Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-24
A VOLCANO IN ACTION.


The great eruption at Bandaisan hot
springs, Japan, eight years ago, which
was almost unprecedented in volcanic
outbursts, has just been parallelcd by
similar disaster in the same district OF
Japan, though fortunately this time the
pleasure resorts near the volcanic noun.
tain were deserted, because the seas on
had not begun. Had the eruption taken
place later in the summer the loss Of life
would probably have run into hundreds,
as It did at Bandaisan, when the disaster
brought mourning to so many house.
holds.
On the morning Of March 9th the
residents OF Fukushima prefecture,
Japan. were startled by a rumbling noise.
The sullen roar continued for thirteen
hours and the earth was shaken violent.
ly. Flames issued from i've visible
cracks IN the mountain sides and dense
smoke obseured the sky for miles
around. The water OF the River Sug.
ava and is tributaries became turbid
and the people were panic.suicken.
The eruption occurred about midway
between the high peaks Of Higashi.Axu.
ma and Azuma-fugi. The rumbling
noises commenced at GIao a. m. and
did not cease until ten minutes after
midnight on the goth a second erup.
ton took place IN the immediate
neighborhood Of the first and Inc ssy
above the mountain was covered with
dense smoke ut the time.
The first eruption was accompanied
by landslip extending no feet IN
length, ! or feet in width, and 40 or
$50 feet IN depth. Happily no lives were
lost, not because the phenomenon did
not develop injurious power. hut be-.
cause the district In the vicinity of
Azuma'luii is entirely uninhabtcd.
one building, a native house. was
submerged to the caves. The injury 10
crops, was very great and the River
Abukuma, upon which many farmers
depend, became imprcgnated with the
mineral emission from the mountain.
Thousands OF acres OF fertile land are
covered with mud. AZ distance of two
u from the foot OF the volcano, two
hotspring bath houses are situated, and
these were uniniured.
The inspectors who visited the scene
as soon rs possible after the eruption
state That one large crater and several
small ones were visible, and noises as OF
loud thunder were constantly being
emitted, along with dense black sui
phurou5 fumes which Obscufcd the sky.
Lava and Jumps Of earth were showered
ON the neighbOung districts and the
scene was au awful one and seemed Ia
potlend other serious cruptions. The
hills and valleys near the volcano were
almost completely covered with lava
and ashes To the southeast OF the
eruption geysefs had spurted forth. aud
the snow being melted by the heat had
formed muddy streams An inspection
OF the craters was rendered futile by
the showers OF ashes, and they could |
not be approached within thirty feet
From the lssalkyo side there could be
seen two large Crulers and seven or
eight smaller ones. one of the former
being round IN shape and OF au area OF
about 800 square lect, while the other
was about 600 feet IN width The Jour,
ngy thence 10 the Asuma hot springs
was rendered unpleasant by the melted
snow and showers OF stones, and ON
reaching the place the solitary house of
the district vas found 10 be flooded
and the only furniture basket and nd
of an iron pot. The house appeared to
have been uuocCupled lOr q long time
For miles about the ground was honey.
Combed with the dents oI falling stones
which with numberless sparks were
thrown up hundreds OF feet az the
second eruption with q tremendous