The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-02-12
ONLY AS A
CURIOSITY
Do the Mexicans View only
Volcano in America.
Colima Has been Active for Over
Hundred Years But Nearby
Village Remains Intact

The eruption Of the Mexican volcano
Mount Colima. is not causing much
anxiety among the people Of Tuxpan.
the Gown at its foot. The vo camo has
been in an almost constant state OF
seuniactiveay with occasional outbursts
Of fire and lava, for more than CEN
fury. The natives who live almost
Within its shadow are used to the Zero
cious threats of the oldmountain. 1t
is really "a very enjoyable form OF
entertainment for the people Of TmUpan
In it's most violent periods when the
heavens are lighted with the glowing
flames and fire from its creator, the
Mexicans sit ait their open windows
and doors and lounge upon Ihe benches
in the pretty plaza and view THE grand
spectacle In silent wonder.
is 1T not grand?" they comment on'
to another.
To the natives the eruption does not
portend their possible destruction, But
they fear the earth trsmblings which
frequently accompany the eruptions.
Am earthquake in Tuxpan, such as
have been occurring at frequent inter-
vals since the volcano Showed renew
ed signs of activity. quickly brings
the whole populace into the streets.
Scientists declare that these ddstur-
Dances are wholly local in character
and are directly connected with the
eruption OF the volcano.
That the vast quantities of lava
and ashes which have poured from
Mount Colima i'm the past and even
during its present state of activity
have not wrought great destruction
of life and property Is due TO the fact
that the discharges are made Through
lateral cones or craters, situated on
the western side OF the mountains,
and that the wind has nearly al
ways been favorable blowing the asheI
out to sea or in a direction opposite
the settled portions of the adjacent
valley When these conditions may
change no one can foretel.
The violent eruption which occurred
in March, 1908, resulted in blowing off
the main creast or cone of the vol
cano and two large now orifices were
formed on the western side. Through
these new outlets the lava poured in
large streams and flowed far beyond
the base of the mountain, filling the
deep barrancas or gorges and over
spreading a wide expanse of Wild and
unsettled territory. Lava is now flow
ing through these lateral cones. The
smoke and flames mount higher
through the blasted top of the mourn
tain, lending the spectacular effect Ito
the scene. The ashes shoot forth
through the main outlet and are driven
by the wind far to sea. Should the
wind change to a different quarter
the rain of ashes might quickly bury
not only the town of Tuxpan, but
many other towns within a radius
of fifty to 100 miles. In 1885 the
wind happened to be from the south
west during one of the volcanoes erup-
tions and ashes were carried as far
as San Luis Potosi, 2SO miles. There
have been several heavy falls of ashes
In Tuxpan during the last century
The 1885 outburst caused greab dam
age to property in the vicinity Of the
mountain.
Mount Coltma is said to be the
only active volucano upon the Noroh
American continent. IL had very few
eruptions during the Eighteenth CEN
tury and the villages OF the natives
crowded close up TO itsbase. 1t was
not until 1869 that the first violent
outburst In its history occurred. Muo
destruction OF property and some Toss
of life resu ted from that eruption.
"A few daring scinetists have climb
ed Mount Colima with the view OF
making close investigation OF hts
crater during the more passive periods
of the old mountain. The trip is con-
dadered very hazardous at any time
on account OF the deep barranoas THAT
must be crossed. No word has as yet
been rceve.ed from persons living TO
the west of the volcano as TO what dam
age the present flow of lava has done
in that quarter, but 1t generally is
thought that 1t has not reached any
locality where hands are dn cultivation
or people reside. Masters and crews
of vessels auuiving at Manzanll o.
about sixty miles from Mount Colima
report that they saw the heavens ht
up by fire OF the volcano when $50
miles at sea. The spectacle is grand
and almost indescribable. A slisht
fan of ashes and many small puInice
stones is repofted from points along
the coast above MlamzandlIo. kansas
4 City Star.