Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-11-04
Carries first advanced the theory o, in

Meinolre sur les causes DIES 1rcmble-
ments de Terre,h thought they were
caused by large quantities of bitutni-
nous and sulphurous gas becoming sud
denly inflamed, breaking forth in vio-
lent fermentation, but modern geolo- |
gians assert that the globe upon which |
We live is nearly thin crust of solid |
matter, inclosing mass of molten fire |
that has constant tendency to ex.
plode, and that the restless fires how |
and then burst their limitations and |
come forth In streams of burning lava |
from volcanoes, or shake and rupture
the outer crust in their imprisoned
fury.
Whether earthquakes can be pre-
vented by any human means is gues-
ton that has occupied scientific minds
in every age. Pliny tells that ancient
writers on the subject thought they had
llghted upon q certain prevention of
the destructive commissions of the earth
that had baffled the. devices of the
learned. If the earthquake came from
imprisoned air and water, what more
natural than to seek means of vent
for the prisoners. They began therefore
to dig deep pits along the sea-shore,
and these reaching into the depth of
the earth acted as safety-vaves for the
accumulated vapors. 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 Vesuvius
and Etna, for it was observed that
when these mountains began to pour
forth lava the quivering earth found
repose. Yet those who look upon the
volcano as protection from the earth
quake must be led to doubt their ef-
ticiency 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
lurid tongues of flame shot up in weird
splendor, and streams of burning lava
scanned the mountain sides, while far
below them the upheaving earth was
shaken and riven, and covered with
the ruin of mems works, while man
himself lay PROSTATE in death, and the
!Sual 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. 1t is produced by a
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 a moment, and
then, rs 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 more authentic source
than the imaginations of poets or ira
ditional lore. Thucydides gives an &C
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 yea
of Tiberius. The first ominous quivel
that half ruined Pompeii and Hercu
laneum in the year 81, twelve year,
before the final eruption OF the hither
to harmless Vesuvius. The fearful
earthquakes in the reign of Justinial
: in (527, 565), of which Gibbon gives al
: account, Nivenzio gives lamentabl,
account of the earthquakes that hav,
h devastated the different sections of tn,
world since the discovery of America
Lima alone has suffered fourteen
"" times from this cause. The city o
" Lima has been painted by those WHIT
n visited it when it was under Spanish
$ rule in the last century as one of tn
g fairest of cities. Its climate wa
> like that of an Arabian paradise, 81
balmy and soft. No chilling breatl
of winter ever visited its people. N,
s rain ever fell there, but instead an i'm
II palpable vail of mist that came from
d the sea in the day fell in gentle dew a
night upon the thirsty land to preserv
l. the vegetation and temper the climate
), and it was only at rare intervals tina
v the permanent moisture was dissi
}. pated and the heat was felt to be I'M
= comfortable. 1t was on plain, 81
n miles above the level of the sea, "a tel
y restial paradise" said a traveller
o Looking down upon a landscape q
d wonderful fertility, where orang
l, groves and tropical flowers bloome
ir in prodigal profusion. The surround
n ing country was rich in all that was rt
1t CURED to give life and luxury to tn
$, happy Peruvians. The city, designe
Is with taste and care, with its broa
c. streets and tropical foliage, was one {
the most splendid that the America
rs continent could boast. There was 81
,e uated the palace of the Niceroy of til
ot Spanish possessions, who ruled wit
" regal sway over his South America
4. subjects. Lima was therefore the Gel
sr ter to which flowed the wealth, tn
I'd beauty and fashion of the land. Ric
he with the spoils of the lncas and tn
al products of their own mines was I'll
N city and its inhabitants. Its plaza W;
" adorned by the magnificent palace of I'll
IL Viceroy and cathedral of rare splel
N dor nv a fountain sunnortad hv hra za