Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-05-21
VOLCANOES.
FAMOUS AND DISASTROUS ERUP-
TIONS OF HISTORY.
TERRIBLE HAVOC RAISED IN TRoPic
HANDSOME ACTIVE AFTER
SLEEP OF CENTURIES.

Volcanoes and earthquakes have al
ways been the most dreaded by humanity
Of all calamities that could befali q COM
monty. The causes producing the t~o
geological disturbances SO prolific of fear
and terrible havoc are practically the same.
They result from the fact that the in
terror OF this globe is still intensely hot,
rad.sting heat into space and conse-
quently contracting In bulk. Portions of
motion rock are from time to time ejecteo
and sudden seismic disturbances occur
which cause obstruction like that at ST
Pierre from volcanic eruptions. or the
earthquakes which have recently killed
hundreds OF people in several OF the Gen.
trail America countries.
During the existence of This world
many important geographical changes
have been made through this natural
phenomena. Scientists have found
traces of this in many quarters OF the
globe where there have been no heavy
earthquakes or volcanic eruptions for
ages aud ages. Volcanoes range in size
from dimiDutive cone to huge noun.
tain. IN both cases they are formed from
material which has been bsiebed forth
from the earth's interior. They can
break through any kind of geolog icai
formation, and have come through
granite of immense depth, and also
their awful power being demonstrated
by extinct volcanoes that have been dis
covered in France and Scotland. Those
known as Etns and vesuvius emerged
from beneath soft marine strata.
They are generally classed as active,
dormant and extinct. In many cases,
however, it is impossible to distinguish
the latter two, and many that have re-
manned quiescent for hundreds OF Gen.
turtles have been known to suddenly
break forth In the most violent manner.
Such q one was Sornena. which, after
being dormant almost beyond time i'm
memorial, became active in the first CEN
tury OF the Christian era and ultimately
produced Vesuvius. The latter, In 70 A.
such gigantic volume and so rapidly that
the inhabitants OF the city of Pompeii
and several other adjacent towns were
destroyed as were the people OF st. Pierre.
But Pelee, the volcano which SO quickly
ended St. Pierre and its people, was
always considered extinct.
Mt. Epomeo, on the island OF Ischia,
furnishes another illustration OF the un-
eertaintics OF these dread creatures of
the earth's hidden mysteries. Ii re-
NAMED dormant for about seventeen
centuries, and then, in 1902, burst forth
with the utmost violence. In operation
volcano emits gases, yapor, ashes, bould-
ers and lava. Sometimes the acids are as
destructive to life as is the lava and ashes.
The orator OF Idien, volcano in Java,
turned loose a huge lake OF acid wat
which rushed down the mountain side,
snd the poisonous properties of the
liquid caused widespread destruction
smong human beings, cattle and birds.
The ashes sent forth by volcano are
generally so fine that they will penetrate
= house through the smallest cracks and
cresices. They are generally SO hot thst
the inhalation of the smallest amount
VIII cause decth. Ashes have been known
10 faii over a country covering radius