The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-06-29
The Birth of . Volcano.
-Capltals Of spanlsh America

calvAdor, is In many respects the most remarkable volcano on earth, first, because Its discharges have continued 90 long and with such great regular. ity again, because the tumult in the earth's bowels is always to be heard, a the rumblings and explosions are constant, being audible for a hundred miles, and sounding like the noise which Rip Van Wiakle heard when he awakened from his sleep in the Catskills; and, fLally, 1t is the only volcano that has originated on this continent since the discovery by Columbus. It 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 Senor Don Balthazer Erazo, who was absent from the country at the time, and was greatly amazed upon his re- turn to discover that his magnificent coffee and indigo plantation had, with out his knowledge or consent, been exchanged for a first class volcano.
 In December, l769, the peons on the hacienda 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 local ity. They left the place In terror when the tremblings and noises con- tinued, and, returning 6 week or two later. 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 herdsmen remained near by to watch developments, and February g, l770, they were enter tained by a spectacle that no other men have been permitted to witness 1; for about ten o'clock on the morning of that day the grand upheaval took place, and 1t seemed to them, as they fled in terror, that the whole universe was being turned upside down. First there was series of terrible explo- sions, 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 grander convulsion, which shook and startled the country for a hundred miles around. Rocks weighing thou sands 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 recesses were purged of masses of lava and blistered stone, which fell in a heap around the hole from which they issued.
 These discharges continued for sev- eral days at irregular intervals, accompanied by loud explosions and earthquakes, which did much damage throughout the entire republic; the disturbance was perceptible in Nicara- qua and Honduras. In this manner was a volcano born, and 1t has proved to be healthy and vigorous child. In less than two months from . level field arose 6 mountain more than 1 900 feet high, and the constant discharges from the crater which opened then have accumulated around its edges until its elevation has increased 2,OOO feet more. Unfortunately the growth of this monster has not been scientif- . cally observed or accurately measured, but the cone of lava and ashes, which is now 2,500 feet from the foundation of the earth upon which 1t rests, is constantly growing by the incessant discharges of volcanic matter