Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-04-19
"a New ESEand.
Remarkable Phenomena A Volcanic
Upheaval.

CPAOaNNA'
A correspondent Of The London Times,
writing from Athens, Greece, announces that
new island began to rise above the level
of the sea in the Bay of Thera (Santorin),
in the Grecian Archipelago, Oh the 4th of
February, and in five days it attained the
height of from $50 feet to $50 feet, with q
length of upward of $50 feet, and breadth
of 100 feet. 1t continues to increase, and
consists Of rusty black metallic lava, very
heavy, and resembling half-smelted scoria
which has boiled up from furnace. 1t
contains many small whitish, mi-transpar-
ent particles, disseminated through the mass
like quartz or feldspar.
The eruption began on the 31st Of Janu-
AIRY. A noise like volleys of artillery was
heard, but without any earthquake. On the
following day flames issued from the sea, in
part of the bay called Vulkanos, where the
water is always diseolored and impregnated
with sulphur from abundant springs at the
bottom. The flames rose at intervals to the
height Of fifteen feet, and were seen at times
to issue from the southwestern part OF Nea
Kaimene. That island was soon rent by q
deep fssure, and the southern part sank
considerably.
On the 4th of February the eruptions be-
came more violent and the sea more dis
turbed Gas forced itself from the depths
with terrific noise, rese n bling the burstiu 6
Of steam boiler names arose at intervals,
and white smoke, rising steadily, for MEG
an immense column, crowned with CURED
capital of dark, heavy clouds. The new
island was visible next morning, increasing
sensibly TO the eye as it rose off the sea at
no great distance to the south of Nea kai-
meme.
The new island has been visited by Dr.
Dekigalla, man of science and an able
| observer, who will record accurately all the
phenomena of the eruption as it proceeds.
The heat Of the sea rose from 62 Fahrenheit
to 1872, as near the vicinity of volcanic ac-
ton as it was safe to approach. The bottom
of the sea all around Nea Kaimene appears
to have risen greatly. In one place, where
the depth is marked on the Admiralty chart
one hundred fathoms, it was found to be now
only thirty, and at another where 1t was sew
enteen it is now only three faihoms. The
new island, as it increases, will probably
form junction with Nea Kaimene 1t
grows, as it were, out into the sea,
the mass below pushing upward that which
is already above water. The lower part
is hot its assures, where they are deep,
being ITO Fahrenheit, and the upper part,
after four days exposure, was found to be
still 80.
At present the centre Of the volcanic force
lies evidently far below the bottom of the
sea, and only gases and smoke work their
way through the incumbent earth to the
water, and escape in noise, flames, and
smoke to the surface. But should a assure
at the bottom of the sea allow the water to
penetrate to the fires that throw up the
melted metal of the new island to the sur
face, an eruption may take place of a kind
similar to that which destroyed Pompeii, but
far more terrible.
The eruption that formed the present
island of Nea Kaimene began in the year
1907, and the volcanic action continued,
without doing any serious injury to the in
habitants of Thera until 1713. 1t is possible
the present eruption may continue as long,
and be as mild in its operation. But as late
as 1850 terrible eruption laid waste great
part of the island, and raised an island on
it's northeastern coast, which sunk again
into the sea, leaving shoal,
The island of Old Kaimene made its first
appearance in the year 1913 before the
christian era. Its size was increased by
several eruptions mentioned in history. The
last addition it received was in 1857 The
Small Kaimene, which is nearest to Thera,
was thrown up in 1873. All eruptions in
the bays have been attended with similar
phenomena.
The British naval commander at Malta has
sent two ships to the scene of the phenome-
ma. A letter dated Feb. Z, containing the
latest news says:
"The same smoke and fire in the evening
as yesterday, and the hillock continues its
operations. The sea, too, boils beyond the
cove more than yesterday. The hillock, or
land, will probably by tomorrow increase
as far as the entrance to the cove, and be
joined by its sides"