754 JOSE MARIA ARREOLA 



February i8. — At 12:45 p.m. an explosion was heard from the volcano, 

 and immediately a maximum eruption burst forth with great force, completely 

 filling the crater and covering the slopes with its products ; it continued for 

 more than a half-hour, during which the west wind bore the gaseous and 

 sandy products toward the villages of Tuxpan, Tecalitlan, etc. Another 

 eruption followed. The hot stones and scoriae, which were poured out in 

 great quantity over all the slopes of the volcano, set fire to trees on various 



parts of the summit of the mountain The great quantity of matter 



thrown out in these eruptiors, and in those of the 21st and 24th, was almost 

 wholly material which had been accumulated gradually, above the crater, 

 during its time of slight activity, as may be shown by a comparison of photo- 

 graphs taken before and after the events. Once the crater was disem- 

 barrassed, no such abundant outflows were recorded, from which it may be 

 inferred — at least in the present period — that there is no risk of a greater 

 invasion of scoriae, 



February I g. — At 6:15 and at 10 A. m., moderate eruptions. At 12:15 

 and at i :30 p. m., little eruptions, all drifted by strong west winds. 



February 20. — Inactivity all day. 



February 21. — At 9:30 A. M., regular eruption. At 12:15 p. m. a heavy 

 detonation was heard which threw the air into commotion, even shattering 



the walls of houses The noise had been heard for some seconds, 



when a great eruption broke forth, the colossal proportions of which could 

 not be fully appreciated on account of the products being violently swept by 

 the west wind to the east of the volcano. The rain of sand over this region 

 was distinctly visible from Zapotlan. At 3:30 P. M, there was another great 

 eruption. Its products were drifted by the west wind into the state of 

 Guanajuato. 



Febritary 22 attd 2j. — Insignificant issue of vapor, carried by the west 

 wind. 



February 24. — At 3 : 15 P. M., a great eruption, with characters similar to 

 those of the 21st, The products were promptly distributed to the east, sand 

 raining over Tonila ; in their descent, however, they were drifted by the lower 

 air-current from the south, so that the sands were carried to Zapotiltic, Zapotlan, 

 Sayula, Guadalajara, etc. The rain of fine sand — commonly called ashes — 

 began at Zapotlan, at 4 P, M., and was so heavy that persons could not be 

 distinguished at a distance of fifty meters. The fall lasted more than two 

 hours, forming a sheet one millimeter in thickness. On this day, by telescopic 

 observation of the volcano, a change in form of the upper part of the crater 

 was noticed. The sands which fell in Tonila were as coarse as common sand, 

 those falling in Zapotiltic were finer, those of Zapotlan and Sayula were like 



ashes, and so decreasingly with increasing distance At about 7 P. m. 



was observed a little overflow of glowing scorise. A great eruption was 

 reported for 10 p. m. 



Febrtiary 2^. — At 4 A. M. there was a great eruption, preceded by a report. 



