332 Volcanic Eruptions and Earthquakes. 
Art. XXV.—Volcanic Eruptions and Earthquakes. 
1. Eruption of the Volcano of Cosiguina,—communicated for this 
Journal by Col. Juan Gauinpo. 
TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 
Rio Mopan, April 13th, 1835.. 
Sir—Onr of the most stupendous convulsions of the globe ever 
known in this hemisphere took place last January, on the eruption of 
the volcano of Cosiguina. 
This volcano is situated in Nicaragua, one of the states of Cen- 
tral America, and stands near the Eastern promontory of the bay 
of Conchagua, separating the waters of the gulf from the Pacific. 
I can give no more faithful or vivid description of its appearance 
and effects in the immediate vicinity, than the following translation 
of areport, dated January 29, from the commandant of Union, a 
sea port situated on the western shore of the bay of Conchagua, and 
the nearest place of any consequence, to the volcano. 
“On the 20th inst.—day having dawned with usual serenity—at 
8 o’clock, towards the S. E., a dense cloud was perceived of a pyra- 
midal figure, preceded by a rumbling noise, and it continued rising 
until it covered the sun, at which elevation, about 10, it separated to 
the north and south accompanied by thunder and lightning: the 
cloud finally covered the whole firmament, about 11, and enveloped 
every thing in the greatest darkness, so that the nearest objects were 
imperceptible. ‘The melancholy howling of beasts, the flocks of birds - 
of all species, that came to seek, as it were, an asylum amongst men, 
the terror which assailed the latter, the cries of the women and chil- 
dren, and the uncertainty of the issue of so rare a phenomenon—every 
thing combined to overcome the stoutest soul and fill it with apprehen- 
sion, and the more so when at 4 P. M., the earth began to quake and 
continued in a perpetual undulation which gradually increased. This 
was followed by a shower of phosphoric sand, which lasted till 8 P. M., 
on the same day, when there began falling a heavy and fine powder 
like flour; the thunder and lightning continued the whole night and 
the following day, (the 21st) and at eight minutes past 3 P. M. there 
was so long and violent an earthquake that many men, who were 
walking in a penitential procession, were thrown down. ‘The dark- 
ness lasted forty three hours, making it indispensable for every one 
to carry a light, and even these were not sufficient to see clearly 
with.” 
