River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-07-21
AN ISLAND GONE.
One of the Philippine Group said to Have
Reen Sunk by Volcanic Eruption-Its
Population Of $4,000 Persons Thought
to Have Perished.

One of the Philippine Group Said to Have
Feen Sunk by Volcanic Eruption-Its
Population Of $4,000 Persons Thought
to Have Perished.
SYDNEY, July Is.-Rumors have
reached here from Timor that there
has been volcanic eruption on the
island of Sangir, one of the Philippine
group, and that most of the inhabitants
have been killed. A native from the
Talatee islands. who landed at Selan-
gen four weeks ago, brought q re-
markahle story to the effect that
several other natives had just returned
from voyage near Sangir. They had
intended to land on the island, but
were prevented by the mountains
belching forth smoke and fire. They
reported that the whole island
was on fire" The water along
the coast was full. they said,
of half-burned wreckage, pieces of
houses, and charred bodies. The whole
population, estimated at about 12, 600,
seemed to have been swept into the sea
or burned, as not living soul was 30
be seen. Streams of lava were still
flowing toward the shore, showing that
the activity of the volcanoes had not
abated.
The steamship Catterthon, from
China to Sydney, brought a similar
story into port with it Saturday. Near
Sangir, it's captain said, it had passed
through miles of debris dissimilar from
anything he had before seen at sea-
Poles and sides of huts, most
of them charred and broken,
were mingled with such utensils
as the natives of the Philippines use in
cooking. Many unacceptable objects
resembling charred human trunks were
also seen. Articles of head dress in the
wreckage were identified by sailor
who had lived in the Philippines as
peculiar to the natives of Sangir and
the nearby islands of the Philippines
group. The ship was three hours and
a half passing through the wreckage.
The Sangir islands lie to the north of
Celebes and are about fifty in number.
The three largest islands are Sangir,
Splauw and Tagolanda. Sangir had an
area of257 square miles and was divided
into four kingdoms. The total
population was supposed to be
about $4,000 or $4,000. In the north
western part of the island lowered
the great mountain of Abu, or the ash
mountain, which has often been in
eruption, causing much damage and
great loss of life. The natives regard
ed il with superstitious awe and when
ever they heard the rumbling that pre-
ceded an outbreak they resorted to GER
tain mystic rites to appease the deity of
the mountain.
March 2, 1856, there was terrible
eruption and streams of lava and boil
ing water were poured forth from the
crater. The rich plantations on the
mountain side were carried away and
5000 lives were lost.
The Sangirese belong to the Malay
race, are well made and brave, but
cunning, lazy and dirty. The govern
ment is monarchical, somewhat limited
by council.
CATANIA, July 1s.-Immense incandes-
cent rocks and clouds of steam continue
to be thrown out of the craters of
Mount Etna. Part of the village of
Ventura has been destroyed by lava,
and considerable damage has been
done to neighboring chestnut woods.
Committees of citizens are being
formed TO relieve the sufferers