A Lake of Fire Consumes an Island.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 860, 18 November 1893, Page 5

A Lake of Fire Consumes an Island.

The people of what was formerly the Island of Torca, Indian Ocean, once had a foretaste of what the orthdox believe the end of the world will He like. Up to 4th June, 1603, the island was thickly populated and in a higk state of cultivation. Early that morning the volcano, which had long b;en recognised us the standing: menace of the island, began to rumble in an alarming manner, and to throw ont more fire and lava than was usual. This continued to increase for several days, till at last the whole mountain ridge, which extended across the western portion of the island, appeared as a solid sheet of fire, gradually Hinting into the earth. Four days after the sinking of the mountains was first observed the entire ridge had disappeared, leaving a gigantio lake of boiling lava in its stead. This lake began to gradually encroach upon the valleys and cultivated portions of the island, and quickly consumed the whole western portion. Hundreds of people fled in boats to Amboy during the early part of i July, and others to a village on the east coast, Hislo, the largest town on the island, having been destroyed during the early aa'ys of the eruption. On 12th July all that portion of Torca west of Caraoa Creek (the only stream on the island) had entirely disappeared, a restless lake of billowy names rolling over what had but a few weeks before been fertile fields. On 18th July, 1G93, when it was apparent, even, to the moat stout-hearted, that the whole island -was doomed, the remaining islanders were hurried on to some ships sent from Amboy for that purpose. They were none too soonBeJore the vessels had gotten out of sight, a tract of land ten leagues in exte'tat plunged into the fiery lake with a prodigious noise. Ten days later the entire island had been devoured by the resistless element, which had in all probability been slowly undermining it for years.