The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-04-11
THE FORCES BENEATH US.
The Phenomena Of Volcanoes and
Earthquakes.

earthquakes.
The intensity of the subterranean
forces over any given area of the earth's
surface is in a constant state of ebb and
flow, now rising to flood of great
power, now ebbing into long period
of quiescence, and then again gathering
force for a new and awful manifesto
ton of energy. 1t would seem that the
volcanic forces of Southern Europe are
again approaching 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. 1t was 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 retreat in
summer. On bright July evening,
when all were sitting out in the clear,
calm air, under cloudless sky, there
came sudden earth-throe, and in
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 a 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 few months, too, since the
subterranean forces seemed to threaten
an outbreak in our own country, mani
testing their gathering energy by
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
a state of alarm by two slight vibra-
tions. 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 Albunuelas
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 a maximum on
December 31,when a 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 paced the
streets in religious professions. headed
by their priests, imploring the Divine
clemency. From this date the shocks
were less violent in character, although
"a severe one shook Albania on January
~, and they have now happily
altogether ceased. About the same
time, an earthquake seems to have been
experienced at sea, the Captain of a
Cadiz bark reporting a shock, accom-
panied by loud roaring noise, on
December 18, when he was not long
out of Cadiz, seven days, however, be-
fore the first shocks were experienced
in the Spanish provinces.
Often in the worlds history must
Spain have been the field of volcanic
activity, as her crumbling caves remain
TO attest, and it was in this corner of
Europe that the greatest manifestation
of subterranean energy in modern times
occurred. The story of the earthquake
which one hundred and thirty years ago
destroyed Lisbon is familiar one.
Then, as in the case of the present
earthquake, the inhabitants do not
appear to have had any warning of the
coming danger; but suddenly noise
like the rolling of thunder was heard
underground, this being followed i'm
mediately by tremendous shock, which
threw down the greater part of the city,
and in the course Of few minutes sixty
thousand persons persisted. The sea
first retired, and then rose to height
Of fifty feet above its ordinary level; and
the new quay just completed, on which
the people had collected for safety,
sank with all its human freight; and
where it had stood, there was after
wards found to be one hundred fathoms
of water, if, indeed, as some accounts
say, the sea was not there unfathom-
able. The effects of this earthquake
were felt over so large region that it
has been calculated portion of the
earth's surface equal to four times the
area of Europe was included within its
range. From the West Indies and the
great inland lakes of Canada it extended
its range to our own country, to Sweden,
and to North Germany. The shock
then, too, was also felt at sea, producing
m effect similar to that which follows
when q vessel strikes sunken rock or
runs aground.
But whilst earthquakes may thus
seem to happen without the slightest
warning, there can be but little doubt
that their apparent suddenness is due
either to want of observation or to a
wilful disregard Of the signs which indi-
cate the advent of subterranean out
bursts. Their approach is usually her.
aided in many ways-underground
noises, gaseous emanations from the
soil, the drying up Of wells, change in
the temperature of thermal springs,
haziness in the air, being the more gen.
eral forerunners of these phenomens.
At such periods, too. a sense Of dizxi-
ness Il often experienced by jewellers IN
5he threatened locality, whilst uicrocos-
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