Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-09
The Birth ofa Volcano.

[Frona Capitals of Spanish Americal
 Yzalco, in the little republic of San Salva- dor, is ia many respects the most remarkable volcano on earth; first, because its discharges have continued so long and with such great regularity; again, because the tumult in the earth's bowels is always to be heard, as the rumblings and explosions are constant, being audible for 100 miles, and sounding like the noise which Rip Van Wrinkle heard when he awakened from his sleep in the Catskills; and, finally, it is the only volcano that has originated on this continent since the dis covery by Columbus. It arose suddenly from the plain in the spring of 1770, in the midst of what had been for nearly 100 years the profitable estate of Senor Don Balthazsr Erazo, who was absent from the country at the time, and was greatly amazed upon his return to discover that his magnificent coffee and indigo plantation had without his know ledge or consent, been exchanged for frst- class volcano.
 In December, 1769, the peons on the haci- enda were alarmed by terrific rumblings under the ground, constant tremblings of the earth, and frequent earthquakes, which did not extend over the country, as usual, but seemed to be confined to that particular
 
 the tremblings and noises continued, and re- turning week or two after, found that all the buildings had been shaken down, trees uprooted, and large craters opened in the fields which had been level earth before. From these craters smoke and steam issued, and occasionally flames were seen to come out of the ground.
 Some brave vaqueros, or herdsAen, re- mained near by to watch developments, and on Feb. 8, 1776, they were entertained by spectacle that no other men have been per mitted to witness; for about 10 o'clock on the morning of that day the grand upheaval took place, and it seemed to them, es they fled in terror, that the whole universe was being turned upside down. First, there was series of terrible explosions, which lifted the crust of the earth several hundred feet, and out of the cracks issued flames and lava and immense volumes of smoke. An hour or two afterward there was another and 8 grander convulsion, which shook and startled the country for 100 miles around.
 Rocks weighing thousands of tons were hurled into the air, and fell several leaugues distant. The surface of the earth was ele- vated about 5000 feet, and the internal re- cesses were purged of masses of lava and blistered stone, when they issued. These discharges continued for several days at ir- regular intervals, accompanied by loud ex- plosions and earthquakes, which did much damage throughout the entire republic; the disturbance was perceptible in Nicaragua and Honduras.
 In this manner was volcano born, and it has proved to be healthful and vigorous child. In less than two months from level field rose mountain more than 4,00O feet high, and the constant discharges from the crater which opened then have accumulated round it's edges until it's elevation has in- creased 2,000 feet more. Unfortunately the growth of the monster has not been scientif caIly observed or accurately measured; but the cone of lava and ashes, which is now 2,50O feet from the foundation of the earth upon which it's rest, is constantly growing hy the incessant discharges of volcanic mat