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Date

6-16-1812

Newspaper

Petersburg Intelligencer

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 3

Newspaper Location

Petersburg, Virginia

Serial Number

1041

Abstract

Report of the eruption of a volcano on St. Vincent’s. Very detailed account.

Transcript

The Editors of the Mercantile Advertiser are indebted to the politeness of a commercial friend for the loan of the Barbadoes Gazette Extraordinary, of the 6th of May, 1812, which contains the following melancholy account of the late Volcanic Eruption in the island of St. Vincents.--N. Y. Com. Adv. "Mercury Office, Bridge-Town, Barbadoes, May 6th, 1812, (6 o'clock, P.M. "In order to relieve the public anxiety, and remove all doubts as to the nature and origin of the late Phenomenon, we publish the following melancholy account of a Volcanic Eruption of Mount Souffriere, in the Island of St. Vincents, which happened on the morning of Friday last. The intelligence was received here this afternoon- Amongst the evils natural and experimental, which this island did already must woefully experience, it has now to enumerate the awful visitation of an eruption of the ???????? Mountain; which, in its symptoms and effects, surpasses the most terrific picture we can possibly draw of it. The following as far as we have yet as certained, are the particulars: "On Monday last a loud explosion of the volcanic mountain took place, followed by an immense column of thick sulphureous smoke, which suddenly burst over the vicinity of the crater, and in the course of a minute discharged vast quantities of volcanic matter. The whole surface became covered with ashes, which presented an alarming appearance; and the noise which proceeded form the bowels of the mountain, threw the whole neighborhood into the utmost consternation.-But this is not all:--the amazing scene remains yet to betold!-The eruption continuing with increased violence, presented on Thursday night, and yesterday morning, one of the most awful sights human imagination can form an idea of. The mountain burst forth in a most tremendous blaze, throwing up huge spouts of fire and burning stones, accompanied with the most frightful thundering noise, at the same time sending down its sides torrents of burning matter, and scattering in the air large pieces of rock, which in their descent made a dreadful ravage among the cattle, &c. Some idea may be formed of this awful conflagration, when it is stated, that showers of volcanic particles continued pouring for several hours all over the Island, accompanied at intervals with violent shocks of earthquake, and at times from the dreadful aperture of the mountain, were shot off rocks of enormous size, which, in their fatal fall, have done the most calamitous injury;--and such has been the destructive impetuosity of the liquid fire that its baneful effects are of the most serious nature. The brilliancy of the flames, which majestically rose from the mouth of the crater, had a most sublime and awful effect, and the burning stones which darted in the air resembled the stars in a rocket. The vivid flashes of lightning which shot forth was a noise far exceeding the heaviest artillery, resembled in color and brightness what is usualy seen in a temptest; and the [unreadable] sheets of smoke so obscured the sky, that yesterday morning until ten o'clock, was nearly involved in nocturnal darkness.-So dreadful were these appearances, that our terror's added new horrors to the scene:--the whole Island was in a state, of trepidation, and the people filled with supplication and dread, precipitously retreated from their homes to places of shelter. "About noon yesterday, the wind blew from the South East, the Sun made its appearance, and the whole Heavens began to brighten. The eruption, we find, has abated considerably in its violence, but we understand that the leeward and windward plantations are covered all over with torrents of melted matter. "We have not been able as yet to ascertain correctly the extent of damage done, or the number of lives lost; but the principal rivers of the Island (those particularly within the influence of the volcano) are all dried up. The negro provision grounds, for miles around, are completely destroyed, and the pastures, on the leeward side of the Island, are so covered over with ashes and vetrified pieces of stone that there is not left a bit of ground, in appearance, for the cattle to feed upon. Every means should instantly be [unreadable] to, to repress the calamities likely to ensure from so distressing a catastrophe; and we trust, the Legislature will immediately adopt such measures as will ensue the importation of dry Provisions, sufficient for the call of the inhabitants. "Accounts from the Post at [unreadable] have just reached Town, they report that that part of the Island presents nothing but objects of desolation. The stupendous Block house there having fallen to the ground, and the range of the mountain on the windward side spilt open-from which issued torrents of lava, consuming in its course every tree and shrub that impeded its way, and the surface of the hills and vallies, in that quarter, covered all over, several inches thick, with a sort of volcanic matter, resembling the dross that is thrown from a Smith's forge. The noise from the mountain has been so violently felt there, that to give an idea of it, one may imagine a mixed sound made up the raging of a tempest-the murmur of a troubled sea-and the roaring of thunder and artillery, confused altogether."

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