The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25

There has been much difference OF
| opinion as 10 the immediate cause OF
volcanic action, but there can be little
doubt that the energy which is mani
tested in a volcanic eruption has beer
originally derived in some way from the
contraction of the primeval nebula. The
extraordinary vehemence that a volcanic
eruption sometimes attains may be es-
pecially illustrated by the case Of the
great eruption of Krakatoa. 1t is. indeed
believed that in the annals of our earth
there has been no records of a volcanic
eruption so vast as that which bears the
name of this little island in far Eastern
seas. ten thousand miles from our shores
Until the year 1888 few had ever heard
of Krakatoa. 1t was unknown TO fame
as are hundreds of other gems of glor-
ious vegetation set in tropical waters. II
was not uninhabited, but the natives
from the surrounding shores of Sumatra
and Java used occasionally TO draw their
canoes up on its beach. while they roam
ed through the jungle in search of the
wild fruits that were abundant 1t was
known to the mariner that navigated the
Straits of Sunda, for it was marked on
his charts as one of the intricate naviga-
ton in those waters. 1t was no doubt
recorded that the locality had been once,
or more than once, the seat of an active
volcano. In fact, the island seemed to
owe its existence to some frightful erup-
ton of bygone days; but for a couple
of centuries most there had been mo fresh
outbreak. 1t almost seemed as if Krak-
I, ,5.,J hos
had become extinct In this respect it
would only be like any other similar OBJ
jects all over the globe. or like the
countless extinct volcanoes all over the
moon.
LAS the summer Of 1888 advanced the
vigor of Krakatoa, which had sprung
into notoriety at the beginning of the
year, steadily increased, the noises be-
came more and more vehement; these
were presently audible on shores ten
miles distant, and twenty miles distant
and still those noises waxed louder and
louder until the great thunders of the
volcano, now so rapidly developing, as
tonished the inhabitants that dwelt over
an area at least as large as Great Bri-
tain. And there were other symptoms
of the approaching catastrophe. With
each successive CONFUSION a quantity
Of fine dust was projected aloft to the
clouds. The wind could not carry this
dust away as rapidly as it was hurled
upwards by Krakatoa. and accordingly
the atmosphere became heavily charged
with suspended particles. a pail of dark
ness thus hung over the adjoining seas
and islands. Such was the thickness and
the density of these atmospheric volumes
of Krakotoa dust that, for a hundred
niles around, the darkness of midnight
prevailed at midday. Then the awful
tragedy of Krakotoa took place Many
thousands Of the unfortunate inhabitants
Of the adjacent shores of Sumatra and
Java were destined never TO behold the
sky again. They were presently swept
TO destruction in an invasion Of the shore
by the tremendous waves with which
the seas surrounding Krakatoa were agi-
tated.
AS the days of August passed By the
spasms of Krakatoa waxed more and
more vehement. BY the middle of that
month the panic was widespread. for the
supreme catastrophe was at hand. On
the night OF Sunday. August 70 1853, the
biackness Of the dust-clouds. now much
thicker than over the Straits Of Sunda
and adjacent parts of Sumatra and Java
was only occasionally Illuminated by
lurid flashes from the volcano. At the
town OF Batavia. a hundred miles dis
tant. there was no quiet that night. Tho
houses trembled with the subterraneap
and the windo=s ratified as II
heavy artillery were being discharged IN
the streets. And stiIl these efforts seem
ed to be only rehearsing for the supreme
display. BY ten o'clock on the morning
of Monday August p, 1873. the rehears-
ais were over. and the performance be
gan. An overture. consisting OF two or
three Introductory explosions was sue
ceeded by a frightful CONFUSION which
tore away q large part Of the island
Of Krakatoa and scattered i 70 the winds
Of the heavens. IN that final effort all
records Of previous explosions on this
earth were completely broken.
This supreme effort X was which pro-
duced the mightiest noise. 50 FAR as
We can ascertain. has ever been heard on
this globe. It must indeed have been
a loud noise which could travel from
Krakotoa to Batavia and preserve its
vehemence over 50 great a distance. bat
We should from a very Inadequate con
ception Of the energy of The eruption q
Krskatos Il ne thought that Il sounds
were heard by those merely hundred
miles OF. This would be little indeed
compared with that recorded on testi-
mony which Is impossible 70 doubt
Westward from krakatoa stretches The
vide exPanse Of the Indian ocean on the
opposite side from the Straits q sunda
lies the island u Rodriguez. the distance
from Erakatoa being almost three thou
sand miles II has been proved hy eTi-
ieuce which cannot be doubtes that TIE
.hunders q the great volcano attract
the attention q an intelligent coast
guard On RodriEusz. who carefully uotea
the character CT The sounds and TIE flr-e
for this IS she ttne the sound occupiss
rs journey.
This mighty incident n KTakatoa has
taught Us other lessons o. the corstifu-
ton Of our atmosphere We previously
knew little. OF I snight say. almost NO
thing. and as . rhe conditions prevailing
above the height q ten rafies oveZhead.
4 vas Krakatca which first gave Is a
little information which was greatly
wanted How could ne learn thai TIE
si-s1s we're Blowing S Insight four tines