The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-08-11
ALMOST BLOTTED OUT.
THE EARTH YAWNS AND SWALLOWS
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,.

Ten Thousand Lives Thought to be Lost
at tho Eruption of Gunong Aroo-The
Topography of Great Sangir Island
Wholly Changed.
NEW YORK, Aug. 4 4-Dispatches
from Victoria, Is. e., to the World, says
the steamer Empress, OF India, Just ar
rived from Japan, brings additional de-
tails o. the disastrous volcanic eruption
on Great Sangir Island. Without any
warning signal, without any sign what
ever of impending disturbance, the Gu
nong AroO volcano blazed forth on June
/, anil within twenty-tour hours the
whole OF the prosperous surrounding
country was devastated. The location
Of the crater is latitude 3 deg 80 min
north, long l25 deg 20 min east. The
| Western coast Of Great Sangir Island
ls washed by the Cclcbes Sea, with the
Molucca passage on tho southeast.
The island is one Of chain of islands
near the Philippines.
The first report Ol the eruption was
| heard about e O'Clock in the morning
| and iCr tour hours there was one contln-
ual stream OF lire and ashes belching
| forth. Alter slight relaxation a flood
OF tire a.ain began, continuing two days,
heavy rumblnGs being beard in the
mountains. Tie town Of Toroaua, on
lc southern side OF the island. suffered
| tI!cn. Dwellings and Other structures
cru ;hltd under their heavy load Of duSt
and ashes. the jnhabltant' fleeing iur
| safety, while many perlshCGln the ruins.
The c0Coanut lrl mutations, which cov-
cred the whole mountain side, were
Cuinplctciv destroyed: The country
west Of TOroana was cover / with Tuck
mud and ashes. Terrific III ndcr storms
| had followed each earthquake. Hot
streams OF mud NlI lava running down
the mJUutaa side lrndrr,I 1 travelling
unat,tr, and thOs% who We C Orcrluken
IN heir fight ;'1rlshcd. Fepurts iron,
AL over tie island Indicate he most Dis.
as.rrUS Consequences. Whole villages
a!c submerged and cocoa and nutmeg
pl;;ntatoNs everywhere are ruined. In
Nc northern part OF the island lava
streams were running with terrific iurcc.
Among other villages com ,le,ely ob,it,
Grated was that Of T0kckanI, famed ter
lis beauty aud wealth.
The loss OF life is son ct' ug iriyhuu, :,
bu. no accurate estimate III it can Sc.
hc made. Some place it q hlSh az IL,
600. The captain OF Il shia which took
; ass stancc 10 the sufferers says that TO-
} 600 is not too high Il figure as an csli.
. mate Of thc number OF dead. a thous-
and boules nave been picked up on the
, shore and many were found tlUatin" in
the sea. The reports Of the various cX-
plosions, we're 80 violent that they were
heard at Tcrnatc, Gorcntalo and Men
danao. The alarm reached Ternate,
and the Netherlands war ship Zccmtruw
was Immediately dispatched, while from
Mcndanao the British steamer IIecuba
was also sent to render assisLa lance and
carry supplies.
The whole island is completely deyas-
tated, and although the violent eruption
has ceased volumes OF smoke are rising,
accompanied by steam and ashes. The
lower lands and valleys are covered
with lava, which g still pouring down,
while cracks in the mountain have
opened, cmptying volleys OF steam,
stone and mud. Further outbreaks
were feared, and us fast as steamers and
vessels could be obtained the inhabi-
tants still alive were fleeing.
Property worth millions upon NIL
lions IS destroyed forever. For many
years the Inhabitants Of Sanyn Island
living within the shadows OF dormant
crater had titled the soil and prospercd,
their chief industry being the GROWING of
nutmeys, cocoauuts and grapes. the
product being regularly shipped abroad.
Their life was a romantic one, favored
by Provide nee with climate cuuallinr,
il not surprising, that OF Italy, and a
soil needing ltLle cultivation to make it
profitable. With no political national
disturbances the semi savage natives
were gradually becoming civilized, The
villages and towns were well built, and
had schools and churches.
The awful devaotaton began at y
o'clo. k on the morning of June /. There
was terrible rumble, Il column OF ruddy
flame shot up from the cral.r az h!yn ia
the hHvens as the eye cou!I reach, and
immediately afterwards ho' ashes were
falling lik" snowilAkcs Owe the whole
country. Dus! was dying in ali ,lircc-
tlnns, and from tn" time OF The Irst cN.