THE KRAKATOA ERUPTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2062, 13 February 1889, Page 2

THE KRAKATOA ERUPTION.

The long-looked-fpr report of the aoientlfio commission which investigated the great volcanic eruption of Krakatoa m 3883 has at laßt'made its appearance, and 'it seems ctrongly to confirm the theory that the famouß " red suneeta " of that time were oaused by the oanopy of dust and steam thrown up by that tremendous convulsion of nature. So great was the explosion of the burning mountain that the noise was heard over one-thirteenth of the total surface of the earth. At Batavia, 30 miles away, buildings were wrecked by the concussion, In Ceylon, 2000 miles away, a Bound as of heavy guna was heard. At Rodrguez, nea-ly 3000 miles away, it was distinctly heard like the roar of distant artillery. The sea wave oaused by the uphenv.il was perceived as far away as the English Channel, while the great atmospheric wave, swept three times from Krukatoa to the antipodes and back again. Fully one and one-eighth cubio miles of rook were hurled into the air, 'some fragments reaching a height of 31 miles, while an incalculably vast oloud of dust and vapour filled the air at a height of from 17 miles to 23 miles. It Is not difficult to believe that enough of this dust and vapour was wafted to this Bide of the world to produce the beautiful phenomena that were tbe wonder and de'ight of . every observer of the sunsets — " New York Tribune;''