The Opelousas courier., 1891-12-12
la LAND OF EARTHQUAKES
SAN SALVADOR AND THE TERRoRs
ITS PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN.
How a Volcano Rose Out of the
Level Earth-something About
the People and the Country.

Level Notwithstanding About
the People and the Country.
The earthquake which did such dam
age in San Salvador the other day was
not the visitation of some new terror.
upon the people. Earthquakes are of
common occurrence in that country
sufficiently so, at least, as to insure each
generation an experience.
1t is a small volcanic country. but lit
tie larger than Connecticut, but is one of
the most prosperous of the Central Amerl.
can republics, the proportion of inhabi-
tants to the area being greater than that
of the other republics. A considerable
industry and a spirit of independence and
progression unusual in the far southern
climates has stored up a wealth which
makes it compare with it neighbors
rather to its advantage. The Salvador
ians were the first of the Central Ameri-
can people to throw off the Spanish yoke
and were again the foremost in declar-
ing for religious liberty. They came
near being citizens of the United States.
Sometime in 1922 they resolved to ask
to be admitted into the sisterhood of the
United States, but the general overthrow
of Spanish power in Central America re
lieved them Of their necessity before the
annexation was accomplished, and they
preserved their independence as a re-
public.
, The country is beset by revolutions
and earthquakes, both of which are al
most epidemic, but in spite of that they
are prosperous people, and it is a "very
fine little republic Their rocky coast
has no harbor which is safe, but never
theless they have a considerable COM
merce. At La Libertad, the principal
seaport, an immense iron pier extends
far out into the sea, in order to give a
landing for lighters from the vessels
which have to anchor far out.
Three times before the capital, San
Salvador, has been almost destroyed by
earthquakes, aud eleven times it has
suffered severely since 1876. In 1878
and 1854 the capital and several other
own and cities were nearly destroyed.
San Salvador stands at an elevation of
2800 feet, about eighteen miles back
from the coast, and is surrounded by a
group of volcanoes, of which two are
active, one in particular, known as
Yzalco, throwing out volumes of smoke,
ashes and lava every seven minutes with
the regularity of clockwork, like the
putting of a great steam engine.
Within view of the capital are eleven
great volcanoes, two of which are I'M
ceasingly active, while the others are
subject to occasional eruption. The
nearest is the mountain of San Salvador,
about 5000 feet higa, and showing to
great advantage, because, it arises SO
abruptly from the plain. It is only three
miles from the city, to the westward,
very steep, and its sides are broken by
monstrous gorges, immense rocky de-
c~livities and projecting cliffs. The sum-
init is crowned by a cont of ashes and
scnrise that have been thrown out in
centuries past, but since 1856, subse-
quent to the greatest earthquake the
country has known, the crater has. been
extinct, and is now filed with a bottom
less lake. Two active volcanoes are
San Miguel and Yzalco. and there are
none more violent on the face of the
earth.
They present a magnificent display to
the passengers of steamers sailing by the
coast or anchored Of Ls Libertad or Ac-
Rjutla, constantly dlscharging masses of
lava, which flow down their sides In
blazing torrents and illuminating the sky
with flames issuing from the craters 1T
regular intervals. Yzalco is, as stated,
as regular as a clock, the eruptions oe-
curing like the beating of a mighty
pulse every seven minutes. II is impos-
Bibie to conceive of a grandef spectacle
than this molister. Itrises 1000 feet, al
most directly from the sea, and an i'm
menae volume of smoke like d plume is
constantly pouring out of its sum-
init broken with such regu-
larry By masses Of dame that
rise 1000 feet that il has been named
ssrle Light House of Salvador Around
The base of the mountain are fertile plan
nations, while above them, covering
hbout two-thirds OF the surface is an
almost impeaetrabie forest whose foliage
il perpetual and Of the darkest green.
Beyond the forest is q ring of reddish
seori@, while above it the live ashes and
lava cast from the crater are constantly
changing from livid yellow when they
are heated to a silver gray as they cool.
Yzaleo is 10 many respects the most re-
markable velcano on earth, first because
its discharges have continued so long and
with such regularity; again, because
the tumult Id the earth's bowels ~
always to be heard, as the rumbling and
explosions are constant, being audible
for one hundred miles, and, finally, Il is
the only volcano that has originated on
this continent since the discovery by
Columbus.
Most of the buildings OF San Salvador
are OF adobe, aud tbs architecture is not
very impressive and grand, the earth
1uakes discouraging great outlay 70 So
cure architectural beauty Washsngtoa
Star.
NxowmRnA - SavA TEsu Erws*