The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15
LIEUT.. J. W. G. WALKERS BOOK
NAVAL OFFICER WHO SURVEYED
PART OF THE CANAL ROUTE.
Danger of Volcanic Eruption Mini
mized, but Enough Told to Show
Peril Will Ever Exist.

senator was opposing the Nicaragua route,
and he called attention to the great number
of volcanoes in and about Lake Nicaragua
and along the proposed route. This is an
important point, in view OF recent vol
canic eruptions in the West Indies and
earthquakes in Guatemala. Lieutenant ].
w. G. Walker, L. S. N, son OF Admiral
Walker, head of the Isthnian canal COM
mission which surveyed the Panama and
Nicaragua routes, has written an interest
ing book, Ocean TO Ocean," that deals
largely with the typographical character
of that portion of Nicaragua through which
it is proposed to dig the canal. Lieutenant
Walker was in charge of a party Of sur
veyors and had ample opportunity to Sc
cure accurate information concerning vol
canoes and the possibility Of earthquakes,
and while he minimizes the danger TO be
apprehended he indirectly admits there is
some cause for alarm In justice to the
lieutenant it is fair to say his book was
written before the Mont Pelee and La
Souffriere outbreaks. which have demon
strated that natures internal forces have
little regard for scientific theories and that
seemingly extinct or dormant volcanoes
may suddenly become active and cause ir-
Several extracts from ocean to Ocean"
are here given. In his introduction Lieu
tenant Walker says:
1.-The great chain Of the Cordilleras which
formerly constituted the continental divide
crosses Nicaragua from the northwest TO
the southeast paralleling the eastern shore
OF the lake at "a distance of some thirty
miles and thrustng itself upon the San
Juan valley near the town of Castillo West
of this range and extending from the Gulf
OF Fonseca on the north to the Island of
Ometepe on the south is another, the Cor
dillera de los Marabios, consisting of q
series Of volcanic peaks in various stages
of activity and decay. Through these vents
has been elected in comparatively recent
geologic times the material which forms
the JinOtepe plateau and the fertile plain OF
Leon. and which by separating the former
Bay OF Nicaragua from the Pacific ocean,
has produced the present lake. Many of
the Ieaks extinct and crumbling;
others, as MomotombO, smoke and give oc-
casiOnal signs of activity. While numerous
eruptions have taken place within historic
times, none of consequence have been in
dangerous proximity 10 the canal line. and
there are reasons, which will be explained
later, for supposing that future outbreaks
will occur in the more remote portions Of
the range"
THINKS DANGER is LITTLE.
Under the head of physical considerations
the lieutenant says:
"Of prime Importance In determining the
PRACTICAL lity of the Nicaragua canal is
study of the earthquake phenomena of the
region and a consideration of the danger
to massive structures to be apprehended
from their probable recurrence. Most earth
quakes are the result either of explosions
at a greater or less depth beneath the sur
face or of dislocations of the earths crust
consequent upon an uneven elevation or de-
preston of the country. The latter class
of disturbances is hardly more likely to
occur in the canal region than elsewhere.
and its consideration may therefore be
neglected, but the explosive type of earth
quake is characteristic of volcanic regions,
and is a possible source of danger in some
parts of Central America.
THE only recent manifestations of vol
canic activity in the neighborhood of the
canal line have been in the Costa Rican
range bounding the Nicaraguan depression
on the south and in the Nicaraguan range
extending from the Gulf of Fonseca to the
twin peaks OF Ometepe and MADEIRA. In
the former range one peak has been in a
state of eruption within historic times-in
1925. OF the Nicaraguan chain MADEIRA, the
southernmost peak. is extinct and crum-
bling. Ometepe, on the same island, dis
charges small quantities of steam and sui
phurOus gases but has been otherwise in
active since 1885, when trifing eruption
occurred. Nom oacho, on the mainland near
Granada. has been extinct for ages and is
crumblng to decay. The last eruption of
Masaya-in 1S5S-was merely an overflow of
molten basaltic lava MOmOtombo. at the
northern end Of Lake Managua, emits large
volumes of VaDor and occasionally shows
other signs IF activity.
ut will thus be seen that volcanic ac-
tivity near the canal line is in a state of
decadence and that, judging from appear
ances, any further outbreak will be likely
to occur near the middle OF one OF the vol
Canic ranges. When il is remembered that
the destructive effect Of an earthquake is
limited to a comparatively small area i'm
mediately surrounding the epicentrum,
there seems to be no reason for antiCi-
pating destructive shocks along the line of
the proposed canal. Experience tends TO
show the soundness of this deduction, for
shocks which have done much damage In
Leon and Managua have been quite HARM
less at Rivas.
In the narrative OF the trip from Man
aqua to Corinto the lieutenant gives the re-
suit Of his own observations and also
quotes a Spanish writer who visited Mica
ragua IN the sixteenth century. Describing
the country near Managua. the lieutenant
says:
Near the town and far below it is a
deep, clear lake about three miles long,
surrounded by vertical cliffs, rising 500 or
more feet above its surface. Although
without an outlet, the water is fresh, and
furnishes the supply for the adjacent town
to which IL is transported in earthen Jars,
as 1t was centuries ago, by aguadoras. or
observation-disclosures and girls trained 10
the task from infancy. On the west shore
OF the lake rises the cone of the volcano
of Masaya, which, with the lake, occu-
pies an area of depression about six miles
long and four miles wide, where a large
volcanic mountain, since destroyed by en-
gulfment, once stood. The present peak
is 900 feet high, and has been inactive
since 1885, when 1t emitted flow of lava.
At the time of the conquest its vent was
filled with sea of molten matter, thought
by the Spaniards TO be gold; and in 1884,
Fray Bias de Castillo. more courageous or
more cOvetous than his fellows, made two
descents into the crater, lowering bucket
at the END or d chain in q vain attempt
10 procure some OF the precious metal.
The bucket melted the moment ii touched
the lava, and the Fray was drawn up half
dead from sulphurous fumes and empty
handed. This matter he says, resembles
a read sea, and its connections make as
much noise as do the waves of the ocean
when they dash against the rocks This
sea looks ike the metal OF which bells
are made or sulphur or gold, in a state OF
fusion, except that ii is covered with
black scum two or three fathoms thick.
Were II not for this mass OF scum, or
scoriae, the nre would throw out such an
ardor and luster that il would be impos-
sible 10 remain near it, or look upon IL.
sometimes II breaks apart in certain places,
and then one can perceive the matter, red
and brilliant as the light OF heaven. In
the midst constantly rises two large masses
OF melted metal, four or 1--WE fathoms
across, which are constantly free from the
scum and from which the liquid metal
leaps forth on every side. The sound OF
these melted streams, dashing amongst
the rocks. is like that OF artillery batter
Ing the walls OF city. The rocks around