The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-07-06
DlRTil OF A VOLCANO.
Tke Process ms It IIns ucen Observed
YgaIcO, In Suu Splvador

Tke Pcoccss ms It f1ns Ucen Observed Mt
| SsalcO, In San salvador.
Yzalco. in the little Republic OF San
Salvador, Is In many respects tho most
remarkable volcano on Garth, first be-
cause its discharges have continued so
long and with such great regularity;
again, because the tumult in the
earths bowels is always to be heard,
ms the rumblings and explosions are
constant being audible for hundred
miles. and sounding like the noise
which Rip Van Wrinkle heard when he
awakened from his sleep in the Cats.
kills; and finally it is the only volcano
that has originated on this continent
since the discovery by Columbus. 1t
arose suddenly from the plains
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 ut
the time, and was greatly amazed upon
his return TO discover that his magnifi-
eS"o 90 "a = ai~~ ,,lantntion had.
without his knowledge or consent, been
exchanged for tirst-class volcano.
In December, 1869, the poems on the
hacienda were alarmed by terrific rum
blings 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 continued,
and, returning 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 va
queros or herdsmen, remained near by
to watch developments, and on Febru-
ary 90. 1770, they were entertained by
a spectacle that no other men have
been permitted to witness; for about
ton o'clock on the morning of that
day the grand upheaval took place,
and it seemed to them, as they fled in
terror, that the whole universe was
being turned upside down. First there
was a series of terrible explosions,
which lifted the crust of the earth
several hundred feet, and oilt of the
cracks issued flames and lava. and i'm
mense volumes of smoke. An hour or
two afterwards there was another and
grander convulsion. which shook
and startled the country for hundre
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 three
| thousand feet, and the internal reccsses
were purged of masses of lava and
| blistered stone, which fell in IL heap
around the hole from which they
issued.
These discharges continued for sew
eral days at irregular intervals, accom-
panied by loud explosions and earth
quakes. which did much damage
throughout the entire Republic; the
disturbance was perceptible in Mica
ragua and Honduras. In this manner
was volcano born. and it has proved
to be a healthful and vigorous child.
! Ir less than two months from a level
field rose a mountain more than 1000
feet high, and the constant discharges
from the crater which opened then
have accumulated round its edges until
| its elevation has increased 1000 feet
more. Unfortunately the growth OF
the monster has not been scientifically
obser ged or accurately measured, but
the cone of lava and ashes, which is
now $500 feet from the foundation OF
the earth upon which it rests. is con-
stantly growing by the incessant dis
charges of volcanic matter. From 1.-The
| Capitals of South America"