The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-15


in every age. Pliny tells that ancient
writers on the subject shohght they had
lighted upon a certain prevention of
the destructive commissions of the earth
that had baffied the devices Of the
learned If the earthquake came from
imprisoned air and water, what more
natural than to seek a means of vent
for the prisoners. They began therefore
to dig deep pits along the sea-shores
and these reaching into the depth of
the earth acted as safety-valves for the
accumulated yapofs. This project was,
however, abandoned, fearing it would
produce the very evil it was intended
TO remedy,
Volcanoes have often been supposed
to be an outlet for these gases and
protection against earthquakes. as the
lands of the earthquake are those of
the volcanic crater and burning mount
ain. Humboldt, Daubney and others
have accepted the theory that Italy
and Sicily were shielded from danger
by the constant eruptions of Vesuyius
and Etna, for it was observed that
when these mountains began to pour
forth lava the qnivering earth found
repose. Yet those who look upon the
volcano as protection from the earth
quake must be led to doubt their eff
fciency when it is remembered that
Vesuvius and Etna have failed to save
Southern Europe from the most dire
destruction. One of the greatest earth
quakes of the Pacific coast was ushered
in by general eruption of all the fiery
peaks OF the Andes. One after an
other the mountain tops famed forth
in long and terrible line, sending up
masses of molten or red-hot rocks,
and blackening the sky with sulphur
GUS gases, and against the dark sky
lurld tongues Of flame lot up in weird
splendor, and streams If burning lava
scanned the mountain sides, while far
below them the upheaying earth was
shaken and riven, and covered with
the ruin Of mems works, while man
himself lay PROSTATE in death, and the
tidal wave swept away all the traces
OF the earth's desolation. How the
mysterious attendant, the tidal wave,
is connected with the earthquake, is
scarcely known. II is produced by
disturbance at the bottom of the ocean,
and in all instances of an
earthquake the ocean gives more
or less indications of disturbance,
vessels have been shaken and
struck as by an invisible blow, when
far from port. Smoke and flames have
issued from the midst of the waves;
the sea has been discolored, and the
waters roll black as ink, volcanoes
rise above them for moment, and
then, as at Juan Fernandez, disappear
Or islands start up and are slowly
nodded from the fire stained rocks
to the fertile habitations of man. and
it is quite probable that this rise and
fall OF the oceans bed produces the
tidal wave. The history of the earth
quake dates back for nearly three thou
sand years. Among the most ancient
those of mythology are probably de-
rived from q more authentic source
than the imaginations of poets or ira
ditional lore. Thucydides gives an ac-
count of shock that was unheeded by
the combatants when Hannibal was
conquering at Thrasymene, and the
great earthquake that shattered Tyre
and the cities of Asia in the fourth year
of Tiberius. The first ominous culver
that half ruined Pompeii and Hercu-
laneum in the year 81, twelve years
before the final eruption OF the hither-
to harmless Vesuvius. The fearful
| earthquakes in the reign of Justinan
! in (527, 565), of which Gibbon gives an
account, Nivenzio gives lamentable
account of the earthquakes that have
devastated the different sections of the
world since the discovery of America.
Lima alone has suffered fourteen
times from this cause. The city of
Lima has been painted by those who
visited it when it was under Spanish
rule in the last century as one of the
fairest of cities. Its climate was
like that of an Arabian paradise, so
balmy and soft. No chilling breath
OF winter ever visited its people. No
rain ever fell there, but instead an inn
palpable vail of mist that came from
the sea in the day fell in gentle dew at
night upon the thirsty land to preserve
the vegetation and temper the climate,
and it was only at rare intervals that
the permanent moisture was dissi-
! pated and the heat was felt to be I'M
comfortable. 1t was on a plain, six
miles above the level of the sea, ga ter
restial paradise said q traveller.
Looking down upon landscape of
wonderful fertility, where orange
groves and tropical flowers bloomed
in prodigal profusion. The surround
ing country vas rich in all that was re-
CURED to give life and luxury to the
happy Peruvians. The. city, designed
with taste and care, with its broad
streets and tropical foliage, was one of
the most splendid that the American
| continent could boast There was sit
uated the palace of the Viceroy of the
! Spanish possessions, who ruled with
regal sway over his South American
subjects. Lima was therefore the cen
ter to which flowed the wealth, the
beauty and fashion of the land. Rich
with the spoils of the mcas and the
products of their own mines was the
city and its inhabitants. Its plaza was
adorned by the magnificent palace of the
| Viceroy and a cathedral of rare SPLEEN
dor, by fountain supported by brazen
lions and range of public buildings I'M
surpassed by any structure in Europe.
Nor was there gayer metropolis.
The houses were low adobe dwellings,
inclosing a court, which q fountain
and tropical foliage made like dream
of the orient. There, under the splen-
dor of the summer sky. the dance, and
song, and music of the mandolin be-
guiled the perfect nights.
The fair Peruvians were famed fol
their superb dresses of lace and silk,
their ornaments ofpearls and diamonds
were in accordance with the, wealth
and good fortunes of their fathers and
husbands. Nor were they negligent Of
the devout observance of the Roman
religion. So that the tide of sstheil
mirth and their occupations flowed
on necessarily in a tranquil stream day
after day.
| A road of six miles in length leo
down to Callao, the seaport of Lima
The town was upon slope of the low
shore and numbered about i've thous.
and Inhabitants. 1t was a gay and
l h,,ex la \ l. L