The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-25
AvoLCANo NOWADAYS.
The Eruptions of Cotopaxi in 1917 Described
Tividly.
youths Conpsnion.l


youths Conpanion.l
Mr.. Whvmper in his new book, "Trav-
els Among the Great Andes OF the
Equator" speaks of the Cotopaxi as an
ideal volcano" at is in a state OF per-
petusl activity, and has been ever since Z
has had place in history" Its activity
is irregular, however. The lsst great
eruption took place in 1877. Early in
that year q somewhat unusual degree
of activity was noticed, and columns of
smoke-composed OF fine dust, or
volcanic ash"-were seen to rise LOCO
feet above the summit of the mountain.
The people of the surrounding country
seemed not to have become alarmed until
June %. Then, shortly after midday, an
immense black column about twice the
hight OF a cone, or about $4,000 feet, was
projected into the air, accompanied by
tremendous subterranean believing.
All night the summit glowed, but in the
morning there was nothing unusual in its
appearance till 6 80 o'clock, when another
enormous column rose from the crater.
Within an hour and half il began TO
grow dark in Quito, and the darkness in-
creased until at noon il was ike mid
night.
One man told Mr.. Whymper that he
tried to 90 home, but could not see his
own door when directly opposite IL. An
other said that be could not see his hand
when it was held close to his face. The
wind had carried the colun n of dust in q
northerl vsdirection shrouding the city.
The eruption was visible from points al
the south. For some time no alarm was
felt. The Inhabitants are accustomed to
zee the mountain smoking and blowing oil
steam, aud even column Of ash several
times higher than usual would not at
tract special attention.
At 10 o'clock, however, some residents
of Mulato were looking at the summit,
and al at once saw molten lava pouring
through the gaps and nolches in the llp
of the crater bubbIing and smoking like
the froth of pot that suddenly boils
over"
In a few minutes the mountain was en-
veloped in smoke and steam and BEGAN
/ invisible, but out of the darkness q moan
ing sound arose which grew into a roar,
and deluge of water, blocks OF ice, mud
and rocks rushed down, sweeping away
everything that lay in its course and leav-
ing a desert in its rear. For part OF its
course it is estimated that il travelled at
luc Vi ulll lOuts
The scene upon the cone itself must
have surpassed anything ever seen by
man. Molten rock filed the crater 10
Overlooking. Its rise was sudden. and its
fail. perhaps equally abrupt. One may
well pause to wonder ct the power which
could raise the quantity sufficient to fill
this vast arena, 1900 feet above the Level
Of the sea. even for moment.
The weight must be reckoned al
hundreds OF millions of tons, its heat at
Thousands of degrees Fahrenheit; sOd
vi ~ it emerged through the depressions
OF "a rim Oh all sides at once-and fell in
strOams or cascades upon the surround
ing slopes OF snow, ice and glacier. much
of il must have been instantly blown into
the air by the sudden evolution of steam,
and falling again upon the cone, must
have bounded dow ward in furious leaps,
blowing up the mountain like cannon
shot.
Portions of the glaciers, uncemented
iron their attachments BY the enormous