The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-03

phenomenon occurred on the 10th Of
OF January last. at that date very
severe shock Of earthquake was ex-
perienced, and Immediately afterward
a body Of land estimated at forty
acres, situated at the north entannce
ct the harbor, slid into the sea, and
was instantly absorbed out of sight,
as it it were a pebble. At the same
moment tidal wave twenty feet
hlph swept over portion of the
island, but for some unknown cause
It's force was spent very suddenly. A
few days after these events Capt.
Kilgour entered the harbor, but did
not deem it wise to anchor, he having
observed the strange look of the
shore since he visited Tanna. Taking
a ships boat he went ashore and
learned the facts already stated, and
also that considerable damage had
been done to property by the tidal
wave. Several native houses were
swept away. and a large
cobra store and all its contents
dashed to pieces in an instant. For
tunntely only few lives were lost.
The harbor, too, suffered seriously.
the depth Ct water having been les
sened by six feet all over, and rocks
previously hidden out of sight are
now plain to view. The entrance to
the harbOr remains unchanged. Dur
ing the earthquake and tidal wave
the greatest terror seized the natives,
who believed that themselves and
their island were about to be Swal-
lowed up. At the time of the de-
parture of the Stanley fears were
entertained that another eruption
would follow. but up to latest dates
we have no news of such being the
fact, and it is to be hoped that the
terrified islanders have escaped fur
Their terrors.
AN OLD CRATER REOPENs.
A New Zealand captain who reach
ed here few days ago brings the in
telligence that disastrous volcanic
eruption occurred at Blanche bay,
New Britain, in the early part of
last February. An old crater that
had been inactive during many years
broke out with awful and alarming
fury, destroying two villages, the
natives of which fortunately escaped
with their lives. The eruption was
preceded by frequent shocks of earth
quake, which alarmed the inhabi.
tants. and taking warning therefrom.
they fed just in time to save them
selves. The shocks were very severe
in New Britain, but were not felt on
the Duke OF. York island, only twenty
miles distant. After the eruption it
was discovered that great quantities
of pumice stone had been thrown up
from the sea, the extent being seve-
raj miles in length, and averaging
half a mile in breadth. The pumice
was spread in crust of from three
to five feet in depth. The old crater
still active. and throwing MP immoneo
clouds OF thick, black smoke, accom-
panied by red-hot stones and ash s.
a loud roaring is distinctly audible
for distance of twenty miles from
the crater. On Feb. 3 terrific Shock
sent portions of the coast of New
Britain, and on the 4th two tidals
swept with irresistible power along
the shore, carrying with them fabu.
lOus bodies of earth. The whole face
of nature has been changed by these
commissions.
A GROWING VOLCANIC ISLAND.
The British war vessel Sapphire
touched at the island Of Tongatuba,
one of the Tonga groups in April,
and leaving there on the 9Th of the
month sailed or steamed for the
island of Vavau, volcanic island
which first made its appearance above
water in 1854 and has been constantly
growing ever since, but as impercept-
IDLY as q human being grows. The
object Of the officers of the war.ship
was to note the changes Of this
growth in the years past. The cap.
tain of the ship John Wesley touched
at the island in 1852. when it had
reached a height Of about twelve feet
above the level of the sea. A few
years later Dutch captain estimated
its elevation at thirty feet, and now
it has attained an elevation OF one
hundred and eleven feet, as correctly
measured by the Sapphire. It's sum-
suAt ID SOsCkCu Will hIIu IdIKc
jets Of steam and smoke issue slowly
from the countless crevices. Except
that no volcano is in sight the ground
is precisely like that adjacent to the
great crater of Kilanea on the Sand
witch islands, from which myriads of
steam are constantly eJected. The
growth of Vavau since its birth
thirty-eight years ago has been watch
ed by those interested in the subtle
mysteries of nature with as much in
terest as fathers watch the unfolding
Of their only sons and heirs. Whether
Vayau will ever assume continental
airs and shape is question we will
not inquire into. As a constantly
growing island it may in time reach
out to California or Australia, when
the writer hopes to be able to chroni-
Gle the fact, unless his duties in
heaven (say nothing of the other
place. are too arduous.
PHENOMENA ALONG THE EQUATOR
ISLANDS.
Sea-captains at this port have been
discussing the lownes5 of the tides
and the changes of current-notice-
ably during the present year-about
the islands bordering on the equator
and popularity known on the Line
islands. Some assert that the sun is