The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-23
A sANToRIN ERUPTION.
RISING OF A NEW ISLAND.


The Athens correspondence Of theLon-
don Times gives the following descrip
tfon of the new Greek island, and - the
manner in which it has risen frlsna the
sea: nF3I#5#.l Jl fs
A new island begansto rise above the
level of the sea In Che Bay Of Thera,
Saptorin, on the 4thT Inst, Rnd in five
days it attained the height, 81 from 1870
feet to $50 feet, with lengthsofupwaids
Of $50 feet, and breadth of 100 feet 1t
continues to increase, and consists of a
rusty black metallic lava, very heavy,
and resembling half smelted scoria
which has boiled from a surface. 1t
contains many small whitish semi
transparent particles disseminated
through the mass-like quartz or felspar.
The shape of Santorin on the MAP gives
an idea of its volcanic formation. 1t
appears to be the eastern half of an inn
fnense crater, stretching in semi-circle
round bay in which the sea now covers
! the seat ofvolcanic action. The destruc-
| ton of the southwestern rim of the crater
let in the water. The northwestern
portion is the island of Therasia. The
bay is about six geographical miles long,
and upwards of four miles broad. Near
the centre there are three islands which
! have risen from the sea during eruptions
1 recorded In history, --Palaia, Nea, and
4 Mikre Kaimene, or Old, New and Little
Burnt (Island), naming them in their
order from west to east. The present
eruption commenced on the 3lst of Jan
uary. A noise like volleys of artillery
was heard, but without any earthquake.
On the following day flames issued from
the sea i'm part of the bay called Vul-
kanos, where the water is always dis
colored and i.npregnated with sulphur
from abundant springs at the bottom.
The flames rose at intervals to the
height of 10 feet, and were seen at times
to issue from the southwestern part of
Nea Kaimene. That island was soon
rent by deep fissure, and the southern
part sank considerably. On the 4th of
February the eruptions became more
violent, and the sea more disturbed.
Gas forced itself up from the depths
. with terrific noise, resembling the burst
ing of steam boiler; flames arose at in
/, tervals, and white smoke, rising steadi-
ly, formed an immense column, CROWN
, ed with curled capital of dark heavy
clouds. The new island was visible
next morning, increasing sensibly to
, | the eye as it rose out of the sea
/: at no great distance to the south
of Nea Kaimene. The new island has
been visited by DIR. Dekigalls "a man of
. science and an able observer, who will
( record accurately all the phenomena of
D the present eruption as it proceeds. The
!, heat Of the sea rose from 81 Fahrenheit
:. to 122 as near the vicinity of volcanic
action as it was safe to approach. The
' bottom of the sea all round Nea Kali
5 meme appears to have risen greatly. In
e one place, where the depth is marked
on the Admiralty chart 100 fathoms, il
s was found to be now OILY 30, aud at an
D other where il was II it is now only three
q fathoms. Thenew island, as it in creases
:. will probably form a junction with Nes
Il | kaimene. 1t grows, as it were out O.
It the sea, the mass below pushing up.
is wards that which is already above
70 water. The lower part is hot, its fis
Is sures, where they are deep, being IL,
m Fahrenheit, and the upper part after fou
re days exposure was found to be still SO
Sc At present the centre of the volcani
Of force evidently lies far below the bottom
le of the sea. and only gases and smok
work their way through the incumbep
r. earth to the water, and escapes in noise
err flames and smoke to the surface. Blu
ut should a assure at the bottom of the Sc
h. allow the water to penetrate to the ire
n that throw up the melted metal of TIL
o. new island to the surface, an eruptio
TX may take place of a kind similar to ths
do which destroyed Pompeii,, but far mo,
ch terrible. The eruption that formed tl
re-. present island of Nea Kaimene bega
re in 1907, and the volcanic action conf,
,r- ued, without doing any serious damap
id, to the inhabitants of Thera, until III
I "a 1T is possible the present eruption ms
be continue as long, and be as mild in
M operation. But as late as 1850 terrib
ess eruption laid waste great part of the
es- land, aud raised an island on its mort
ill eastern coast, which soon sank aga
re. into the sea, leaving a shoal The slal
ms OF Old lAaimene made its first appea
He ance in the year 1913 before the Christi,
ms, ear. Its size was increased by sever
put eruptions mentioned in history. II
ev- last addition it received was in las
in The Small Kairnene, which is neare
ca to Thera, was thrown up in 1873. All Z
to eruptions in the bay have been attend
er- with similar phenomena.
Jay, n. ------ Go
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