The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-01
E.GYN CANO IN ERUPTION
Renewed Outbreak Of Eicaraguf
Mountain Causes Devastation.
Steamship City OF Sydney Brings Report
of the Disaster to San Francisco, Call
Earthquakes Preceded Explosion.

San Francisco. Cal. After being
quiet for fifteen years the great volcano
Of MoGlotombo, OH the northwest shore
Of Lake Manugua. in Nicaragua. sud
denly burst into tremendous fury at
go o'clock on the afternoon of Jan.
uary 16.
The first news of the event came the
other day by the Pacific Mail steamer
City of Sydney. She was in the port
of Cor;nto. Nicaragua. at the time OF
the eruption. and until Q o'clock that
night and from her decks the volcano
and is appalling display of pent-up
fire and smoke were plainly visible.
It is believed there has been great
destruction of property and the loss or
many lives among the natives around
the base of. the volcano.
Momptombo is thirty rifles in the
interior from Corinto, and is a 'shapely.
conical peak 1000 feet high. somewhat
resembling the famous Fujiyama OF
Japan. It is higher than any of the
other mountains in the chain that runs
from Lake Managua northward, ana
on q clear day its outlines form al at
tractive picture for many miles.
For the past year a haZy line OF
smoke has been issuing from the peak.
a sign that the slumber Of the giant
might terminate. Planters. however.
wern reluctant to abandon their rich
fincas, and the poems remained III the
little puebloS that nestled ABOUT the
base Of the mountain.
Officers and passengers of the City
of Sydney say the day was clear and
there was no wind blowing when a
tongue of fame shot. out Of Mono
tombo's apex. The flame appeared TO
be 500 feet long. With it. mounting
straight up to the sky. arose a cloud
Of Jet black smoke. rolling up in fast
whirling convolutions. as though forced
from mighty bellows. The whole sky
was soon overcast.
But the black smoke did not obscure
the tongue of flame that stood like a
golden pillar. 1t seemed like some solid
thing. The roar Of the eruption was
heard across the valley and mountain
range clear to the sea. People in the
streets of Corinto heard it, but the
sight was more terrifying than the
sound. and the N~icaraguans did not
hide their anxiety.
A few minutes after the eruption
started kilograms began to be received
at Corinto from Leon. twelve miles
from the volcano, saying that hundreds
Of natives were fleeing in all directions
from the neighborhood of the volcano.
No particulars could be obtained. hut
the authorities at Leon expressed the
belief that a vast amount Of damage
would result from the eruption. No
lava had begun to flow so far AS was
known at Leon, nor had pumice stone
fallen, as was the case when SAM
Maria. in Guatemala was active two or
three years ago.
There were violent earthquakes just
before the eruption.
The City of Sydney left Corinto at .
O'Clock that night. and until almost
morning was within sight of the mag
nifcent spectacle of the eruption.
The sight was more terrifying than
during the day. for flames had broken
out from the apex to the base II
spread like a sheet over the cone, until
the mountain looked like 4 pyramid
FURNISHED to the brightness of the sun.
And still the tongue Of fame reacneo
out toward the sky.