The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-04-18
"A New Island.
Remarkable Phenomena "A Volcanic
Cphcaval.

A correspondent of The London Times,
writing from Athens, Greece, announces .hat
q new island began to rise above the level
Of the sea in the Bay Of Thera (SantoriD).
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 a
length Of upward Of $50 feet, and breadth
of 100 feet. Ii continues to increase. and
consists of a rusty black metalli lava, very
heavy, and resembling half-smelted scoria
which has boiled up from a furnace. 1t
contains many small whitish, semi transpar-
ent particles, disse mated through the mass
like quartz or feldspar.
The eruption began on the 3lst 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 Vukanos, where the
water is always discolovcd aud inpregnated
with sulphur from abundant springs at the
bottom The flames rose Mt intervals to the
height Of fifteen feet, and were seen at times
10 issue frem the southwestern part Of Nea
kaimeue. That island was soon rent BY
deep assure, and the southern part sank
considerably
On the 4,h. of February the eruptions be-
came more violent and the sea more dis
turbed. Gas forced itself from the depths
with a terrific noise, resembling the bursting
Of steam boiler; flames arose at intervals,
and white smoke, rising steadily, for meG
an immense column, crowned with curled
capital of dark, heavy clouds. The new
island was visible next morning, increasing
sensibly to the eye rs it rose Oft the sea ut
no great distance to the south of Nca kai-
meme.
r., u, I'D H.,
Dekigalla, man of science and an able
observer, who will record accurately all the
phenomena OF the eruption as il proceeds
The heat of the sea rose from So Fahrenheit
to 1872, as near The vicinity of volcanic ac-
ton as it was safe to approach. The bottom
of the sen 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 it was sew
enteen ii is now only three fathoms. The
new island, as it increases, will probably
form a 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 10 Fahrenheit, and the upper part,
after four days exposure, was found to be
still so.
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 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 kind
similar to that which destroyed Pompeii, but
far more terrible.
The eruption that formed the present
island Of Nea Kaimens began in the year
1907, and the volcanic action continued,
without doing any serious injury to the in
habitants Of Thera until 1913. 1t is possible
the present eruption may continue as long,
and be as mild in its operation. But as late
part of the island, and raised an island on
its northeastern coast, which sunk again
into the sea, leaving a 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 1457. The
Small Kaimene, which is nearest to Thera,
was thrown up in 1913. All eruptons in
the bays have been attended with similar
phenomena.
The British naval commander at Malta has
sent two ships to the scene of the pbenome-
ma. A letter dated Feb. I, containing the
latest news says:
:" The same smoke and fire in the evening
as yesterday, and the hillock continues It's
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"