The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-05-07
THE FORCES BENEATH Us.
The Phenomena Of Volcanoes and
Earthquakes.

Inc Intensity Ol lUo SuDteTTdneau
forces over any given area of the earth's
surface is in constant state of ebb and
flow, now rising to a flood of great
power, now ebbing into a long period
of quiescence, and then again gathering
force for new and awful manifesto
ton of energy. 1t would seem that the
volcanic forces of Southern Europe are
again approaching. a period of maxi
mum intensity. But so recently as the
summer of 1888, the beautiful little
island of Ischia was convulsed by earth
quake shocks. 1twas the season of the
year when all was at its gayest and
brightest, the little capital being filled
by the many Neapolitans and Romans
who find it so delightful a, retreat in
summer. On a brig ght July evening,
when all were sitting out in the clear,
calm air, under cloudless sky there.
came sudden earth-throe, and in a
few seconds the charming town of Casa
micciola was shapeless heap of ruins;
whilst the other small towns which dot
the little island shared in less degree
the same fate. Only two years before
another shock had been experienced
over the same area, but the earthquake
of 1883 was of much greater intensity
than that which preceded it.
1t is but a few months, too, since the
subterraneau forces seemed to threaten
an outbreak in our own country, mani
testing their gathering energy by a
slight earth-tremor in Suffolk; and now
Spain has been the scene of their awful
activity. On Christmas night last, the
inhabitants of Madrid were thrown into
state of alarm by two slight vibra-
tons. On the same evening more
violent earthquakes occurred in the
provinces of Andalusia, Malaga and
Granada. In the town of the latter
name the whole population, we are
told, fearing repetition of the shocks,
camped out in squares and other open
places. On the morning of the Goth
three severe shocks were felt at Gran
ada; whilst at Torrox, in the same
province, several yet more violent
shocks were experienced later in the
same day. The greater part of the
Albania has been .overthrown, more
than half the inhabitants of AIbunuelas
killed, and the cathedrals of Seville and
Granada seriously damaged. Each day
the provinces of Granada, and Malaga
were shaken by fresh earth-throes, and
the loss of life has been very great The
subterranean forces augmented in in
tensity daily, reaching maximum ON
December 1,When more severe shock
than any experienced previously was
felt at Granada, that being the tenth
which up to that date had occurred
there. The inhabitants were panic
stricken; thousands. fled from their
homes; those who remained spaced the
streets in religious professions, headed
ny Their priests, imploring fhe Divine
ciemency. trom this date she shocks
were less violent in character, although
a severe one shook Albania on January
IL, and they have now happily
altogether ceased. About the same
ume' an earthquake seems to have been
experienced at sea, the Captain of a
Naoiz bark reporting shock accom-
panied by loud roaring noise, on
december lS. when he was NOT 1ono
out OF Cadiz, seven days, however he
fore the first shocks were exner;aneed
IN the Spanish provinces.
often in the world 8 history zrapst
Spain have been the fieldmof, Volcanic
activity, asher crumblino caves rem ain
70 ATTEST, and twas in this corner of
Europe that the greatest manifestation
VI suoterranean energy in modern times
occurred. The story of the earthquake
whlch one hundred and thirty wears 90
destroyed Lisbon is a familiar one
lhen, as in the case of the present
earthquake, the inhabitants do not
appear to have had any warning. of the
10: Sn:Sming danger; but suddenly a noise
hKe the rolling of thunder was heard
underground, this being followed i'm
medlately by a tremendous shock, which
anfew down the greater part of the citv,
ahu In the course of q few minutes sixty
thousand persons perished. The sea
lfse retired, and then rose to i HEIGHT
oi ifty feet above its ordinary level; and
.he new quay just completed on. which
1he people had collected for safety
sank san With all its human freight; and
Mhere It had stood, there was after.
wards found to be one hundred fathoms
VI water, if, indeed, as some ACCOUNTS