The Eruption At Cotopaxi

Detailed reports are just coming to hand of the late eruption of the volcano of Cotopaxi, which occurred as long ago as June 26. Telegrajhic Communications with Peru, it is well knovm, have been interrnpted, and the full extént of the calamity was not understood in this country frorn the meager reports which at flrst arrived. It is estimated that the loss of life will exceed 1,000, and property worth many millions of dollars has been destroyed. A correspondent of the Nalion reports that the volcano poured forth a stream of water "ten times the bulk of Niágara," WÏrioh submerged the country, converting the plain of Callo into an immense lake. Quito was spared, but the surroundings of the city suffered heavily, and the city of Latacunga only escaped total wreek through its fortúnate poeition, three river beds intervening between it and the volcano. The peculiarity of this eruption is the vast flood caused by it. Cotopaxi has heretofore thrown out streams of lava, but never before, so far as history reveals, has anything like the same torrent of water been seeu. The damage to the country is therefore comparatively of a temporary nature, and easier to be borne than in the case of devastation by an eruption of lava and ashes. The openings of Vesuvius have been much more serioiis matters. It may be correct, strictly speaking, to say that this volume of water was thrown out from tho voicano, although it dil not come from the interior of the earth. A large body of water may have coilected in the cráter from rains and melting snows - Cotopaxi is perpetually covered witli snow - and this would be ejected by the eruption from below. A lake or river on the earth 's surface may have been displaced at the same time. Whatever expianation of the facts may be given by science, the horror of them will be unabated. The story of death and suffering can have few mitigating circumstances, and it will be read with pain wherever humanity has learned to pity the sorrows of others.