The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04

appeared washed away by the waves.
The disposition of the mountain ranges
the development of some considerable
streams, both In LuzOn and Mindauao.
The most copious is the Cagayan, or
200 miles between two cordilleras in Luz
ION, enters the sea through a broad es-
tuary facing the island of Camlguln The
Agno, which reaches the coast on the
south side of Lingayen bay. receives the
waters auriferous sands of the Benguet
cirque. Limestone amphitheater. sup
upheaved atol The Pampagan, which
traverses the vast plain of like name,
after receiving the overflow or several
Manila bay, where it has developed
broad delta projecting beyond the old coast
line. The .Pasigs which fails into the
like the Russian Neva acquires great i'm
portaEce as the emissary of the I.aguna,
and because Manila. capital of the Philip
pines. stands upon its banks, small, hat-bot-
toned steamers ply on the PaSig, between
the lake and the sea-
In Mindanao the largest river IS the Agu-
san, or Butuan, which is navigable for over
sixty miles from its mouth. Another stream,
also known as the Rio Grande, is said to
rise in Lake Magindanao. in the center of
the island flowing thence southwest and
northwest TO Illana bay. in the Celehes sea.
KRAKATAU DESTROYED.
The Island of Krakatau, in the Sunda
strait, part of the Samaritan system, was
practically destroyed by volcanic eruptions
in August, 1888. Recus states that about
two-thirds of the island eight or ten miles
in circumference, was blown to pieces and
the whole topography of the Sunda strait
was changed. In all the surrounding waters
the detonations were clearly heard and the
commotion shook the atmosphere for
space estimated at one-fourteenth of the
planetary surface. The displacement of
rocks in the form of ashes and pumice
stone was estimated af as much as 6S0OoO,-
OGJ,OCO cubic feet Reclus's account of the
destruction of the island is as follows:
Til recently Krakatau, rising to a height
OF 2,27O feet, was hailed with JOY by ma
riners crossing the strait, and vessels con-
tdently rode at anchor under its shelter in
depths of from twenty-five to thirty fa-
thomS. The last recorded outburst, that of
1861, had already long been forgotten by
the natives. But in the month of May, 1885,
the fiery demon again awoke; on one of the
northern shoulders the ground was rent
asunder, flames burst forth, detonationS and
discharges OF yapors and ashes followed in
rapid succession
But SO far the display differed in one re-
spect from similar manifestations observed
in SO many parts of Indonesia, and excur-
siOnists from Batavia even landed on the
island and approached the crater. But aft
er three months of groanings and rumblings
the volcano put forth all its strength, and
in a few hours the whole topography of the
Sunda strait was changed. AT Ba-
was SO terrible that an eruption was
supposed to have occurred in the inn
mediate vicinity, and every moment the
ground was expected to open. In all the
surrounding waters, as far as the China
sea, in the Bay of Bengal, throughout half
OF the Indian ocean as far as Rodrigues.
everywhere the people wondered what
mighty fleets were engaged in deadly COM
bat in the neighboring seas. The commo-
tion shook the atmosphere for vast space,
estimated at the fourteenth part of the
planetary surface; the underground NUT
terings heard in the American island of
Krakatau, may even have proceeded from
the same source. The clouds of ashes
elected to height of sixteen, or according
to one report twenty-one miles, fell in dense
masses over vast space round about the
island, which had been blown to pieces.
Within a range of nine miles the bed thus
terror of Sumatra, ninety miles off, some
places were covered two or three inches
deep. and the surface of the water
yond the. Keeling islands, distance of 72O
miles The debris was waited as far as
the shores of Madagascar. and the dis
placement of rocks in the form of ashes and
pumice was estimated al as much as $780,
600, 600 eco of cubic feet. The whole terrestrial
atmosphere would even appear to have been
charged with the impalapabe volcanic dust
as far as the upper limits Of the aerial space.
at least, according to Norman Lockyers
theory, attributing the marvellous afterglows
igneous particles elected by Krakatau on
Aug. 26. 1888. The seas also were agitated
as attested by the readings Of the marco
graphs of various oceanic stations. and in
the s,o indian LA ocean BY The grest marine waye
far as the Cape of Good Hope.
COAST TOWNS VANISHED.
The reports of the fugitives from the
threatened villages and of the crews of ves-
sells near the scene of the disturbance created
an impression that the field of destruction
had ever been still more widespread. But
after the ashes were dispersed and shippers
could again venture into the Sunda strait
the spectacle revealed to them seemed none
the less narrowing and bewildering. The
coast towns Of AMER and Tjaringi, on the
Javanese side, Beneawang and Telokh-
Betong on that of Sumatra, had disappeared
while no trace remained of the numerous
villages lately dotted along both shores. The
cocoanut forests which fringed the sea-
board to the foot Of the hills had been swept
clean away; a huge wave 100 to 120 feet high
caused by the sinking of the volcano, had
dashed against the coast, carrying headlines
and excavating new inlets. All the works Of
men were destroyed, and over 10000 persons,
overtaken during the terrible morning.
''blacker than the night" were overwhelmed
In the deluge of waters rolling in from the
sea, or In the showers of mud and ashes
falling from above. Within the limits of
house keeper, perched on his watchtower
100 feet above an isolated rock escaped
scathless in the midst of the surrounding
pother. So dense was the darkness that he
failed to notice the mighty wave that SUBJ
merged the lighthouse all but his lantern
OF krakatau itself nothing remained but
the southern volcano: all the northern
heights or about two-thirds of the island
some eight or ten miles in circumference,
had been blown to pieces, giving place to
an abyss where a sounding line thousand
feet long failed to touch the bottom. From
the preached wall of the southern volcano
rolled continual avalanche of stones, while
the dust from the crumbling remains rose
in clouds to the sky. But if some lands
had vanished, Others formed by vast heaps
of pumice and ashes, were raised from the
bed OF the sea. The Island of Verlaten was
more than double in size, and heights APP
peared where the plummet had lately re-
vealed depths of 230 feet. Other islands,
such as Sebesi, which had recently been
covered with forests and human habita-
tions. presented to the view nothing
but bare surface of whitish rock.
To the new islands were added the float
ing masses of pumice forming bars at the
entrance. of the bays, and for weeks and
months blocking the passage to the ship
ping. Gradually the action of the waves
and marine currents swept by the strait of
these floating islands and heaps of emerged
scorlae; but the submarine crater which
was open to the north of Krakatau had held
its ground. The geological studies made on
the spot show that this crater had pre-
viously existed, and that the northern part
of krakatau was. on the contrary. of re-
cent formation. What remains of the vol
cano and adjacent islets of Verlaten and
Lang are the three outer fragmentS-the
tripod. so to say--of a mountain over $500
feet high, which at some former time rose
above the present eruptive crater
AN EXPENSIVE ANECDOTE.