The Portland daily press., 1883-08-31
THE ERUPTION IN JAVA.
Sixteen Volcanoes Arise Out of the
Sea.
1t is Estimated that $4,000 Lives were
Lost.

BATAVIA, Aug. 30.-Further details of the
volcanic eruption in Java show that on the
northeast corner of the island the waves rushed
up on the shore to an unprecedented height.
When daylight came it was seen that an enor-
nous tract of land had disappeared, coving an
extent OF territory about fifty miles square. In
this were situated the villages of Negery and
Negery Babawang. None of the people inhab-
iting these places or natives scattered sparsely
through the forests and on the plains escaped
death. This section of the island was not SO
densey populated as the other portions, and
the loss of life was con. .paratively small, all
though it must aggregate fully $4,000 souls.
The entire Kandany range OF mountains, ex-
tending along the coast in semi.circle for
about sixty-fve miles, has gone out of sight.
The waters of Welcome bay, Sunde straits and
Pepper bay, on the east and of the Indian
ocean on the south, rushed in and formed sea
of turbulent water. Here and there the peak
of crater was exposed for moment by the
recedipg of q great wave, and occasionally a
puff of brownish grey smoke or a slight shower
of rocks showed that the VOLCANOES still con-
tinued in active subaqueous eruption. The de-
bris OF the submerged and destroyed buildings
was tOSScu ultutr huu tultuST DU Luc WAicF, tu6
only sign left that there had once been inhab-
tied land there.
The town of Taneraug, within twenty-five
miles OF this city, was swept away by q lava
stream and fully half the population, mostly
Jaryanese, numbering obout 100 perished AT
Speedwyk, near the point of Salers, red hot
Goals set fire to the houses and swept away all
the thickly settled portion Of the town.
About ten bazaars belonging to Europeans
were destroyed. The loss of property is very
large but no lives are known to have been lost.
The Jacatra, ON the banks of which this CITY is
situated, was so completely damaged by lava
and debris that its course has changed from
the Franier Bastion and flowed down through
Tigers street and joined the waters of the
river Emerades, swelling that stream to such
an extent that 1t rose high on the Castor bat
teres.
Figelonking was almost totally destroyed,
and large number of lives were lost there
The Island of Onius five miles off the coast of
Yargerang river, and twenty miles east of this
city was completely inundated and the float
ing dock there totally destroyed.
Caataye Claps and Fronwers Islands, off the
portion of Java which has disappeared, are out
of sight and not vestige of them is left. Baby
and Cheribo Islands, off the north coast, lost
few houses and inhabitants upon them.
In this city the loss has largely increased
since the former reports. The roof of the
Governors house was crushed in by mass of
mud and three of his retainers killed The
town bridge was destroyed. Diamond and
Pearl bastons were badly damaged and the
Burran redoubt destroyed In Caymand, NAL
abar and Lion streets, the principal avenues of
the city, the damage is very great. Port Aaty-
sti is entirely destroyed. The towd of Faggal
was severely shaken and but two building are
left standing.
A violent shock was felt on the Island of Su-
matra Sunday, and it was feared that other
disturbances might follow.
Midah Island, ten miles off the Javanese
ceast and half way between the extreme points
of Java and Sumatra, was almost wholly ed
quilted by the sea. The small island of Singkel,
probaly originally only cone blown up by an
eruption, has entirely disappeared. 1t was IN
inhabited.
The aggregate loss of life must be fully "a, 900
but the number of those who perished can
never be accurately known.
The condition of the Strait of Sunda is dan
gerous TO navigation. New islands have arisen
therein and the coast line is altered. The
Government is preparing to obtain new sound
ings OF the Strait.
Sixteen VOLCANOES have appeared between the
site where the Island of Krakaton formerly
stood and Tibisi Island. A portion OF this city
is an ashy desert. The cattle are starving and
the population are in despair. The Soengepan
volcano has split in five portions.
Seven hundred and four bodies of the vic
Tins OF the disaster have been buried in the
district of Tavara and 300 in the adjoining dis
trict