THE RECENT TERRIBLE ERUPTION IN JAVA.

Wanganui Chronicle, 12 August 1901, Page 3

THE RECENT TERRIBLE ERUPTION IN JAVA.

HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.

BURSTING OF A LAKE OF LIQUID

BOILING MUD

THE EXPERIENCES OF A CAPTAIN,

(Hougkong Telegraph, June 14th.)

We have received from Captain T. A. Mitchell, of the Indo-China steamer FauSang, -which arrived here on the 13th inst, from Java ports, an account of the recent erruption of Mount Kloet, in Java, which we reproduce in his own words: — "The following is an account of what I witnessed at Saniarang, Java, a few hours after the erruption of Mount Kloet, which took place between 3 and 4 a.m. on'May 23, 1901: — "Mount Kloet (5676ft high) lies m the south-east of Java, and is one of a group of mountains south-south-west from Sourabaya, and distant between 50 and 60 miles. It is east-south-east from Samarang 150 miles, and consequently during this 0 season of the south-east monsoon is situated right in the -direction from which tho wind is blowing. The mountain, although a volcano, has been inactive since 1876, and gave no indication that it intended to favour the inhabitants of this beautiful island* with the performance it gave them on the above date., "The residents of Samarang, although 150 miles from the spot, were disturbed from their slumbers about 4 a.m. by the booming sound given forth by the explosions, and knowing full well what it meant, were naturally alarmed, as th»y - were uncertain which of the many volcanoes had broken out. 1,, who myself heard it from the anchorage, thought itwas the firing of heavy cannon for some reason or other; and as we are accustomed to such sounds in Hongkong and elsewhere, didn't take any further notice of _/it. "I landed from my steamer ,at 10.15 a.m. to keep a business aupointment at 10.30. What appeared to me to be a heavy rain squall (quite a common occurrence in Java about this time of year) was rising over the land in the south-east. So certain was I that a heavy downpour was imminent that I hurried to the office, . where I was due, in order to avoid getting wet, and reached it just as the whole town was enveloped in the darkest darkness that ever I beheld. So totally dark had it become in a few moments that one couldn't distinguish the buildings through it, the more so as the suddenness with which it came on gave no one time to light their lamps; and until the buildings began to sho-n- forth their lights everybody had to stand just where they were. I myself groped along the side of .the house till I found the door, and had to remain there till a light from within showed me how to proceed. When I entered the office, where I was expected, what was my surprise to find my clothing (a white suit) covered with a thick layer of dust, the colour of Portland cement. It would be hyperbolical to state that I was not alarmed, but I soon discovered from the gentlemen I had come to interview that there was bo immediate cause for such. They had been in telephonic communication with their house at Sourabaya, and gave me.the facts as far as they knew, which were, in short, that Kloet "had broken out at 4 a.m., and that everyone in the regions around about had fled. That this downfall of dust was owing to the wind blowing from the direction of the mountain; and that, as business had come to a standstill, there was no help for it but to waib till it passed over.

"By this time all the streets were lighted, and strange was the spectacle as beheld from the upper window of the office 1 -was in. Everything was covered as if & heavy fall of snow had passed over the city. "Business men were hurrying from their offices with open umbrellas, as if they were shielding themselves from the falling snomr (for in the glare of the electric lights it appeared as'such), and natives were rushing hither and thither, presumably to see to the safety of their wives and children, a scene which was shortly (followed by one of desolation, and Samarang at noon was as still as if it lay shrouded in midnight attire. Not a living creature of any description was to be seen, the birds even taking shelter whereever they couid gain admittance, Any thought of returning to my steamer was out of the question (for, although the lighthouse and harbour beacons were lighted, it would havo been impossible to see 100ft beyond), and as everyone had returned to their homes I accepted the hospitality of one of the films, and took Bhelter with them, with the consolation that this state of affairs might last one day 'and it might last six. "At 1 p.m. the firmament took on a Wood-red glow, which gave to the scene a most weird appearance; and when at 2 p.m. the sun tried to'struggle through it (the sun) looked like a ball of blue fire. At 2 p.m. it had become sufficiently light for me to find my way to my boat, and afterwards to my ship. Here I found everything covered to a depth of about3in. with the cement-like dust, ana the people on board busy filling sacks with it. Of course everyone had been in a state of alarm, not having any news of •what had happened, and being at a loss to know what might happen. Total darkBess, blacker than the darkest starless night, and a heavy fall of dust from 10.30 till 2 in the middle of the <lay, Mould be liable to strike awe into the least susceptible mind.

"The following day fuller details were received. It appears that in the crater of Mount Kloet an unfathomable lake, one mile square, exists, and on the eruption taking place tliis lake was- thrown, as it ■were, down the southern slopes of .the mountain, and taking1 the form of liquid boiling mud, careered through the country, talcing bridges . and houses, on the way, reaching a place called Belitar, 14 miles to the south, and Sumber, 25 miles in a south-westerly direction from the nuinuiit, inundating the regions it passed through to a depth of 3ft. The dust cloud which passed over Samarang widened as it travelled, reaching Chilachap, on the | soutti coast, at 3 "p.m. on the 23rd, and "Batavia on the 24th ; in which latter place iti was felt with less effect. It has been estimated that in regions over which this jiWud passed 270 tons of dust fell to the square mile, and as «u whole it is calculated that from 50 to 60 millions of tons of matter of one kind or another was thrown out by tihe ernption. Over a radius of about 30 miles from the crater a (heavy shower of stones fell, varying in dimensions from the size of a. man's fist to that of -an ordinary wash-hand basin. A piece I have in my possession, picked up about six niiles from the crater, and said to be a small -specimen, weighs about 3 lbs. Judge then, what it must have been 1(o bo bombarded by a shower like this for several hours. I may mention that this shower was not equally distributed; but seemed to be thrown as it were in jets, missing some districts altogether. An old British resident, in a. letter, says: — 'I have seen iJhe Kloet burst three times— 1848, 1864." and now in 1901. The two former eruptions continued at least two days and nights, this time only nine hours. I don't think there will be any more for 15 rears to come.' "Before leaving Java I hoard several accounts given by men who were actually living right on the slopes of the mountain, and who came to Sourabaya aft'er j eveiything was quiet. Their experiences •were such that one can only attempt to imagine what they were, but could never thoroughly realise what they must have Ijeen. Men, women, and children fleeing from the awful bombardment, and followed by animals of all kinds, wild and tame, which seemed for t!hc time being to have forgotten their sphere in life, and followed in silent awe the human beings, as if in asknowlcdgment of their superior judgment a-s to the best means of security. Vn to the time of my departure from Java 1000 lives were known to be lost; but it will be somei time yet «re a true statement can be made. One -gentleman ivith his wife and two children who were leaving their residence on one of the estates, were overtaken by the boiling stream. Their carriage was upset, and although the parents escaped for a time, both children were wished away by the flood, and had not been seen again up to the tmo I left- The gentleman. 1 believe, flied some <!ay» after, and the lady was in » dSous way from the burns she had received. I had an opportunity of visiting SSrt'oJ: : old-faSoned typhoon than fhe possible resullj of «, stonn hvm Uw •aether regions."