“Description of the eruption...’

Date

12-16-1812

Newspaper

Western Intelligencer

Page and Column

Page 4, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Worthington, Ohio

Serial Number

1219

Abstract

Account of the volcanic eruption at Souffrier in the Caribbean.

Transcript

Description of the Eruption of the Souffrier Mountain, St. Vincent's, the 30th April, 1812. The Souffrier mountain, the most northerly of the lofty chain running through the centre of this island, and the highest of the whole, as computed by the most accurate survey that has yet been taken, had for sometime past indicated much disquietude; and from the extraordinary frequency and violence of earthquakes, which are calculated to have exceeded 200 within the last year, portended some great movement or eruption.-The apprehension, however, was not so immediate, as to restrain curiosity, or to prevent frequent visits to the crater, which of late had been more numerous than at any former period even up to Sunday last, the 26th of April, when some gentlemen ascended it, and remained there for some time. Nothing unusual was then remarked, or any external difference observed, except rather a stronger emission of smoke from the interstices of the conical hill, and the bottom of a crater. To those, who have not visited this romantic and wonderful spot a slight description of it, as it lately stood, is previously necessary and indispensible to form any conception of it, and to the better understanding the account which follows-for no one living can expect to see it again in the perfection and beauty in which it was on Sunday the 26th inst. About two thousand feet from the level of the sea (calculating from conjecture) on the south side of the mountain, and rather more than two thirds of its height, opens an immense circular chasm somewhat exceeding half a mile in diameter, and between four and five hundred feet in depth-exactly in the centre of this capacious bowl, rose a conical hill about 250 or 300 in height and about 200 in diameter, richly covered and variegated with shrubs, brushwood, and vines, above half-way up, and for the remainder powdered over with virgin sulpher to the top. From the fissures in the cone and interstices of the rocks, a thin white smoke was constantly emitted, occasionally tinged with a slight bluish flame. The precipitous sides of this magnificent amphitheatre, were fringed with various ever-greens and aromatic shrubs, flowers, and many Alpine plants. On the north and south sides of the base of the cone, were two pieces of water, one perfectly pure and tasteless; the other strongly impregnated with sulphur and alum. This lonely and beautiful spot was rendered more enchanting by the singularly melodious notes of a bird, an inhabitant of these upper solitudes and altogether unknown to the other parts of the island, hence principally called or supposed to be invisible, though it certainly has been seen, and is a species of the merle. A century had now elapsed, since the last convulsion of the mountain, or since any other elements had disturbed the serenity of this wilderness (than those which are common to the Tropical tempest.) It apparently slumbered in primeval solitude and tranquility, and from the luxuriant vegetation and growth of the forest, which covered its sides from the base nearly to the summit, seemed to discountenance the fact, and falsify the records of the ancient volcano.-Such was the majestic, peaceful Suffrier on April the 27th; but we trod on "Ignem repositum cinire dolose," and our imaginary safety was soon to be confounded by the sudden danger of devastation. Just as the plantation bells rung twelve at noon on Monday the 27th, an abrupt and dreadful crash from the mountain, with a severe concussion of the earth, and tremulous noise in the air, alarmed all around it. The resurrection of this fiery furnace, was proclaimed in a moment by a vast column of thick, black, ropey smoke, like that of an immense glass-house bursting forth at once, and mounting to the sky, showering down sand, with gritty calcined particles of earth and lavilla mixed, on all below. This driven before the wind towards Willibou and Morne Rond, darkened the air, like a cataract of rain, and covered the ridges, woods, and cane pieces with light grey coloured ashes, resembling snow when a little sublimed by dust. As the eruption increased, this continual shower expanded, destroying every appearance of vegetation. At night a very considerable degree of ignition was observed on the lips of the crater, but it was not asserted that there was as yet any visible ascension of smoke.- [To be continued.]

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