Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-15
THE SUBMARINE VOLCANO.


The following is . fuller account Of the late
eruption Of the submarine volcano at the island
of Santorin. GrecIan Archipelago, aud the re-
suits Of an examination by several scientific
men, az given by the United States Consul at
Piraeus, Henry NJ. Garfield, Esq, in his dis
patches TO the Department of State:
A remarkable phenomena has for several
days occupied the attention Of the inhabitants
of Santorin. On the 18th Of January, 1856,
low rumbliDg sound was heard from time to
time at New Cameni, and especially at the
place called Vulcano. where the mineral waters
are. stones detached themselves from the sides
Of rocks and mountains and rolled down to the
levels. On the morning of the 10Th the walls
OF the buildings and the ground were covered
with cracks. Towards noon the rumblings be-
came more frequent, and sounded like the sue
cessive detonations OF artillery. In the port Of
Nulcano, where copper bottomed vessels are
innumerabie multitude Of bubbles lose inces-
sanity to the surface; and the surface, itself,
was covered with white vapors with a sui
phurous odor. That afternoon the agitation
of the sea increased, and the soil along the
shores began gradually to sink. On the morn
ing of the Goth, on the sea and near the west
ern part Of Nulcano. flames burst forth, FORM
ing conical FIRE OF 10 70 IS square metres at
the base and from four to i've metres in height,
which disappeared in abont one hour.
The entire southwestern portion Of New
CameDi was shattered TO pieces. chasm,
commencing at the western shore, near the
port Of ST. George, and running towards the
east, divided the conically shaped hill into
two equal parts, and, also, nearly the entire
island. The southwestern portion Of the island
Is completely covered with a network of fis-
sures. 1t was never fit for cultivation, as 1t is
formed Of an accumulation OF volcanic ston es
and sand, really the powder of basaltic rocks
-Four small lakes of pure clear water appeared
on this part of the island, which were Contra
ually growing in size. White, suffocating va
pors arose from the sea, and emitted sulphu-
rous odor, resembling that of rotten eggs
spots OF greenish color appeared, which
proved that the vapors which arose were hy-
drosulphnrous and hydrophosphoric in their
nature. The sinking OF the ground was much
greater in the western than in the eastern por-
ton Of the island. This depression of the
ground was almost imperceptble, but on
measuring, IL was found to have sunk sixty
centlmeters in four hours. The sea bore a red
dis h color, like water containing a great q uan.
tity OF argIllaceous mud. Its temperature was
was bitter TO the taste. The boiling of the sea,
doubtless, was caused by a number of springs
or sulphate OF iron, which arose with
force from its depths. At five o'clock
p. m. a slight shock of an earthGuake
was felt. On the night of the 2Oth and 21st the
sea about New Cameni was white rs milk, and
for some time flames OF red color lowered
over lis surface. At the same time a rapid
current sprang up in the port Of St. George,
accompanied by a strong south wind, which
prevented the vessels from going out Five
while the sinking of the ground still Continued
during the nights Of the 21st and 22d flames
appeared in the chasm or rift fore mentioned
On The 23d the assures increased in width the
water in the small lakes became salt and bitter.
and the sea water at Eulcano became scalding
not The rocks on the shores became hot also,
and the focus Of volcanic action seemed TO he
on the west OF the chasm and to the west of its
~esternmost arm. At night the odor and smoke
became intense, and red flames were seen at
the center OF volcanic action, which continued
1or about an hour and a half. After their dis
appearance reef or bank was seen. which
gradually increased in size until it became q mite
an Island. The opinion of those who have
examined these phenomena is that the Old
Island VIII almost. if not entirely disappear,
and new one will form where the reef or
bank arose.