The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-12
A New Island Remarkable Phenomena
A VnIr,rtfr UTrNhanuo1-

A Volcanic Upheaval.
A Corlespondent OF the London Times, writing
from Ath ems, Greece, announces that new
island began TO rise above the level of the sea in
the Bay of Thera (Santorin) in the Grecan
Archipelago, on the 4th of February, and in five
days It attained the height of IRON one hundred
and thirty eet to one hundred and fifty ieet
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
hali-smelted scoria which has boiled up from
furnace. 1t contains many small whitish semi
transparent particles disseminated through the
macs ike quartz or fedspar.
The eruption began on the 3lst OF January.
A ncise Ike volleys of artillery was heard,
T but without any earthquake. On the following
day flames issued from the sea- in part OF the
Oay called Vulkanos, where the water IS always
discolored and impregnated with sulphur from
abundant springs at the bottom. The flames
rose at intervals to the height of fifteen feet,
and were seen at times to issue from toe south
western part OF Nea Kaimene. That island was
soon rent by deep fssure, and the southern
part sank considerably.
On the 4th of February the eruptons became
more violent and the sea more disturbed. Gas
forced itself up from the depths with terrific
noise, resembling the bursting of steam boiler;
flames arose at intervals and white smoke,
rising steadily, formed an immense column,
crowned with curled capital OF dark heavy
clouds The new island was visible next morn.
ing, increasing sensiby to the eye as 1t rose
out of the sea at no great distance to the south
of Nea Kaimene.
The new island has been visited by DR.. Deki.
gala, man OF science and an able observer,
who will record accurately ali the phenomena
of the eruption as it proceeds Tue heat OF the
sea rose from 62 Fahrenheit to l22 as near the
vicinity OF volcanic acton as it was safe to
approach. The bottom of the sea all round Nea
Kaimene appears TO have risen greatly. In one
place, where the depth is marked on the Admi
rally chart one hundred iathoms, it was found
| to be only thirty, and at another where it was
seventeen it is now only three fathoms. The
new island, as it increases will probably form a
junction with Nea Kalmene. 1t grows as it
were, out of the sea, the mass below pushing
upwards 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, ana smoke to the surface. But
should fssure 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 SINH
lar 10 that which destroyed Pompeii, but far
more terrible.
The eruption that formed the present island of
Nea Kaimene began la the year 1907 and the
volcanic action continued, without doing any
serious injury to the inhabitants of Thera until
l7l3. 1t is possible the present eruption may
continue as long, and be as mild in its operation
But as late as 1850 terrible eruption laid waste
great part of the island, and raised an island on
its northeastern coast, which soon sank again
into the sea, leaving q shoal.
The island of Old Kalmene made its first ap-
pearance in the year 1913 before the Christian era
Its size was increased by several eruptions men,
toned in history. The last addition it received
was in l457. The Small Kaimene, which is
| nearest to Thera was thrown up in 1873 All
the eruptions in the bays have been attended
with similar phenomena
The British naval commander at Malta has
sent two ships to the scene of these phenomena.
A letter dated February 7, containing the latest
news, says:-
''The same smoke and fire in the evening as
| yesterday, and the hillock continues its opera
| tions. The sea, too' bois beyond the cove more
| than yesterday. The hilock, or land will pro-
| badly by tomorrow increase as far as the en-
trance to the cove, and be joined by its Sides"