Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-29
ENIcan!c ESFe,,nrnenn.


a gentleman writing from Athens Greece under
date of March lst, says
We now possess accurate accounts of the volcanic
r2cnomena in the Bay of Santorin. Mr. Erakine,
@ |9 & T'sa s@cond nd voIcani island isse %o St sbs
fountain OF lava ard us 1t rose high above the sur
face of the water fragments of rock fell from its sides
when they cooled and cracked at ANGLES which left
lhe masses without support. The first island Of lava
has now connected itself at both its ends with the
island Of lea Kaimene and the enclosed space forms
crater like the Sofatara and is called the Volcano
being the centre of the volcanic action. Since Mr..
Erskine's return DR.. julius Schmidt, an able OBJ
server. and the other member Of the scientific com
mission sent by the Greek government have trans
mitted regular and detailed reports of the various
pn.!gGHy~G,ena .!G,o that have occurred.
the Commission woro At ShS old crater Of Nea Kai-
meme, with thor instruments Inalsirq observation
17 the volcano below a fearful explosion arrested
their attention, and when they advanced to thu
effect terrific eruption Of HANGS ashes and red hot
stones burst from the volcano. They had Just time Ia
spring for shelter under the overhanging lave of the
old crater, but not until they had received q few
burns their skim and few holes in their clothes
The fury of the eruption lasted only for few min
utes and when the wind had cleared away the smoke
and ashes they hastened to embark in the schooner
at their disposal The schooner, though mOOred be-
tween Nea ami Mkre Kaimene, at a much greater
distance, was in considerable danger.
The deck set on fire in several places by the
red hot stones and tho men engaged in cutting the
mOorngs and getting the vessel out Of danger, re-
ceyed several burns. Greek vessel, which was
taking II pozzolan2 nearer the Volcano Tas set & on
stoGe During the rest of the day only slight cxplo
si0nS occurred; but smoke and flames seen t,
issue from he volcano and during the night on on
occasion, flames made their appearance over the old
Graters, both in Nea and Mkre Kaimene and around
the new island that continues to grow out of the sea
On the 22d curious phenomenon, which has gen
orally accompanied this eruption, displayed tsel
with singular majesty. dense column, which haC
its form clearly defined as if it had been a mas
Of dark purple basalt rose slowly out Of the volcano
into the air. Ii about 800 feet in diameter auC
ascended to height of 1000 feet. It appeared as i
ceE tra column OF ire glowed with lurid coiorinl
through dense covering of ashes mingled with smoke
For some time it preserved its columnar structur,
without yielding to the wind, but the heavy mat
er fell the smoke began gradually to disperse. It'll
interesting to compare this pheGomenon with. tht
description which Piiny gives lEpist Vi. lG) Of ths
cloud that issued from Nesuvius in the form of az
immense pine tTee-iOngisst1to Uetf tFtmcO eiItd
aiten,-when PompeI was destroyed and his uncle
pershed.
and ships have been sent to enable those to escape
who desire to quit the island. The danger, if no
really great. is magnifed by its uncertainty. Th,
force that up islands of lava from the depths
the may topple down the town Of Thera from thu
precipce where it stands thousand feet above tn,
1prnl lcft tha inf +ho urFb bal,