The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-16
The New Volcanic Island.

We published yesterday q short paragraph
about the island recently formed by volcanic
eruption in the Grecan archipelago. We
deem the phenomenon of sufficient interest TO
give the following more detailed account:
A correspondent of the London Times, wri-
ting from Athens, Greece, announces that
new island began TO rise above the lever OF the
sea- in the Bay of Thera, (Santerin,) i'll the
Grecian archipelago, on the 4th OF FEBRUARY,
and in five days il attained the height of from
one hundred and thirty TO one hundred and
fifty feet, with length of upwards OF three
hundred and fifty feet, and breadth OF one
hundred feet 1t continues TO increase, and
consists of a rusty black metallic lava, very
heavy, and resembling half smelted scorIa
which has been boiled up from furnace II
contains many small whitish, semi transpa-
rent particles, disseminating through the mass
like quartz or feldspar.
The eruption began on the 3lSt of January.
A noise like yolleyS of artillery was heard,
but without any earthquake. On the 1olloW-
ing day, flames issued from the sea III Il par l
of the bay called Nulcanos, where the water is
ALWAYS diScolored and impregnated with sui
phur from abundant springs at the bottom.
The flames rose at intervals to the helght OF
fifteen feet, and were seen At times 10 issue
from the southwestern part OF Nea halmehe'
That island was soon rent by q deep assure
and the southern part sunk considerably.
On the 4th of February the eruption became
more violent and the sea more disturbed
terrific noise, resembling the bursting of "a
steam boiler; flames arose 1T intervals, ana
white smoke, rising steadily, formed All IN
mense column, crowned with curved caplIal
of dark, heavy clouds. The new lslana "as
visible next morning, increasing senslbly 10
the ewes as ii rose out of the sea NJ no great
distance to the south of Nea kamene.
The new island has been visited by Or. De-
kigalla, a man of science ana an aole opseINe
who will record accurately all the.phenomena
of the eruption rs it proceeds. The neat Oh
the sea rose from 62 Fahrenheit to l22 rs near
the vicinity of volcanic action as IL was sale
TO approach. The bottom OF the sea all rouno
Nea Kaimene appears to have risen greatly.
In one place where the depth is marked on the
Admiralty chart one hundred fathoms, IL was
found TO be now only thirty, ana at announcer,
where it was seventeen, it is now only three
fathoms The new island, as 1T increases, VIII
nrobab ly form a junction with Nea kaimene.
1t grows, as IL We're out into the sea, the mass
below pushing upward that which is ALREADY
above water. The lower part is hot, lis ms
sure. where they are deep, being l'o fahreh-
heit and the upper part, after four days eX-
posure, was found TO be stlll so.
At present the centre of the volcanic force
lies evidently far below the bottom OF the sea,
and ONLY gasses and smoke work their way
throuph the incumbent earth TO the water,
and escape in noise flames ana smoke 10 the
surface But should a assure at the potion
of the sea allow the water TO penetrate 10 the
fires that throw up the melted metal OF the
new island 10 the surface, an eruption may
take place of kind similar 10 That when de-
stroyed Pompeii, but far more terrible.
The eruption that formed the present lsiand
of Nea Kaimene began i'll the year 1907, ana
the volcanic action continued, without DONG
any serious injury 10 the inhabitants oil lhera,
until 1913 1t is possible the present eruption
NAV continue as long, and be us mia III It's
operation But as late as 1850, terrible erup
ton laid waste great part of the island, ana
raised an island on its northeastern coast,
which soon sunk again into the sea, leaving ID
shoal. n.
The island of Old Kaimene made It's ilrst
appearance in the year los before the Cnristiat
era It's size was increased by several erup-
tions mentioned I'm history The last ADDITION
il received was in l4j7. The Small kaimene'
which is nearest to Thera, was thrown up IN
1878 All the eruptions in the bays have been
attended with similar phenomena.
The British naval commander at Malta has
sent two ships 10 the scene of these phenomena.
A letter dated February 2, containing the
latest news, says:
"The same smoke and fire in the evening rs
Yesterday, and the hiiiock continues its opera
tons The sea, too, boils beyond the cove
more than Yesterday. The hiiiock, or land,
will probably, by tomorrow, increase as Tar
as the EN- trance to the cove, and be joined by
It's sides. =