Richard Lee

“ For miles around, the rocks were spouting steam, hissing and roaring, and filling the whole air with pent-up gases from the great laboratory beneath; while burning streams of red-hot lava came rolling onward in stern, irresistible waves, now plunging in majestic grandeur over a deep precipice, or sweeping away the vegetation of the earth and shrivelling up huge forest trees in its relentless, solemn fury. ”

“ The eruption of 1859 broke out first on the afternoon of the 23rd of January, and came chiefly from an opening in the northern side of the mountain, at an elevation of about 8000 feet; but the crater at the summit was also not inactive. The first indication of any convulsion of the kind was given by the formation of a dense, dark cloud which hung above the highest elevation, and became denser and more black, swelling in size, until towards evening a dull, lurid glare shot forth, and two bright streams of lava descended in different directions down the sides of the mountain. ”

“ Pouring from the lips of the craters were streams of red-hot molten lava, which waved and rolled and leaped with fiery spray down the mountain sides; and only half a mile away, vast fields of ice and snow contrasted strangely with the burning sea beneath. We noticed three craters, two of considerable extent, and one smaller, besides numberless holes through which steam and sulphureous gases were violently spouting forth, deadening all other sounds, and poisoning the atmosphere around. ”