The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-23
BLASTED BIZ NATURE.
A Volcanic Explosion That De-
stroyed an Island.

the most stupendous and appalling Of all
the commissions of nature which have oc-
| Cured in the history OF the world. BY IL
the greater portion of the Island CT Kra-
| katoa, in the strait OF Sunda, was de-
stroyed, while two new islands were ere
ated by volcanic action. We remember
the fact mainly on account of the mag
nifcent sunsets which followed the event
and were witnessed all over the world.
These sunsets, 1t is now hardly necessary
TO state, were caused by the impalpable
dust and yapor particles which had been
| elected from Krakatoa to n height OF 20
/ miles or more from the surface of the
earth and were still floating in the upper
| air.
The eruption caused a great seismic
wave OF the sea, which overwhelmed the
villages on the neighboring shores and
drowned upward of 10000 persons. The
| height OF the crest OF this wave has been
| variously estimated. but at Telok Betong,
| In Sumatra. the water reached within six
feet of the residcncy, which stands on a
hill rs feet above the sea, and the Dutch
mnn-of-wnr B&ouw, anchored off the
| coast, was carried by the wave up the
valley nearly two miles inland and was
left. high and dry, more than 80 feet
above the sea level.
II man were to tell us that he had
heard an explosion which had taken
place ut any town situated some 30 miles
| away. we should probably think that he
was under a misnpprehension. But IL he
told us that he had heard one that &C.
| CURED at a distance of 300 miles we
| should have no doubt as TO the condition
OF his mind. 1t is nevertheless a fact
that the explosion OF Krnkatoa was heard
| not only 80 and 300 miles away, but also
at n distance of 1900 miles. Ii was
heard in India. and il was heard in Aus
tralia, and also in the island OF Rodri.
guez, which is about 2,96S miles from
Krakatoa in n direct line. Moreover. the
seismic wave of the sea referred to was
noticed not only in South Africa, but
also at Cape Horn, which is 1900 miles
distant from the strait of Sunda. But
perhaps the most extraordinary Of all the
phenomena connected with this cata-
clysm OF nature was the atmospheric dis
turbance, or air wave, produced by the
| explosion. This air wave, it Is stated.
went three times around the EARTH and
1t has been remarked that "the charac-
ter of this disturbance would seem al
most incredible were it not for the fact
that it is attested by the barograms of
every great meteorological station on the
worlds sHface.
1t may We mentioned that. although the
great explosion did not take place until
10 n. m, during the whole Of the proceed
ing night a continuous roar. like the dis
charge Of heavy cannon or thunder. had
been heard. so that the people In the
towns and villages of Java and Sumatra
were terrified and did not dare to go to
bed. Even on the previous day, the 2Gth,
the sky we are told. presented the most
terrible appearance. fierce flashes of
lightning penetrated the dense masses of
cloud over the island, clouds Of black
matter were rushing across the sky, rap
idly recurring detonations We're heard
continuously. and large pieces of pum.ce.
quite warm, rafned down at a distance OF
ten miles.
1t is hardly a matter to be wondered
Java. 1855 miles distant, native boats
were dispatched to assist an imaginary
vessel in distress. and at Achern, lob
miles distant. it was supposed that fort
was being attacked. and the troops were
put under arms The result OF the erup-
ton was that the whole of the northern
part OF the island, seven square miles
in extent. was completely blown away,
and where there was formerly dry land
there are now soundings of 90 fathoms,
and in some parts 100 fathoms or more.
Moreover, the bed of the sea some five or
six miles to the north appears to have
been raised many fathoms. 1t is UNI
necessary TO point out how stupendous
must have been the force generated un-
der Krakatoa at the time of this erup-
ton, seeing that IL was able TO lift mil
lions OF tons and sent up a stream OF
pumice and vapory particles TO height
Of 20 miles above the surface of the
earth. We are naturally led to inquire
what was this force and how was II
generated.
The primary source from which pro-
ceeds the energy which produces volcanic
action is unquestionably the internal
heat OF the earth. At the base of the
| crater OF volcano is the top or COM
mencement of the channel or passage
whereby communication is maintained
with the heated interior, and when water
from the sea or from the underground
springs percolates through the ground
and finds its way down to this channel
| and TO the hot molten rocks below il at
| once generates steam, and those OF US
who have been unfortunate enough TO
have had a kitchen boiler burst know
| something of the explosive power of
steam. even ia small quantities. But the
following observations with reference to
this subject will give our readers Il clear
perception of the subsequent stages of
an eruption when sea or other water
reaches the heated rocks below a vol
| cano:
The water combines with the material
OF the rock, and by this combination the
melting point OF the rock is reduced. 1t
only requires the subsection of the by
drafted compound TO such heat as would
be supplied by the anhydrous iavas in
| 4 fluid condition to disengage steam and
other gases in enormous quantities and
TO produce outbursts proportionate to the
pressure and the strength Of the inclos-
ing walls. II, while this process is go
Ing on, water in large quantities gains
access to the surface of the heated mass.
solidihcation might take place, and the
escape of gases through the crater would
be temporarily checked. When at last
| the accumulated force bursts the newly