Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1906-05-19
ERUPTION OF KRAKATOA.
Volcanic Explosions in East In
dies the Most Terrific in
History.
Vast Volumes of Ashes Blown Twenty
Miles Above Earth - Decorations
Heard Three Thousand Miles Dis
tant
BY Sir Robert Ball

BY Sir Robert Bail
me 1oIIotcing description by Sir
Robert Ban u the eruption o. hrGSo-
foa tril! D. rad iCifh special interest f
az tie present tiue It tS tGkCn from
MS book. The EGrfh's BeCiHHing. Te-
Gently Published D. ID. Appleton s. CO. +
Until the year 1SS3 few had ever
heard OF krakstoa- II was not IN +
hahited. bat the natives from the sur
rounding shores OF SuDatra and Java .
used occasionally 20 draw their canoes F.
up on its beach while they roamed +
through the jungle In search OF the .
Mild fruits The island seemed 20 owe
its existence 70 some frightful eruption
OF hygOne DAYS. out foV a couple OF
centuries there had been no fresh out
break
In 1883 Krakatoa suddenly sprang
into notoriety. Insignificant though %
had hitherto seemed. the little island
was soon 20 compel by its tones q
thunder the whole world O. pay DO in
slant attention. IL was o. become the
scene 81 a volcanic outbreak SO appali-
ing that IL is destined % De remem-
bercd throughout the ages
At first the eruption did not threaten
20 boz % any serious type. In fact. the
good people OF Batavia 80 FAR from be-
ing terrified al what was in progress
in Krakatoa thought the display was
such an attraction that they chartered
steamer and went forth for pleas
amt picnic % The island. Many ~ us.
am sure. would have been delighted
20 have been able 90 join The party
Who were O. witness So interesting a
+ spectacle. With cautious steps the
more venturesome of the excursion
I party clambered mp the sides ~ the
I volcano. guided hy the sounds which
/ were issuing from It's summit There
/ they behe,t a vast column 90 steam
/ pouring forth with terrific noise from
/ a profound opening about thirty yards
ia width.
As the summer ~ this dread year
advanced The yi-or 90 krakatoa stead
ily increased. The noises became more
and more vehement These were pres
entity audible ON shores ten miles dis
faat and then twenty miles distant
ultU the great thunlers ~ The Nol-
F cauO now SD rapidly ccVcloplng ass
t0ulshed the inhabitants thai dwell
over ara area az least as large as Great
Britain and there were other symp-
toms OK the approaching catastrophe
VITA each successive CONFUSION q
quantity II fine dust was projected
aI0ft into the clouds. The wind could
Lot carry this dust away as rapidly a.
accordingly the atmosphere became
heavily charged with suspended parti
cies. 4 pail ~ darkness thus huus
over the adjoining seas and islands
such was the thickness and the density
~ these atmospheric volumes o
krakatoa dust that Tor q hundre,
miles around the darkness OF mlluigh
prevailed at midday. Then the awfu
tragedy ~ krakatoa took place. Man.
thousands az the unfortunate lnhao
ifauts OF the adjacent shores 90 Su
matra and Java were destined never Z.
. behold the sun a-aln. They We're pres
entity swept away Oh destruction IN A.
Invasion 81 the shore hy the tremen
dous waves with which the seas sur
rounding krakatoa were agitated.
The development OF the volcanic en-
+ ergy proceeded and gradually the Ter
Tor OF the inhabitants OF the surround
ing coasts rose 10 climax. July Ia
ended before the manifestations @
. KrakaJoa had attained their FUN VIC
ience. BY the middle of August IA
panic was widespread. Tor the suprem
: catastrophe was az hand
. ON the night OF Sunday. August ..
/, 1883. the blackness OF the dust cloud.
. now much thicker than ever in "a
Straits OF Sunda and adjacent parts q
Sumatra and Java. was only occasion
ally illumined BY lurid flashes frOi
the volcano The krakatoa thunder
;. were on the point OF attaining the
; complete development. AT the town 4
le Batavia. a hundred miles distant theI
: was no quiet that night The hOuss
, trembled with the subterranean vi,
lence, and the windows ratified as
heavy artillery were being discharge
in the streets. and still these efiOr
seemed 10 be only rehearsing for q
80 supreme display. On the morning
Monday August q. 1883. the rehear
ais were over and the performance b
Gan. Az overture consisting of "a
OF three Introductory explosions VI
succeeded BY q frightful convulsiC
which tore away a large part of q
Island OF KrakatOa and scattered il
the winds OF heaven
This supreme effort il was Viii,
produced the mightiest noise that.
a. far as We can ascertain. has ever be-
heard on this globe. u must have be-
indeed a loud noise which could tray
II from krakatOa % Batavia and pr
serve its vehemence over so great
distance: but We should form a We
Inadequate conception OF the eneri
OF the eruption OF krakatoa II '
thought that its sounds were heard
those merely hundred miles o. IT
would be little indeed compares. vi
what Is recorded. on testimony Viii