Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-05-21
PREVIOUS VOLCANIC ERUPTIoNs.
A Comparison Of Some of the Gres.
Volcanic Disasters.

Professor Milne, the highest auth
ority in the world on volcanic explo.
sions. classifies erdptions into two
grades
Those that build up very slowly.
Those that destroy most rapidly.
The latter are the most dangerous
to human life and the physical face
of the country. Eruptions that build
up mountains are periodical wellings
over of molten lava, comparatively
harmless. But in this building up
which may cover a period of centuries
natural volcanic vents are closed up
and gases and blazing fires accumulate
beneath that must eventually find the
air. Sooner or later they must burst
forth. and then the terrific disasters
of the second class take place. II is
the same cause that makes a boiler
burst.
In 1888 Asama of Japan exploded
1t was one OF the most frightful erup-
tions of modern times. 1t sent down
5000 feet torrent of mud and fire
from five to ten miles broad that over
whelmed forty-two villages. Histor-
ians have never been able to deter.
mine how many lives were actually
lost by this explosion. The total ran
into the thousands.
Bandaisan OF Japan blew up July
Is. 1888, and sent 1.60O,00O,O 900 cubic
yards OF rock and earth into the val
ley beneath. Its lava stream from the
head travelled at the rate of forty-eight
miles an hour, and was hundred feet
deep. Its width ran from five to If
teen miles. But only 4O1 persons lost
their lives.
The greatest volcanic explosion ev-
er known was that of Krakatoa. on an
island in the Strait of Sunda, between
Java and Sumatra. On May 20, 1882,
the eruption commenced. but the great
explosion did not come until Aug. 26
of that year. The flames from the
crater could be seen forty miles dis
tant. The crashing explosion which
followed these flames set in motion
air waves that travelled around the
earth four times one way and three
times the other. Every self-recording
barometer in the world was disturbed
seven times by that blow up. These
waves travelled at the rate of seven
hundred miles an hour. At Borneo
1,116 miles distant, the noise of this
eruption was heard. It was felt in
Burmah, 1,47S miles distant, and at
Perth, West Australia, 1902 miles dis
tant. The Krakatoa explosion was
heard over a sound zone covering one
thirteenth of the earth's surface.
Sea waves we're created by the ex
plosion which:
Destroyed two light houses in the
Strait of Sunda.
All the towns and villages on the
shores of Java and Sumatra bordering
the strait.
All vessels and shipping there.
Thirty-six thousand three hundred
and eighty lives in that vicinity ended
Raised a tidal wave at Merak 49,
feet high.
Covered 100000 square miles oi
ocean with lava dust several inches
thick.
Submerged an island six miles
square and 700 feet high in a depth
of water $50 fathoms.
Created two new islands.
Besides this performance the erup
tions of Vesuvius seem like child's
play.
Professor Milne was asked aftei
Krakatoa's performance:
"Is 1t likely that there are volcanoes
| in the world at present that have beeI
quiet for a long time but will one da!
or another blow their heads off?"
ut is almost certain there are"
Some in Europe?"
MANY in Europe"
Some in the United States"
Undoubtedly.
Mont Pelee of Martinique has verl
fed the eminent authoritys word.
Professor John Milne. the seismol
ogist, In an interview published In tn
Daily Express, declares that his seis
mic instruments have recorded no dis
turbance and that they would almos
Inevitably have done SO had seriou
earthquakes occurred.
Prof. Mines theory is that Noun
IPelee has blown its head or OWN
to the infiltration Of water throug
the rocks until II reached the molte
material beneath, forming steam
Tremendous pressure. when somethin
had to give way.
| What Thin Folks Need
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