The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-11-04
A LAND OF EARTHQUAKES,
sAN SALvAD Or AND THE TERRoRS
ITS PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN.
How Volcano Rose Out OF the
Level Earth-Somcthing About
the People and the Country,


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.
It is small volcanic country, but lit
tie larger than Connecticut, but is one of
the most prosperous of the Central Ameri-
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 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 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 considerable COM
merce. At La Libertad, the principal
seaport, an immense iron pier extends
far out into the sea, in order to give
landirg for lighters from the vessels
which have to anchor far out.
Three times before the capital, San
Salvador, has been almost destroyed by
earthquakes, and eleven times it has
suffered severely since 1875. In 1773
and 1854 the capital and several other
towns and cities were nearly destroyed.
San Salvador stands at an elevation of
$500 feet, about eighteen miles back
from the coast, and is surrounded by
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 great steam engine.
Within view of the capital are eleven
great volcanoes, two of which are un-
ceasingly active, while the others are
subject to occasional eruption. The
~ at, of c. O.
about 5000 feet high, and showing to
great advantage, because, it arises so
abruptly from the plain. 1t is only three
miles from the city, to the westward,
very steep, and its sides are broken by
monstrous gorges, immense rocky de-
clivities and projecting cliffs. The sum
nit is crowned by cone of ashes and
scorie 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 bottom
less lake. Two active volcanoes are
San Miguel and Yzaco, AMI there are
none more violent on the face of the
earth.
They present magnificent display to
the passengers of steamers sailing by the
coast or anchored oil La Libertad or Ac-
ajutla, constantly dIscharging masses of
lava, which flow down their sizes in
blazing torrents and Illuminating the sky
with flames issuing from the craters at
regular intervals. Yzalco is, as stated,
as regular as q clock, the eruptions oc-
curing like the beating of a mighty
pulse every seven minutes. 1t is impos-
sible to conceive of a grander spectacle
than this monster. 1t rises 1000 feet, al
most directly from the sea, and an i'm
mcuse volume of smoke like plume is
constantly pouring out of its sum
nit broken with such regu-
lariry by masses of flame that
rise 1000 feet that it has been named
"The Light House of Salvador" Around
the base OF the mountain are fertile plan
tations, while above them, covering
about two-thirds of the surface is an
almost impenetrable forest whose foliage
IS perpetual and of the darkest green.
Beyond the forest is ring of reddish
scorie, while above it the live ashes aud
lava cast from the crater are constantly
changing from livid yellow when they
are heated to a silver gray as they cool.
Yzalco is in many respects the most re-
markable volcano on earth, first because
its discharges have continued so long and
with such regularity; again, because
the tumult in the earth's bowels IS
always to be heard, as the rumbling aud
explosions are constant, being audible
for one hundred miles, and, finally, it 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, and the architecture is not
very impressive and grand, the earth
quakes discouraging great outlay to Sc
cure architectural beauty. Washington
Star.