The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-23

earliest historic times has been emfro1nc
steam, lava and hot stones without stop
ping, or as Sioa among the Moluccs
Islands, or Tofua among the Friendly
Islands, or Sangay, a volcano of the
Andes.
The demonstrations accompanying a
volcanic eruption depend upon the char
acter of the material within the crater,
and the passage leading downward. II
the crater has a thin ioor and the passage
below is partially open, or filled with
motion lava, the volcanic gases can escape
upward and outward with comparative
quiet. But if the passage is badly OBJ
structed violent explosions may take
place, preceded by, rumblings, and even
by earthquakes far. reaching in effect.
In Hawaii the lavas are very liquid, and
often are discharged quietly, but in 1868 a
great eruption was accompanied by earth
quakes.
Where the sides of the volcano give way
before the floor of the crater or before the
hardened materials of-the passage yield to
the upward pressure, assures OCCUR in the
mountain, generally diverging from the
cone toward the base and showing the
red-hot mass within, if, indeed, as is most
likely, lava is not discharged from these
vents. Finally the lava in the assures
cools and binds the mountain together
more firmly than before.
At times lava may appear at the mouth
of the volcano without OVERLOOKING, or it
may break out in spots causing minor
cones.
The force of volcanic explosions cannot
be comprehended, nor can the depths
from which the material is thrown be
stated. We only know that thousands
and thousands of tons of ashes both liquid
and solid rocks are thrown from points
far from the crater of the volcano, and
that the force which is sufficient for such
exertions is mighty. 1t is reported that
the volcano Antuco, in Chill, has thrown
stone thirty-six miles and that Cotopaxi
threw a block weighing 200 tons for a
distance of nine miles.
Ashes thrown from volcanoes travel
many miles away and carry darkness
with them. In the year 1885 a volcano
in Nicaragua called Coseguina caused
darkness in all directions for a distance OF
thirty-ive miles, and deposited ashes, it
Is said. to a depth of ten feet over twenty
miles away, while some Of the minute
volcanic dust was carried up to a high
current OF air and fell four days later 700
miles away at Kingston, Jamaica.
The ashes and other fine materials
thrown from volcanoes are said TO be
caused by the action of steam, which pen
etrstes and divides into minute particles
the white hot lava, and when the explo-
sion which throws out the liquid steam
laden lava occurs the once solid matter is
scattered in dust.
The immense volumes Of mud, ashes
and rock which are thrown from yoica-
noes change entirely the surface Of the
surrounding country, building up the
well-known volcanic cones and sometimes
changing miles upon miles Of fertile
lands. vine and wood-clad hills into desc
late wastes. Trees, animals, men. women,
children, houses. whole cities, like Hercu-
laneum and Pompeii, may be buried be
meath the debris of one volcanic eruption.
20 lie hidden for centuries and 70 disclose
II later years the life Of historic ages
An interesting change takes place
in lava as il issues forth. First il
is white hot q flows Ike honey
or meked iron Next IL Is red and
from redness changes 20 black with al !
the SUGGESTIONS Of color which mar be OBJ
served II a coal flung On a winters night
from & large Old fireplace Constantly
changing rs il moves. The surface o. the
lava stream FINAL becomes like sindsrs IA
appearance and gradually hsrnsns, often
n very rougA forms, color ard shsPe,
adding 20 the deso.8tsoa which il eenveyA
The cooling q these moving masses OF
melted rock y Slows. - slDE th7s the red
hot lava caa - seen cEroI<h 6ssrnss for
vezrs atferwarI. ~ rr 81 5cvulio n
Mexico acgsr ooa.d be a@ht9d At a Is
sure tsvguty- one years after the eru20a-
Sometimes aoz ~ As4 ds1as a stream
ard forms 8 axe A. - tAs cas= 81 LAKE.
AlGat ia AaverEe, O. IL q fsw boaFs a
deep caanurl j. SLED, waleh The Slow &C
ton Of Sowing wGer hAs oe=a kandrrds
o{ yeArs Il s-xcTaSGsS Il y EAxEA