“Volcano”

Date

6-22-1812

Newspaper

Norfolk Herald

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 3

Newspaper Location

Norfolk, Virginia

Serial Number

1008

Abstract

Report from Barbados for the volcanic eruption at St. Vincent’s. Good detailed report

Transcript

VOLCANO. From the Mercantile Advertiser. Bridgetown, Barbadoes, May 6, 1812. Account of a Volcanic Eruption of Mount Souffriere (Brimstone Mountain) in the island of St. Vincent's,* which happened on the morning of Friday last. Amongst the evils, natural and experimental, which this island did already most woefully experience, it has now to enumerate the awful visitation of an eruption of the Stouffriere Mountain, which, in its symptoms and effects surpasses the most of the picture we can possibly draw of it. The following, as far we have yet ascertained, 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 from the bowels of the mountain, threw the whole neighbourhood into the utmost consternation-But this is not all-the amazing scene remains yet to be told. The eruption, continuing with increased violence on Thursday night and yesterday morning, presented 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 [unreadable] burning matter, and scattering in the air large pieces of rock, which, in their descant, made a [unreadable] among the cattle, &c.--[unreadable] may be formed of this most awful conflagration, when it is stated, that showers 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 an enormous size, which, in their 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 into the air, resembled the stars in a rocket!-The vivid flashes of lightning which shot forth with a noise far exceeding the heaviest artillery, resembled in colour and brightness, what is usually seen in a tempest; and the curling sheets of smoke so obscured the sky, that yesterday morning was nearly involved in noctural darkness!-So dreadful were these appearances, that our terrors added new horrors to the awful scene-the whole island was in a state of consternation, and the people, filled with supplication and dread, precipitately retreated from their homes to places of shelter!- "We have not been able, as yet, to ascertain correctly the extent of the 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 are so covered with ashes and vitrified pieces of stone, that there is not left a bit of ground for the cattle to feed upon!- "Accounts from the post at Owia, have just reached town; they report, that that part of the island present 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 split open, from which issued torrents of lava, consuming in its course every tree and shrub that impeded its way; and 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 of the raging of a tempest-the murmur of a troubled sea-and the roaring of thunder and artillery!"- *St. Vincent's is one of the Caribbees, lying between long. 61, 10, W. And lat. 13, 5, N. being about 17 miles long and 10 broad. It is extremely fruitful, being a black mould upon a strong loam, the most proper for the raising of sugar; here also [unreadable] cultivate cinnamon, [unreadable], camphor, gum, storax, the [unreadable] tree, &c. Here a ferocious war was raged against the native Caribbees; the [unreadable] was, that their retain a dislike to the English and partiality for the French.

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