The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-06
VOLCANOES In JAPAN.
Six Burning Peaks Among tho
SACRED Mountains"
Ths PsoBis Are Kept In Constant Ter
ror for Fear Of an <Erup-
tion-A Gigantic
Crater.

Ths ,Psepis Are Kept In . Constant Ter
Eor for Fear Of an <Erup-
tion-A Gigantic
Crater.
A recent cable message from Shang-
hal informs us that the Japanese vol
cano Bsndal-san is again active. This
Is the mountain that was in a fierce
state of eruption in 1883, when nearly
one-half of the main peak. split off and
fell over upon villages, arabic land and
forests, burying hundreds Of +;hum1n
beings, damn,ing up some streams and
changing the course Of others, and SO
altering the entire appearance OF the
country that even at this day, accord
ing to the New York World, the ghast-
ly effects Of the cataclysm are still
horribly apparent. To add to the ter
rors Of the immediate. explosion vast
streams of lava and volcanic mud
poured out over the lana, carrying the
work of destruction far beyond the
limits Of the fallen mountain. Beyond
the range Of these, again, huge masses
ofrock were hurled by the force Of the
e:1losion, carrying death and destruc-
tion to hamlets and villages over .
mile from the peak.
Bandal-san is one of the six volca-
noes Of Japan at present or quite re-
Gently in a state of activity. The 9TH
ers are Asamayama, shirsne-san, Vries
island (Oshima), Asosan and Koma-ga-
take. The first two are in eastern Ja-
pan, in the geographical division known
rs the Nalasendo, and have been 'fre-
quently visited by foreigners. The
third Is In the Pacific ocean, Just south
OF the entrance to Toxic bay: and It's
smoky cap, at times suggesting heavy
fog bank, will be distinctly remep-
bered by all who have been to or como
from Yokohama by steamer. This is
land is In plain sight from the famous
seaside resort and historical place,
Kamakura. Its smoke is looked upon
% an earthquake barometer, sort OF
vent for the hidden forces Of nature.
Whan the smoke is visible tho people
feel that there Is no great danger Of
earthquakes, bat whenthe smoke dis
appears they think that the :psnt-up
steam must assert itself In some other
way. Il is said that for some days
prior to the great earthquake Of l0c-
tober, 1891, no smoke at all was seen
over Vries island and the fishermen
along shore were extremely nervous.
The fourth volcano Is in the province
Of Hige, southern island Of sKyushiu.
It is about eighty miles due east of@the
port of Nagasaki, but being separated
by Shimabara bay from the peninsula
ON which that town In situated, is mot
readily accessible. Still good many
foreigners, residents OF Japan and
visitors from China principally, have
visited It and 1t well repays all effort,
for It has the largest crater In tho
world. The fifth volcano Is only few
miles east Of the port Of Hskodate. It
Il . singularly beautiful mountain and
"a the road from Hakodate to Volcano
bay past the lakes Is a.good one many
people visit the mountain. The view
of It from the deck Of y smallstasaer
which crosses Volcano bay Ia the most
beautiful Of its kind in all Japan.
Bandal-san is in the province OF Iva
shiro, and Is about. one hundred asnd
seyenty-Ave miles north OF Toxic It
Is readily accessible. rs the Northern
railway, now. open, runs within . COM
paratively short distance Of II, AndSthfs
Is the line over which all who risitth
famous shrines of Nikko pass. IRE In.
terest which wos awakened q In the
mountain in 1888 has made II ono Of the
Hshow" places of Japan, and tourists
often 20 there. In 1883 the relief COM
mittees and scientists who visited the
sceuce of destruction as soon rs possi-
BILE had considerable difficulty In get
ting across country and had to put up
with many hardships. -
All of these volcanoes are included In
the list of sacred mountains" Of Japan
and are annually visited by large num-
bers~ of pilgrims during thu summer
months. Wherever one travels Atsthat
season bands of these interestinY.peo.
pie are met. They wear white clothing
of q certain pattern, are equippedwith
. mat ON which they sleep at night and
use as . protection against the SUN or
rain during tho day.; and a,peculiar,
bowlshaped hat of hugh dimensions.
Although peerless Fuji-Yama Is: con-
!sidered the most sacred OF all. the ia
nous mountains and is undoubtedly OF
volcanic origin, It is not active. There
is one place on the west side where the
ground is noticeably warm, and .indi-
cations Of seismic potentialitiesars not
wanting. :.
Turkish superstitisns. ...
ia, pair of scissors are left on "a
table open it is . sign Of, q quarrel II
they fall upon the floor and stick up 1t
means visit, and if an apple or other
fruit falls from your hand just as you
are about to put it in your mouth 1t is
= sign some one envies you. II q loaf
or piece of bread falls to the floor It