The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-05-23
YZALcO, THE TERRIBLE.
Sketch of the Birth of Famous Central
American Volcano.

Yzalco. in the little republic of San
Salvador, is in many respects the most
remarkable volcano on earth; first, be-
cause its discharges have continued so
long and with such great regularity;
again, because the tumulti in the earth's
bowels is always to be heard, being
audible for 100 miles and sounding like
the noise Rip Van Winkle heard when
he awakened from his sleep in the Cat
skills, and finally, it is the only volcano
that has originated on this continent
since the discovery by Columbus.
1t arose suddenly from the plain in
the spring of 1770 in the midst of what
had been for nearly hundred years
the profitable estate of Senior Don
Balthazar Erazo, who was absent
from the country at the time and was
greatly amazed upon his return to dis
cover that his magnificent coffee and
indigo plantation had, without his
knowledge or consent, been exchanged
for first-class volcano. In December,
1869, the poems of the hacienda were
alarmed by terrific rumblings under
the ground, constant trembling of the
earth, and frequent earthquakes, which
did not extend over the country, as
usual, but seemed to be confined to
that particular locality. They left the
place in terror when the tremblings
and noises continued, and returning a
week after found that all the build
| ings had been shaken down, trees up
rooted, and large craters open in the
| fields which had been level earth be-
| fore. From these craterS smoke and
steam issued and occasionally flames
were seen to come out of the ground.
Some brave Vaquerors or herdSmen re-
manned near BY to watch developments,
and on the 23d of February, 1770, they
were entertained by spectacle that
no other men have been permitted tC
witness, for about 10 o'clock on tho
morning of that day the grand heava
took place, and it seemed to them as they
fled in terr.r that the whole universe
was being turned upside down.
First there was series of terrible
explosions which lifted the crust of tho
earth several hundred feet, and out OF
the cracks issued flames and lava ant
Immediately volumes of smoke. Al
hour or two afterward there was an
other and grander cOnvulsion, whicl
shook and startled the country for {;
hundred miles around. Rocks weigh
ing thousands of tons were hurled into
the air and fell several leagues distant
The surface of the earth was elevated
about 5000 feet. and the internal re
cesses were purged of masses of Law:
and blistered stone, which fell in
heap around the hole from which the,
issued. These discharges continued
for several days Al irregular intervals
accompanied by loud explosions ant
earthquakes, which did much damag
throughout the entire republic; tn
disturbance was perceplible in Mic
argua and Honduras. In this manne
was volcano born, and it has proyet
healthful and vigorous child Ii
less than two months from level fell
rose mountain more than 1000 fee
high, and the constant discharge
from the crater which opened the
have accumulated around its edge
until its elevation has increased 200
more. Unfortunately y the growth of til
monster has not been scientifically OF
served OF accurately measured; but til
cone or lava and ashes, which is nov
1900 feet from the foundation c
. earth upon which it rests, lis CONSTANT
growing in bulk and height by the il
ccssant discharges of lava, ashes. an
other volcanic matter upon ik-TE
Capitals of Spaaish Aaeerica.