Deluges of water rushed from the
heights, bearing along whole fields of ice and rocky fragments of every
size, some vomited from the volcano, but in great part torn from the
flanks of the mountain itself and carried to the sea, there to add
considerably to the coastline after devastating the intervening country.
The fountain of volcanic bombs consisted of masses of lava, containing
gases which exploded and produced a loud sound, which was said to have
been heard at a distance of 100 miles. The size of the bombs, and the
height to which they must have reached, were very great. But the most
remarkable of the historical eruptions in Iceland were those of Skaptar
Jokull in 1783, and of Hecla in 1845. Of these an extended description
is worthy of being given.
Of these two memorable eruptions, that of Skaptar Jokull began on the
11th of June, 1783. It was preceded by a long series of earthquakes,
which had become exceedingly violent immediately before the eruption. On
the 8th, volcanic vapors were emitted from the summit of the mountain,
and on the 11th immense torrents of lava began to be poured forth from
numerous mouths. These torrents united to form a large stream, which,
flowing down into the river Skapta, not only dried it up, but completely
filled the vast gorge through which the river had held its course. This
gorge, 200 feet in breadth, and from 400 to 600 feet in depth, the lava
filled so entirely as to overflow to a considerable extent the fields
on either side.
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