Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-13
Prom the London Times, March s..
\ y VOLCANIC WONDERS. y q

Her Majssiys ship Surprise, Commander
Tyron, which bad been Dispatched TO Santo-
RIM to render assistance. to the Inhabitants,
returned to Malta ON Friday, the 23rd Of
February. We have been kindly favored
with the following interesting particulars of
the recent volcanic eruption. As soon as
eantorini was sighted by the Surprise a
dense white mass Of vapor was observed ris-
ing from the sea, which appeared 10 be boil
ing from some unknown cause, and when
the island was approached a strange sight
was seen---the sea evidently was boiling, and
clouds Of the whitest steam rushed out, soar
ing heavcnward like an enormous avalanche
and looking like snow. Something black
was then seen rising slowly from the sea,
which afterward turned ont to be no less
than an island springing from the deep. 1t
appears there were no earthquakes, but con-
vulsions Of nature, caused by volcanic is
lands having been ,thrown,up from the sea
and as violent eruptions had taken place the
Inhabitants were greatly alarmed, but at the
time the Surprise arrived no immediate dan
ger was apprehended. The position of the
vessel was very good one to watch the cru
ptions from the volcano on the burning is
land that has lately risen from the Deep The
btH WI uhuy tnlIto lOOhtu WY otIuHHt, Tue
sulpher giving IL yellowish appearance,
and round the volcanic island the sea was
boiling at some one hundred yards distance
from the shore. The steam rose with great
grandeur, the whole island emitting smoke
and sulphureous vapors, colored by the fame
inside the volcano, in some places being
cracked, and through the assures an i'm
mense mass of red hot lava was visible. The
.o1o = q
an eruption took place on the morning of
the arrival of the Surprise. A black mass
ofvapor was vomited forth from the volcano
pouring upwards; but the fury of the erupt-
ion Wis soon expended, and 1t suddenly
ceased.
On the following day Her Majesty's ships
Phoebe and Tyrlin arrived to the succor of
the island. A Greek man-of-war had come
in, and the next day Russian frigate was
seen approaching but she did Lot seem to
like appearances, and kept at distance,
watching the phenomenon for some hours
before going closer in. The second night
after the arrival of the Surprise, mother
eruption took place. The roar was very
fierce, smoke poured forth from the volcano,
and large blocks of rock and stone were
hurled into the air, the whole presenting
most imposing sight. During that night IL
was SAID that new island had been thrown
up the one pointed out was about three
hundred yards long, and was black smok-
ing mass. Close to the anchorage of the
Surprise there had been place called
"Mineral Creek" which was then no more
q large hill had risen out Of it. 1t made its
appearance before the arrival of that vessel,
but it rose higher and higher during her
presence there while the old island was
gradually sinking, as if about TO return to
The depths Of the sea from which 1t had risen
On this sinking island were several houses,
many Of which are gone altogether, and
others were being washed by the sea of one
house there was little more than the roof
and a chimney pot above the water, while
bnilding sank and rose again. II was re-
markable that rocks were constantly appear.
ing above the sea and disappearing and
hence the position taken up by the surprise
was not very pleasant. On the second night
slight conclusion was felt two or three
times on board, and as islands had been
springug up in the neighborheod, it al-
peared likely that one would come up under
the ships bottom. At that time the wind
and sea were heavy. and the vessel drifted
rapidly in the direction Of the volcano, round
which the sea was boiling, and world of
steam, yapor and smoke arising. The Sur
prise Immediately got up steam. A large
number Of houses were buried in the lava
and by the new hill that rose from Mineral
Creek; but, fortunately, no lives were lost,
as timely warning had been given, and the
inhabitants had escaped. The damage done
TO property was not so great as might have
been expected.