The Washington bee., 1892-08-06
RIVERS OF MOLTEN ROCK.
Terrible Scenes Witnessed at Great San
gir's Awful yisitatioD.

Terrible Scenes Witnessed at Great san
gIr's Awful visitatioD.
Letters from Celebes, by way Of AM
sterdam, giving details of the recent
eruptiono of the volcano Gunona ON Great
Sangir Island state that the eruption com
menced at p. M, and was unheralded
by the slightest seismic warning. lDl'
mense volumes of fame and smoke and
masses of stone suddenly burst from the
volcano. The stones fell all over the
island. killing hundreds of natives WHO
were busy in the fields getting in the rice
crop. Those who succeeded in reachirg
the supposed shelter of their homes
found no refuge, many houses having
been crushed beneath the weight of fall
ing stones, and roofs having collapsed un-
der the weight of ashes, burying the IN
mates, in many instances whole fam
lilies.
Streams of lava flowed with frightful
rapidity down the slopes of the burning
mountain, upon which there were sit
uated numerous farms and villages.
Houses and fugitives alike were over
whelmed by these rivers of molten rock.
1t is estimated that over 200 persons
perisIed on the slopes of the mountain
and many hundreds more in the low
lands. but the exact loss of life Is not yet
known. a week after the eruption had
abated. the inhabitants were still In
state of terror and would not approach
the scene of the disaster.
The island is now threated with famine,
all the crops having been destroyed. Co
Goa trees are still standing, but their
leaves and fruits have been destroyed
and their stems left bare. In many
parts of the island wells have become
dry.
The Dutch authorities are doing the
best they can to alleviate the distress
Of the people. A government steamer
has been placed at the disposal of the To-
cal controller to distribute relief. Rice
and many doctors have been sent to the
island The inhabitants, though nearly
iemented with terror, are docile, and the
authorities have met with no disorder.
Further reports, received by way of
Japan. prove that the extraordinary
''ory Of volcanic eruption on the Great
Sangir Island, in the Malay Archipelago,
was not exaggerated. Without warning
1f any kind long-quiescent volcano
Ourst forth with belchings of mud, ashes
and white-hot lava, burying peaceful
towns and fruitful plantations, ripping
up the solid earth to engulf a helpless
people, and in two days destroying ten
thousand lives and converting a richly
prosperous island into desolate and ten
antless waste. The island is one of a
;hain of islands near the Philippines. 1t
IS now a desOlate, smoking waste, as
every person who could get away has
abandoned it, fearing renewal of the
terrible eruption.
Property worth millions upon millions
is destroyed forever. For many years
the inhabitants of Sangir Island, living
within the shadows of dormant crater,
had titled the soil and prospered, their
chief industry being the growing of nut
111sgs, cocoanuts and grapes, the pro-
iuct being regularly shipped abroad.
The villages, churches and schools were
well built.
The whole of the island" says one
writer is mass of smouldering ruins.
The people who lived and prospered there
nave lost all they ever had, and now the
'nly thing for them to do is to leave for
another and more favored spot or stay
there and die.