Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-08
Submarine Volcanoes.


the larger number of the worlds volca-
noes are either on islands or directly
on the coast, showing direct relation
between the two indeed, it seems to be
proved that the rush of the sea into the
caves or assures at the base of volcanoes
produces a force of steam which must
find vent, and earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions are the result, often attended
with the discharge of large quantities of
water. The coast of the Pacific has
what is called line of fire, q row of
active volcanoes encircling it, from
Mount Erebus in the south to Mount
st. Elias in the north. It is very i'm
portant fact that the large central cluster
of one hundred and nine volcanoes in
the Sunda archipelago is exactly at the
antipodes of the Antilles, the largest
group of volcanic islands of the Allan:
tic. That there are submarine volcanoes
is also well-known fact; some parts of
the sea being especially devoted to the
display of these marine pyrotechnics.
The central and eastern Mediterranean
has for many ages been subject to such
displays. The islands of Santoripi and
uGdi udNo WlbIi1u ID lew
years given us some fine examples of the
violence sometimes witnessed at sea.
In the harbor of the former island a
very remarkable occurrence happened
in 1866. After much rumbling and dis
turbance of the water, a small island
arose to the surface, and upon it, aston
ishing to behold, were two houses of
solid masonry still we'll preserved 1t
was an old island that had simply gone
below for matter of twenty centuries,
and had onnclndad tn risn aeoin for a
while, as whale comes to the surface to
blow.
Near Sicily there is also celebrated
laboratory where volcanic islands are
tossed up to the surface, and after ex-
citing hopes on the part of the various
European powers that they are about to
add another island to their territory,
completely disappear again. Graham's 8
island came up in 1861 at that spot,
vanished and reappeared in 1868, but
where it lay at that time there is now a
depth of over seven hundred fathoms.
But Stromboli is the most celebrated of
the islands which the Mediterranean has
contributed to science within historic
times. 1t rose above the sea two thou
sand years ago with vast uproar and
convulsion, and assumed the form of
symmetrical cone twenty-six hundred
feet high, which has ever since been in
perpetual action. A thin column of
smoke rises from it constantly, and at
night the fires seething in the crater give
a reddish glow to the atmosphere above,
like that which hovers over large city
on dark night. At sunset Stromboli is
one of the most beautiful islands in the
Mediterranean.
The Atlantic, traversed by more veS-
sells than any other sea, is not less liable
to these submarine dangers, which, ris-
ing suddenly in spots where no land is
indicated on the chart, trip up the ves-
sci traversing the solitary main in fam
cied security. On the charts are shown
the Three Chimneys, between New
| foundland and Ireland, which no living
man has ever seen; but that is no rea-
son why they may not have existed
there at a period not so very remote.
In 1888 the island of Nynoe arose above
the sea Of Iceland, and sank at the end
of the year. The same phenomenon has
frequently occurred among the Azores.
st. Michael is a cluster of volcanoes and
sulphur.s springs st. George only few
years ago was overfowed by current Of
lava and Pico, seven thousand six hun
dred and thirteen feet high, and the
most picturesque peak in the Atlantic,
although lower than Teneriffe, is always
moderately active. Its minute crater al
the extreme summit is vent for hot
vapor always issuing from it, and the
rim is too warm for comfort. Near st.
Michael an island called Sabrina has ap.
peared in the same spot five times in two
centuries. 1t was last seen in 1867.
The first time passed through the strait
between st. Michael and st. Mary 6
high surf was breaking on reef which
was not on the chart +; on her previous
voyage the ship had sailed over the very
spot where reef now showed its for
midable barrier of pitiless rocks lying il
wait to crunch the ribs of any haples
bark that might ignorantly attempt t.
sail over them in the night t-time. IS. q
W. Benjamin IN AprIeton'S.