The Greeley tribune., 1906-05-24
ERUPTION OF KRAKAT0A.
Volcanic Explosions in East In
dies the Most Terrific in
History.
Vast Volumes of Ashes Blown Twenty
Miles Above Earth - Detonatlons
Heard Three Thousand Miles Dis
tant.
By Sir. Robert Ball.

The folloaoing description By Sir
Robert Bal OF the eruption Of krdkd-
t0d aoiH be read toith special interest
at the present time. II is taken from
his book. THE Edrth'S BegiHning,' re-
Gently published by ID. Appleton & Co.
Until the year 1888 few had ever
heard of Krakatoa. 1t was not in
habited, but the natives from the sur
rounding shores of Sumatra and Java
used occasionally to draw their canoes
up on its beach while they roamed
through the jungle in search OF the
wild fruits. The island seemed to owe
it's existence to some frightful eruption
of bygone days. but for a couple OF
centuries there had been no fresh out
break.
In 1883 Krakatoa suddenly sprang
into notoriety. Insignificant though 1t
had hitherto seemed, the little lsland
was soon to compel by its tones or
thunder the whole world to pay it in
stant attention 1t was to become the
scene of volcanic outbreak so appall-
ing that it is destined to be remem-
bered throughout the ages.
At first the eruption did not threaten
to be of any serious type. In fact, the
good people of Batavia, so far from be-
ing terrified at what was in progress
in Krakatoa, thought the display was
such an attraction that they chartered
steamer and went forth for pleas
ant picnic to the island. Many OF us,
am sure. would have been delighted
10 have been able to join the party
who were to witness so Interesting
spectacle. With cautious steps the
more venturesome of the excursion
party clambered up the sides OF the
| volcano, guided by the sounds Whlch
were issuing from its summit. lhere
| they beheld a vast column or steam
pouring forth with terrific noise from
profound opening about thirty yards
in width.
AS the summer of this dread year
advanced. the vigor of Krakatoa stead
ily increased, The noises became more
and more vehement These were pres
emily audible on shores ten miles alsE
taut, and then twenty miles ulslati.'
until the great thunders OF the VOL
cano. now so rapidly developing, as
tonished the inhabitants that d"eil
over an area at least as large as Great
Britain. and there were other ssmp-
toms of the approaching catastrophe
With each successive CONFUSION q
ouantity of fine dust was projected
aloft into the clouds. The wind coulc
not carry this dust away as rapidly as
it was hurled upward by krakatoa' an,
accordingly the atmosphere became
heavily charged with suspended parti
cles. A pail of darkness thus hnns
over the adjoining seas and Islands
Such was the thickness and the defsl'!
of these atmospheric volumes
Krakatoa dust that for hundred
miles around the darkness of mldhlsh
preyailed at midday. Then the aWi"
tragedy of krakatoa took place MAN
| thousands of the unfortunate NINA"
itants of the adjacent shores OF gu
matra and Java We're destined never
hehold the sun again. They were pres
emily swept away to destruction III d
Invasion of the shore by the tremeh
dous waves with which the seas sur
rounding krakatoa were aSltatea:
The development of the volcanic en-
orgy proceeded. and gradually the TEL
ror of the inhabitants OF the surfouh'
ing coasts rose to a climax. July hii
= ended before the manliestatioilS
( Krakatoa had attained thelr luil VI,
Sc lence. BY the middle OF August u
S manic was widespread, loF lhe 9up' VII
l. catastrophe was at mana.
II On the night of Sunday, August :
- 1883, the DlackNesS VI th' ~ =. ~
u. now much thicker than ever III u
Straits of Sunda and adjacent paIta
Sumotra and Java, was only occasio'
anu illnmined by lurid flashes fro
tha volcano. The Krakatoa thunae
B. n,ere on the point of attaining the
es comnlete development. At the town
he batavia n hundred miles distant. 'he
es ,,,os no quiet that night. The nous
us nr,bIed with the subterraneah VI
,anre and the windows rattleu as
haayv artillery were being dlschars
- ,ha streets and still these ehoi
soemeG TO be only rehearslhS lof
sS,nrama display. On the morhiliS
N6rday August 81 1883. the reheai
ais were over and the performance
can An overture. consisting OIL
- tbree Introductory explosions,
Vi adod el Inv n frightful convulsl
which tore away large par VI
Island of Krakatoa and scattereu 1t
tbe winds of heaven.
This supreme effort 1t was "h
aarcad the mightest noise that'
,uld e.. as we can ascertain. mas ever "
i'a,rd on this globe. 1t must haIe w
;,Ioed loud noise which couiu u a q
pht: ,nnr krakatoa to BATAVIA allu =
,,rye its vehemence over So r,
Iit,tonce. but we should ioIih
;nadaouate conception Oh lhe ts
of t' the eruption Of kraha'Pa rdTa nsard RI
tbought that its SOUNDS "gle nS r
,ho nose merely a hundred miles on; nni y
would be little indeed coinpare" 1nn,. wr
What What is recorded, on testimony WI
I, Is impossible to doubt. oo stretc
Westward from krakaton - 0r,
thr wide eApanse OF the lnu'nn ,hn Sir
On the opposite side from as tRo Podrir
/ nn, of Sunda lies the Island ..ao ol N" Teing
e e up tbe distance from kraka'Ha ,"aou nrC
IL most 5000 miles. 1t mas mas ote" Na donI
mule, nx evidence when Chhho1 vol,
She ~ +ha thunder of the great .,
back thaI ~ thc attention of an llI
e. gent coastgqa55d ,Sa on character hpu.:e .,
stand carefully noteu VIC "a shei. &C
when sounas and ehe shS