The wonders of the world : $b a complete museum, descriptive and pictorial, of the wonderful phenomena and results of nature, science and artAbbott, John Loraine
Science
The wonders of the world : $b a complete museum, descriptive and pictorial, of the wonderful phenomena and results of nature, science and art
Abbott, John Loraine
Curiosities and wonders
On the eighteenth of September, an earthquake was felt at Santorini. It
did but little damage, although it considerably enlarged the burning
island, and in several places gave vent to the fire and smoke. The claps
were also more terrible than ever; and, in the midst of a thick smoke,
which appeared like a mountain, large pieces of rock, which afterward
fell on the island, or into the sea, were thrown up with as much noise
and force as balls from the mouth of a cannon. One of the small
neighboring islands was covered with these fiery stones, which being
thinly crusted over with sulphur, gave a bright light, and continued
burning until that was consumed.
On the twenty-first, a dreadful clap of subterraneous thunder was
followed by very powerful lightnings, and at the same instant the new
island was so violently shaken, that part of the great furnace fell
down, and huge burning rocks were thrown to the distance of two miles
and upward. This seemed to be the last effort of the volcano, and
appeared to have exhausted the combustible matter, as all was quiet for
several days after: but on the twenty-fifth, the fire broke out again
with still greater fury, and among the claps one was so terrible, that
the churches of Santorini were soon filled with crowds of people,
expecting every moment to be their last; and the castle and town of
Scaro suffered such a shock, that the doors and windows of the houses
flew open. The volcano continued to rage during the remaining part of
the year; and in the month of January, 1708, the large furnace, without
one day’s intermission, threw out stones and flames, at least once or
twice, but generally five or six times a day.
On the tenth of February, in the morning, a pretty strong earthquake was
felt at Santorini, which the inhabitants considered as a prelude to
greater commotions in the burning island; nor were they deceived, for
soon after the fire and smoke issued in prodigious quantities. The
thunder-like claps were redoubled, and all was horror and confusion:
rocks of an amazing size were raised up to a great hight above the
water; and the sea raged and boiled to such a degree as to occasion
great consternation. The subterraneous bellowings were heard without
intermission, and sometimes in less than a quarter of an hour, there
were six or seven eruptions from the large furnace. The noise of
repeated claps, the quantity of huge stones which flew about on every
side, the houses at Santorini tottering to their very foundations, and
the fire, which now appeared in open day, surpassed all that had
hitherto happened, and formed a scene terrific and astonishing beyond
description.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account