Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-25

developing astonished the inhabitants that
dwslt over an acrea at least as large as
Great Britain. And there were other symp-
toms of the approaching catastrophe. With
each successive CONFUSION a quantity Of
fine dust was projected alott into the
clouds. The wind could not carry the dust
away as rapidly as 1t was hurled upward
by Krakatoa and accordingly the atmos-
phere became heavily charged with sus-
pended particles. A pail of darkness thus
hung over the adjoining seas and islands.
Such was the thickness and the density Of
these atmospheric volumes Of Krakatoa
dust that for 100 miles around the dark
ness of midnight prevailed at midday. Then
the awful tragedy of Krakatoa took place.
Many thousands of the unfortunate inhab-
tants Of the adjacent shores of Sumatra
and Java were destined never to behold the
sun again. They were presently swept
away to destruction in an invasion of the
shore by the tremendous waves with which
the seas surrounding Krakstoa were agi-
tsted.
BeIching Thunder.
On the night Of Sunday, August 26, 1883,
the blaekness of the dust clouds, now much
thicker than ever In the straits of Sunda
and adjacent parts of Sumatra and Java,
was only occasionally illumined by lurid
flashes from the volcano. The Krakatoan
thunders were on the point of attaining
their complete development. Al the town
OF Batavia, 100 miles distant, there was no
quipt that night. The houses trembled
with the subterranean violence and the
windows ratified as II heavy artillery were
being discharged In the streets. And still
these efforts seemed to be only rehearsing
for the supreme play. By 10 o'clock on
the morning Of Monday. August 27, 1888,
the rehearsals were over and the perform
ance began. An overture, consisting Of
two or three Introductory explosions, was
succeeded by a frlghtful eonvulsion, which
tore away a large part Of the island Of Kra-
kotoa and scattered 1t to the winds Of
heaven. In that final effort all records of
previous explosions on this earth were
completely broken.
The supreme effort 1t was which produced
the mightiest noise that, so far as we can
ascertain, has ever been heard on this
globe. It must have been, indeed, a loud
noise which could travel from Krakatoa to
Batavia and preserve its vehemence over
so great a distance; but we should form a
very inadequate conception Of the energy
of the eruption Of Krakatoa II we thought
that its sounds were heard by those merely
100 miles on. This would be little indeed
compared with what is recorded, on testl-
mony which It Is impossible to doubt.
Westward from Krakatoa stretches the
wide expanse of the Indian ocean. On ths
opposite side from the straits Of Sunda lies
the island OF Rodriguez. the distance from
Krakatoa being almost 5000 miles. 1t has
been proved by evidence which cannot be
doubted that the thunders OF the great vol
= -
gent coastguard on Rodriguez, who carefully
noted the character OF tae sounds and the
time OF their occurrence. He had heard
them just four hours after the actual explo-
sion. for this is the time the sound occupied
on its journey.
Extraordinary Vehemence.
We shall better realize the extraordinary
vehemence OF this tremendous noise II We
imagine a similar event to take place in
localities more known to most Of us than
are the far eastern seas.
II Vesuvius we're vigorous enough to
emit a roar like Krakatoa, how great would
be the CONSERVATION Of the world! Such
a report might be heard by King Edward at
Windsor and by the car OF all the Russias
at Moscow. II would astonlsh the German
emperor and his subjects. It would pene-
trate to the seclusion OF the sultan at
Constantinople. hansen would still have
been within its reach when he was furthest
north near the pole. 1t would have ex-
tended to the sources OF the Nile near the
equator. II would have been heard by Mo-
hammedan pilgrims at Mecca. It would
have reached the ears OF sxiles In Siberia.
No ihhabitAnt Of Persia would have been
beyond its range. while passengers on half
the lines crossing the Atlantic would also
catch the mighty reverberation.
Or, to take another illustration that I
gave some years ago in the Young Peoples
Journal; Let US suppose that a similar
earth-shaking even took place in a central
position in the United States. Let US say,
for example, that an explosion occurred
At Pixies peak - resonant a. that from