The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17

Of savA,i--The People Flee In Terror
From the NrtghborhOod - Features
Of the Event - Volcano SIN Active.
We have as vet received only fragn'entary
reports OF tho volcanic activity in Saeaii.
the largest island Of the Samoan group.
The ernptions. beginning about Nov. /. At
last accounts had not yet entirely sho-
sided.
This outburst Of plutonir energy II n
| interest to us because several OF the islands
belong 10 our country: and also because
the otitburst, although It has not devei-
oped any extraordinary degree OF energy
in one respect seems to contradict an ac-
cepted theory with regard to volcanic
phenomena,
Of7c!al reports and other information
eorce ming the outburst reached the Ger
man Government at Berlin about the middle
of February. The news they contained was
prepared for publication by DR.. GieorR Veg
ener, the well-known geographer Of Ber-
lin, and Ia published In the March number
OF the Zeitschritt Of the Berlin Geographical
Society, from which the following facts arc
| taken.
| It will be interesting to mention that
/
ipe|aeo, with the exception Of The little
| Roee island and a number OF coral reefs, are
| of volcanic origin every trace Of energy
had disappeared before this outburst.
There was not solfatara. fumArole or hot
spring TO indicate that a spark Of the pu-
tonic energy which, b,ft up the islands
| WAS vet alive 1t Il not strange, therefore.
that the people WEIR. greatly surprised
q. orClrrad
Since the eruptions began a nearly for
gotten tradition has been revived that at
some time. perhape about 1900. terrible
volcanic eruption occurred on Savait, south
ri the coast town OF Aopo, destroying ninety
five villages. Though considerable de-
rail with regard to this supposed outbreak
is given. DR.. Wegener believes that the
| authenticity Of the story Is not fully es-
| tablished.
He adds, however, that volcanic activity
in Samoa did not disappear until com
pAratively recent times. 1t evidently died
out gradually first in the eastern and then
in the western part OF the archipelago.
The eastern islands are older. and. con-
sequently have been exposed for longer
time to the weatherins Of the rocks and
| denudation than the Western islands. The
ancient craters OF the east have been broken
down by atmospheric influences and many
have evidently disappeared. But on Savaii
two large crhters and a great number OF
smaller ones are still in . condition Of almost
perfect preservation.
In the east the dlsintegration Of the rock
and the adnixture Of rock waste with
hurnus have prodced a rich, deep covering
Of soil while in Savaii large part OF the
surface In rock strewn and not adapted for
/ cultivation. Such facts are encouraging
al far as our own island, Tutuila, is con-
cerned, for It. is the extreme eastern land
OF the group except for few islets lying
beyond It, There seems TO he little danger
that TutuiIa will share the disturbances
from which Savaii 10 suffering.
The first news Of the outburst came to
Apia, the capital the German possessions
on Nov. 2 last The messenger who crossed
10 Upolu, on which Apla stands In an open
boat said that the north coast OF Savaii
was disturbed by a severe earthquake on
Oct. 20 and n number OF stone walls were
overthrown.
Seven shocks were observed little west
Of Ma tautu, the chief town OF the island
on the northeast coast. The next day the
villagers saw smoke apparently issuing
from mountain range known AZ Tuasivi
in the interior and some fifteen miles east
OF the western terminus Of the island.
The next night subterranean rumblinRs
were heard, and In the morning the people
saw a column Of smoke rising In the noun
,ains The rumblines and the outbursts
of the smoke cloud lighted with glow Of
Are, continued. On Nov. new and
darker smoke cloud arose, while the first
became smaller in volume. II was at this
time that the messenger left the island for
Apia,
| A soon as possible. DR., Schnee, the Ger
! man Governor OF Samoa. with several
! companions. including the astronomer.
! DR.. Tetene. started for Savaii. Arriving
on Nov. =. they found the people in a state
/ Of panic.
Many who lived on the coGst north Of
| the volcano had fed to the east. That
night flames were seen to rise from the
volcanic centre about seventeen miles
southwest OF Matautu. DR.. Tetens esti-
mated the height of the flame az varying
from 100 to 200 metres.
The most severe OF all the earthquake
shocks occurred on Nov. I. The villages
OF Safune and Sasina suffered severely.
and the stone churches OF the missions
we're badly injured. The village Of Pala
was wholly destroyed No lives were lost.
On Nov. after this earthquake shock
| Or. Tetens. with a number OF natives, in
| the midst OF hard rairlstorm pushed inland
and reached the top Of q great mountain