The Forrest City times., 1905-05-12
AFRICA'S BUSY VOLCANOES
Facts of Interest Concerning Great Eruption Near Lake Kivu
 Last Spring.

A few facts have al last reached the outer world concerning the great vol eanic eruption that began on May l3 last Tn the lake region of Central Africa. re- ports the New York Sun of late date.
 The eruption was very severe for three days The wide. lava covered plain in which the active volcanoes are found seemed to be covered with flame that poured forth from many Assures in the rock. What seemed to be a col umn Of lire was maintained to a height of several hundred feet for several hours.
 Near these volcanoes on the south is Lake kivu. in one of whose northern bays occurred terrific subaqueous eruption. The water for mile around was turned yellow by the outpouring Vapor heavily charged with sulphur Many thousands of fish were killed and their bodies fleated on the surface
 This region. north of Lakes Kivu and Tansanyika. is the greatest center of volcanic activity in Africa and One of the largest in the world and it was never heard of till ten years ago. The discovery of these volcanoes by Count Fon GOetzen cid considerable damage to the theory that volcanoes are devel- opsd only in proximity 10 the sea.
 These volcanoes are about roo miles from the Indian ocean, almost in the heart of the continent. The other great center ot present volcanic phenomena in Africa is also hundreds of miles in- land. near Lake Rudolf
 Students of volcanoes now think it is better to say that they are found both on the margins Of the sea and in the neishborhood Of great depressions ip the land surface caused by violent move- ments of the rocks, which have produced lines of weakness. through which vol canic energy is able to find vent.
 There are eightvolcanoes within sight. ot one another just little north of Lake kiyu. They are in three groups The two western groups are composed each of three extinct volcanoes. while the eastern group contains two towering mountains that are at times exceeding ly active.
 In addition to the lively ebulition' from these craters. the region is richer than most other volcanic districts in mineral and hot springs and ether mani- 1estations of vuleanism
 The two active cones are aYo2e the very largest in the old world and are almost unique in their great distance rom the sea. The larger of the two kirungu gu-cha-gungo, is a single huge cone. rising to a circular and unbroken rim. II $50 feet in height.
 This rim incloses a vast crater over mile in diameter that has always beer full of steam and smoke when visitor! have peered over the edge. so that the, have been unable to learn the nature O the crater floor or of its interior walls
 IL is inferred that the crater is O enormous depth. for stones rolled owe the edge of the chasm have merel, bounded from rock to rock, their con cussions becoming fainter and fainter with nothing to indicate that they final l ly found resting place
 
 is at least 1l.000 feet in height. 1T i: likely at any time to be active: and re cent lava streams around it's summit have been giving out dazzling white jets of steam.
 It is a wonderful region. Besides the great volcanoes, active or extinct are large numbers Of isolated lifeless craters still perfect in form. and those that are farthest from the smoke mountains are terraced to their tops and covered with fields of beans and other native crops.
 Twenty years ago no one knew that there was a single active volcano in Africa. Since then number of very lively volcanoes have been discovered Tn addition 10 a number of the largest mountains on the continent now life less, but which were built by mighty outpourings of lava