“Description of the eruption , Part II”

Date

1-16-1813

Newspaper

Western Intelligencer

Page and Column

Page 4, Column 1

Newspaper Location

Worthington, Ohio

Serial Number

1220

Abstract

Account of the volcanic eruption at Souffier, part II.

Transcript

(Description of the Eruption of the Suffrier Mountain Concluded.) About four hours from the lava boiling over the crater, it reached the sea as we could observe from the reflexion of the fire and the electric flashes attending it. About half past one, another stream of lava was seen descending to the eastward towards Rabacca. The thundering noise of the mountain, and the vibration of sound that had been so formidable hitherto, now mingled in the sullen, monotonous roar of the rolling lava, became so terrible, that dismay was almost turned into despair. At this time the first earthquake was felt; this was followed by showers of cinders, that fell with the hissing noise of hail during two hours. At three o'clock, a rolling on the roofs, of the houses, indicated a fall of stones, which soon thickened, and at length descended in a rain of intermingled fire, that threatened at once the fate of Pompeii, or Herculaneum. The crackling and corruscations from the crater at this period, exceeded all that had yet passed. The eyes were struck with momentary blindness, and the ears stunned with the glomeration of sounds--people sought shelter in cellars, under rocks, or any where, for every where was nearly the same, and the miserable negroes flying from their huts, were knocked down, or wounded, or many killed in the open air-several houses were set on fire. The estates situated in the immediate vicinity, seemed doomed to destruction-had the stones that fell been proportionally heavy to their size, not a living creature could have escaped without death-these having undergone a thorough fusion, they were divested of their natural gravity, and fell almost as light as pumex, though in some places as large as a man's head. This dreadful rain of stones and fire lasted upwards of an hour, and again was succeeded by cinders from three til six o'clock in the morning. Earthquake followed earthquake almost momentary; or rather the whole of this part of the Island was in a state oscillation not agitated by shocks, vertically or horrizontally, but undulated like water shaken in a bowl. The break of day if such it might be called, was truly terrific-darkness was only visible at eight oclock, and the birth of May dawned like the day of judgment! A chaotic gloom enveloped the mountain, and an impenetrable haze hung over the sea, with black, sluggish clouds of a sulphureous cast. The whole island was covered with favilla, cinders, storial and broken masses of volcanic matter. It was not until the afternoon, the muttering noise of the mountain sunk gradually into a solemn yet auspecious silence! Such were the particulars of this sublime and tremendous scene, from its commencement to its catastrophe [unreadable] to describe the effects, if possible, a more difficult, and truly a more interesting task.

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