batavia suffered loss Of per,
hsps 500 souls out OF $1,000 whites
living there. At Anger the Euro
pean and American quarter was tirst
overwhelmed by rocks, mud and lava from
flle craters, and then the waters came up
and swallowed the ruins, leaving nothing to
mark the site, and causing tho less Of some.
where in tho neighborhoud Of 1000 lives OF
the inhabitants and thoss who had tried to
find a refuge there.
Since noon yesterday everything is quiet,
sky clear and Communication with Sarong
restored. The temperature fell ten degrees
Monday, but is now normal. The town is
covered with thin layer Of ashes, which
was so hot when falling that 1t killed birds.
Telegraph linemen report that while repair.
ing the line near Aujer early Monday they
saw a high column OF sea approaching with
a roaring noise. They fad without learn.
ipu the late Of the inhabitapts. The quar-.