At the time of the great earthquake at Concepcion (1835), whilst the
waves were coming in, two great submarine eruptions were observed. One,
behind the Isle of Quiriquina, appeared like a column of smoke. The
other, in the bay of San Vicente, appeared to form a whirlpool. The
sea-water became black, and had a sulphurous smell, there being a vast
eruption of gas in bubbles. Many fish were killed.[118]
With this same earthquake, near to Juan Fernandez, about one mile from
the shore, the sea appeared to boil, and a high column of smoke was
thrown into the air. At night flames were seen.
In 1861, when Mendoza was destroyed and 10,000 inhabitants killed, a
volcano at the foot of which Mendoza is situated burst into eruption.
The earthquake of 1822 at Valdivia was accompanied by eruptions of the
neighbouring mountains, which only lasted a few minutes.
At the time of the Leghorn shocks (January 16–27, 1742) some fishermen
observed a part of the sea to rage violently, to raise itself to a
great height, and then rush landwards.[119]
In 1797, when Riobamba was destroyed, the neighbouring volcanoes were
not affected, but Mount Pasto, 120 miles distant, suddenly ceased to
throw out its usual column of water.
On the night of December 10, 1874, a strong shock was felt in New
England, whilst at 4.45 A.M. on December 11 a shock was felt in the Pic
du Midi, in the Pyrenees. In the middle of December there were volcanic
outbursts in Iceland.[120]
It is possible that these occurrences might be the results of some
widespread disturbance beneath the crust of the earth, or perhaps even
of widely extended earth pulsations. The probability, however, is that
these coincidences are accidental. When we remember that in a small
area like the northern half of Japan alone there are periods when there
are at least two shocks per day on the average, it is impossible for
these coincidences not to exist. Less frequently coincidences between
the larger disturbances must occur. Over and above these accidental
coincidences, it would appear that in the world’s history periods
have occurred when earthquakes were unusually frequent, and at such
times distant countries have suffered simultaneously. This approximate
coincidence in period, which has been referred to when speaking of the
distribution of destructive earthquakes in historical time, does not
imply an exact synchronism in the single shocks.
Small earthquakes, or, more properly speaking, local tremblings, are a
necessary accompaniment of almost all volcanic eruptions. Tremors of
this description are seldom, however, felt beyond the crater, or at the
most upon the flanks of the mountain where the eruption is going on.
They are due to the explosive action of steam bursting through the
molten lava.
_Volcanic eruption succeeding earthquakes._—Sometimes it has happened
that an earthquake, or a series of earthquakes, have terminated with
the formation of volcanic vents.
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