The Penn's Grove record., 1885-09-05
Cotopsxi IN kruption.

On the 9Th of August the volcano
of CotopsxI, IN Ecuador, was in a
state of active eruption. In the city
of Tacunga, situated at the base of
the mountain, 100 houses have been
destroyed by the streams OF lava from
the v~olcanoe. The eruption began on
July % and was accompanied by ter
r1ble explosions and showers OF stone,
molten lava, and hot water. At Quito
the clouds of cinders in the air made
the day like night, and at Guayaqull,
$50 miles away. the people ran from
their houses in alarm, thinking that ar
.tUlery was laundering at their doors.
From 1856 until June 26, 1877, the
volcano OF Cotopaxi maintained aeon
parative repose, although 1t aid not
cease to give evidence of a volcanic
activity which makes of it a proteus for
the variety of shapes it assumes, and a
chameleon Tor the diversity of colors in
which it robes itself. Nothing Is more
sublime at all times, and on occasion
more appalling, than the truncated cone
of this snow-capped mountain. 1t was
q view on n of its hanks that inspired
the artist Church when he painted his
celebrated picture "The Heart OF the
Andes" The crater of Cotopaxi is 500
feet in depth. 1t is not rare to see a
pillar of ire rise from this abyss and
lose itself in the blue vault of heaven.
as if the colossus would fain be a
light house to the mariners of boGh
oceans, but only consented to illumin-
ate their path with tokens of his
ire. An eruption of the volcano has
occurred about once in ten years for
a century past. There was considera-
BILE activity on the part of the noun
tain in June, 1861. The eruption con-
tinued. and gradually became weaker
until 1867, when it ceased. In 1868
subterranean noises were again heard,
and q slender column OF smoke APP
peared. In May, 1868, there were
some earthquakes, which ruined Pc
lIleo and Palate. In July, 1869,
noises were again heard, and a terri
BILE food TOOK place, but without earth
quakes and subterranean noises.
Abundant fountains of water burst
forth, hundreds of immense rocks
were rent and thrown down, and the
rivers were flooded. Observers who
were at the time in the Cordilleras
consider that the landslides were not
owing to the action of water, but
rather to a pressure upward from
below, as If from accumulated gases
seeking an exit. The most curious
effect reported was q variation in the
climate. Many plants, such rs the
sura lowered, which had not done so
before. After the premature ripenlng
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 instead OF
thirty. In June, 1877, there wa a
terrific eruption, which was accom-
panied by every circumstance that
could increase its horror the torrent
country in every direction, and La Ia.
cunga, twelve miles distant, barely
escaped destruction. The loss of prop
erty in the valley of Chillo alone was
estimated at over So, 600, 900 and the
nuniber of dead exceeded 1000. On
May 10. 1883, 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 over
thrown, and the neighbofing villages
were almost completely destroyed. Co.
topaxi is a conical-shaped mountain
standing almost directly on the Equa-
tor, n rising to a height of IS. $50
feet above the level of the sea, or . 800
feet above the adjacent valley. IL is
the highest volcano in America that has
been active ia modern times. The
upper 4, 400 feet of the mountain are
covered with snow, except a section
around the summit. The ~seorias, lava, |
and rocky fragments which are the pro-
duce of its e%ruptlons, W. an area OF
some so or 60 square miles. La Ia
cunga, the town which appears to have
suffered so seriously by the eruption last
month, stands in the Oordilleras ct the
Andes, fifty-fve miles south of Quito.
and directly west of Cotopaxi. 1t is
built of pumice-stone, and has q popu-
lation of Is. 900. mostly Indians. 1t has
frequently been a prey to earthquakes
and eruptions of Cotopsxi, and in 1898