The weekly union record., 1864-05-14
THE UNION RECORD.
Islands Of Volcanic Origin.

peared and disappeared off Palermo,
and is now on the point of getting above
water again. There is no doubt that
this curious phenomenon is attributable
to volcanic agency; nor is this the
only instance of the kind on record.
In the neighborhood Of the Philippine
Islands, and on other points Of the
Chinese waters, small islands occasion
ally rise and make their exit again with
out attracting much notice. Of this
the Paris Patrie relates the following
curious instance:
A German skipper, Captain Hill
macher, who had passed many years Of
his life in those parts, and knew every
shoal and sand bank within hundred
miles Of the Chinese coast, suddenly,
about twenty years ago, discovered an
island which he was perfectly certain
did not exist on that spot before. He
took his soundings, determined the
latitude and longitude, sailed all round
it, and found that it was from twelve
TO fifteen miles in length and breadth.
There were several springs of fresh
water on it, and it consisted Of the rich
est pasture grounds imaginable. Cap
tain Hilmacher instantly returned to
Europe, recruited a number of German
emigrants, bought all kinds of seeds,
agricultural implements, poultry, and
cattle, set out again for this new Edo
RADIO, and in a couple of years there
might be seen on the desert island
fOurishing village, fields waving with
corn, meadows peopled with oxen,
goats and sheep-eyerythipg, in short,
that might constitute thriving colony.
This happy state of things lasted about
five years, when British merchant
vessel unexpectedly made its appear
ance. The captain and crew expressed
their astonishment at finding Europ-
can community in such an out-of the
way place, entered into an amicablein-
tercourse with the colonists, and gave
them quantity of brandy in exchange
for their produce. This unfortunate
circumstance proved the ruin of the
colony; drunkenness grew into habit,
INSTRUMENTATION was the consequence,
and one fine day poor Captain Hill
macher, who had hitherto ruled his lit
tie kingdom with great wisdom, was
obliged to make his escape in boat to
avoid being murdered. He succeeded
in reaching vessel which took him
home again; there he easily obtained
command of ship, which he took care
to provide with plenty of arms, for the
purpose of Furnishing his unruly subjects
and make them repent of their ingrati-
tude. He set sail, but on arriving with
In the latitude where his island had once
existed, he was astonished to find the
place empty not a vestige Of land was
to be seen; the island had gone as it
had come. Had the catostroplIe ooour-
red so suddenly as to preclude all pos
sibillty of escape? This is what Cap
tain Hilma nha~ Aovor learnt.
How They KEEP HOTEL IN DINE.
a Southern traveller gives the following
item from his experiences:
Mike has made several important dis
coveries in his recent raid through the
Southwest. He says he has Just found
out what a ''priyate hoteln is. He has
found several Of them in his travels, and
they are certainly very peculiar institu-
tlons. He says their bells and gongs
make as much clatter as if there really
was something on the table to which to
call the public, bat when one gets there
he sees nothing but empty plates. Pres
emily the walters will be seen dispensing
different articles of provender, pretty
generally to the military gentlemen
with the stars and bars en- their collars.
and when you ask them to give "some
Of that what that feller's got" the wal
ter will look at you just as a faro dealer
does when he ''rakes down your pile"
looks as if he ''chawedn You, and inno-
Gently says:
That's private, sir -
Then You look around to see what
else You might taste, and you see an
other chap with eggs. You think,
well, eggs are common enough, dear
knows"
We'll, give me some eggs, then"
Dem private, too, sir. De gem
men fotch EN- here, and we cook EN-
for him.
Give me some potatoes, then. Isup-
pose they are not private" | said, loud
enough to attract all the eyes around
the table.
''Yes massa, dem's private, too. but
can give You some corn bread, and
here's some salt, and here's some corn
bread"
" Give me some of that butter, YOU
black rascal" said, aggravated. as
indeed it should make anybody feel who
was paying eight dollars per day for
hoard