Daily Kennebec journal., 1885-09-22
Cotopaxl.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE RECENT
TERRIFIC ERUPTION.

Panama advices say: The volcano of
Cotopaxi in Ecuador, is in state of active
eruption. In the city of Tacunga, situated
at the base of the mountain, one hundred
houses have been destroyed bv the streams
of lava from the volcano. The eruption
began on July %. and was accompanied
by terrible explosions and showers of
stone, molten lava, ard hot water. At
Quito the clouds of cinder5 in the air made
the day like night. and at Guavaquil. $50
miles away. the people ran from their
houses in alarm thinking that artillery
was laundering at their doors.
An eruption of the volcano has occurred
about once in ten years for century past.
There was considerable activity on the
part of the mountain in June. 1861. The
eruption continued and gradually became
weaker until 1867, when it ceased. In
1868 subterranean noises were again heard
and slender column of smoke appeared.
In May, 1868, there were some earth
quakes, which ruined PelileO and Palate.
In July. 1869, noises were again heard.
and terrible flood took place. but with
out earthquakes or subterranean noises.
Abundant fountains of water burst forth,
hundreds of immense rocks were rent
and thrown down, and rivers were
| flooded. Observers who were at the time
in the Cordilleras consider that the land
slides were not owing to the action OF
water, but rather to pressure upward
| from below. as if from accumulated gases
| seeking an exit. The most curious effect
reported was a variation in the climate.
Many plants. such as the sural. flowered.
u bioh boH pot dana hafora N
premature ripening the surales all closed
up again, and did not revive. After this
occurrence it was noticed the sugar-cane
could be cut in twenty-four months. in
stead of thirty. In June, 1877, there was
terrific eruption. which was accompanied
by every circumai stance that could increase
its horror; the torrent of lava overfowed
the surrounding country in every direction.
and La Tacunga. twelve miles distant.
barely escaped destruction The loss of
property in the valley of Chllo alone was
estimated at over S2.000.00 and the
number of dead exceeded one thousand
On May 10. 1888. the volcano again be-
came active, as an accompaniment to an
earthquake which was so severely felt in
Quito that the people, fearing a cataclysm.
encamped in the streets. while at
La Tacunga the shock was so severe that
several houses were overthrown, and the
neighborng villages were almost com
pletely destroyed, Cotopaxi is conical
shaped mountain. standing almost directly
on the equator. and rising to height of
1880 feet above the level OF the sea, or
$500 feet above the adjacent valley. 1t
is the highest volcano in America that has
been active in modern times. The upper
4,400 feet OF the mountain are covered
with snow, except a section around the
summit. The scoria, lava and rock y
fragments, which are the produce of its
eruptions. cover an area of some fifty or
sixty square miles.
La Tacunga, the town which appears to
have suffered so seriously by the eruption
last month, stands in the Cordilleras of
the Andes, fifty-ive miles south of Quito.
and directly west of Cotopaxi. 1t is built
of pumice stone. and has a population of
$4,000, mostly Indians. 1t has fire..
quently been prey to earth.
quakes and eruptions of Cotopaxi,
and in 1898 was totally destroyed.