, 1866-03-19


EpheavaI.
4 correspondent Of The London Times,
writing from Athens, Greece, announces that
q Lew Island began to rise nboro the level Of
the Len in the Bay Of Thera {Santorin,( J IN the
Greclan Archipelago, on the 9TH Of February,
and In five days it attained the height Of from
130 10 $50 fcct, with length Of upwards Of
$50 feet and a breadth Of 100 feet, 1t con-
tinAes to increase, fa,ld consists Of rusty
black metallic lara, very heayr, and rcscmb-
ling half-smelted scoria which las boiled up
from furnace. It contain6 many small
~hiti4h, semi transparent PARTICLES, dissenoi-
mated through the mass like quartz or field
spar.
The eruption began On the 31st Of January.
4 noise Ike yolleys Of artillery WIS heard, but
without my earthquake On the following
day 1ames issued from the sea, In part Of the
bay called Vu1kauos, where the water Is al
ways discolored and impregnated with sui
rllur from abundant springs at the bottom.
The flames rose at intervals to the height Of
flf1ceu feet, and were seen at times to Issue
from the southwestern part Of Nea katmene.
That island wus soon rent By deep dssure,
and the southern part sank considerably:
On the 4th OF February, the erupttous be-
came more violent aud the sea more disturbed.
Gas forced Itself up from the depths with
terrific noise, resembling the bursting Of
ssgana boiler; tianes arose at Intervals, and
white smoke, rising steadily, formed au I'M
Il mense column, cIuHuEu WILL GA1!tA e2pAta4
/ Of dark, heavy clouds. The new island WAS
visible next morning, increasing senslbly to
t the eye rs It rose out Of the sea at no great
distance TO the south OF Nea kafmene.
The new Island has been visited BY Dr.: De-
Eigalla, a man Of science and m able ohscr-
vcr, who Ein record accurately an tue gae.
nomena Of the eruption as It proceeds. The
heat Of the sea rose trom q Eahrenheit to
loa ns near the vicinity Of volcanic action as
II was safe 10 approach. The bottom Of the
sea ali round Nea Kaimene appears to have
sisen greatly. In one place, where the depth
Is marked on the Admiralty chart one hun
| drel tatlo1ns, it was found to be now only
thirty; and ut another, where It was seven
teen, ii is now only three fathoms. The new
island, es it incrrascs, Will probably form q
junction with Nca K11mene. It grows, as It
were, out into the Sea, the mass below push
iug upward that which Is already above
WHERE they are deep, being ITO Fahrenheit,
and the upper part. after four days exposure,
was found 10 be still 50. -.
At urgent the centre Of the volcanic force
lies evidently far below the bottom Of the eea,
through tue Incumbent earth to the water,
and escape In noise, flames and smoke to the
surface. But should f1ssurc 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 surtasc, IN eruption may
I
stroyed Pompcti, but far more terrible.
The eruption that formed the present Island
Of Nca Kafmene began In the year 17G7, and
the volcanic action continued, without doin.,
any serious injury TO the Inhabitants Of The1a
until l7l3. Ii Is possible the present eruption
may continue as long, and be rs mild In its
operation. But as Late As 1885, terrible erup.
tion laid waste great part Of the Island, and
raised IN island on It's northeastern coast,
which sank again into the ses. leaving .
shoal.
The is1and Of Old Kaimene made its first
appearance In the year l93 before the Chris
tfan era. It's size was increased by severa.
cruptions mentioned In history. The last I'D
dttiou It received WIS in 1457. The small kat
meme, which is nearer to Thcra, Was throwE
up in 1573 All the eruptions In the bays hayt
been attended with sinnilar phenomena.
The British naval commander at Malta ha!
sept two ships to the scene Of these phenomc
M. 4 letter dated February I, containing th
latest news, says.
"The same smoke and fire In the evening a
yesterday, and the hi1ock continues its opel
ations. The sea, too, boils beyond the COT
more than yesterday. The hillock, or land
will probably By tomorrow increase as far 9
the entrance to the core, and be Joined by II
| siic6,'s