The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-08-06
DEVASTATION.
A volcano Bursts Forth OH Great Sanglr
Island, and village After village Sinks
out OF sight.

Island, and village After village Sinks
out OF Sight.
VICTORIA. b. c., Aug. Without any
warning signals, without any sign
whatever of impending disturbance, the
liunong Aroo volcano, on Great Sangir
island, in the Malay Archipelago blaDcd
forth on June Z, and within twenty
four hours the whole of the prosperous
surrounding country was devastated.
The island Is one of chain of
Islands near the Philippines. The
first report of the eruption was heard
about o'clock in the morning, and
for four hours there was one con-
tinual stream of fire and ashes. After
a slight relaxation flood of fire again
began, continuing two days. The CO.
coanut plantations, which covered the
whole mountain side, were completely
destroyed.
Terrific thunder-storms had followed
each earthquake. Whole villages are
submerged and cocoa and nutmeg
plantations everywhere are ruined. In
the northern part of the island lava
streams were running with terrific
force. Among other villages completely
obliterated was that of Tokeam, famed
for its beauty and wealth.
The loss of life is something fright
full, but no accurate estimate of it can
yet be made Some place it as high as
TO- 900. A thousand bodies have been
picked up on the shore and many were
found floating in the sea.
The whole island is completely de-
vdstatcd and, although the violent
eruption has ceased, volumes of smoke
are rising, accompanied by steam and
ashes The lower land and valleys are
covered with lava, which is still pour
ing down, while cracks in the mountain
have opened, emptying volleys of steam,
stones and mud.
Property worth millions upon millions
is destroyed forever. For many years
the inhabitants of Sangirs Island, liv-
ing within the shadows of a dormant
crater, had titled the soil and prospered,
their chief industry being the growing
of nutmegs, cocoanuts and grapes the
product being regularly shipped
abroad. Providence, with a climate
equaling, if not surprising, that OF
Italy, and soil needing little cultiva-
ton makes it profitable With no po.
litical or national disturbances the
semi-savage natives were gradually be
coming civilized The villages and
towns were well built, and had schools
and churches.
When the awful devastation began
there was a terrible rumble, column
of ruddy flames shot up from the crater
as high in the heavens as the eye could
reach, and Immediately afterward hot
ashes were falling like snow-fales ovei
the whole country. Dust was flying il
all directions, and from the time of the
| first explosion until o'clock that even
ing fierce volumes of flame and smoke
and showers of large stones be1chet
forth, followed by rain which fell il
torrents, bringing down with it thu
clouds of ashes that were flying through
the air.
This continued all night and thu
whole of the next day. Earthquake
began June9. Village after village wa
engulfed, hundreds of people dropping
into the great cracks in the earth. Th,
whole country is under a layer of mud
ashes and stones.
Among others who saw the islanC
after the outbreak was Capt. j. Gray
of the steamship Norway, which haC
been sent with a cargo of rice from
Mandanao to relieve the sufferers
He says the whole island, We've,
from the westward, presented soul
sicllening appearance. There was n
sign of life anywhere. Volumes O
smoke could be seen issuing from tn
volcano, accompanied by fine ashes
which spread like a cloud over tn
island and fell thicl1ly everywhere
Small jets of steam, smoke and stone
We're pouring out from the mountai
sides completely covering the lowe
valleys and lands The entire topoa
| 10 phU cf tho island ,voS phonUa6