The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-15
Subnariue Volcano.
RESULTS OF EXPLORATIONS IN THE PDCIF1C BY
The ALERT-LOCATION OF THE ISLAND AND

RESULTS or EXPLORATIONS IN THE PDCIFIC BY
THE ALERT-LOCATION OF THE ISLAND AND
CHARACTER OF THE ERUPTION.
WASHINGTON, December 13.-As contin-
nation OF the preliminary announcement OF
The discovery OF a submarine volcano about
five hundred miles southeast OF the Japan
Islands, in mid.ocean, the following detail
ed Information is OF Importance, in order
TO locate the exact situation OF the danger
and the adjacent islands on the existing
charts:
About in longitude 14l degrees east and
i'm latitude % degrees north three Islands
will be found, known by the name OF the
Volcano Islands. These Islands were dis
covered and named by Bernardo de Torres
in 15i2. As they are situated in the open
space OF about four hundred miles width,
between the north equatorial current, run
ming toward the west, and The Japan cur
rent, running toward the east, they arc
only rarely visited by. nayigators. Their
average height is from $500 to 5000 feet,
and their relative position on line rum
ming north and south about thirty
five miles from each other. KruseD-
stern, the Russian navigator, visited
the islands i'm 1906 and determined their ge-
ographical position. According 10 ms oo-
seryatIons the nOrthernmost OF these
| islands, named san Aiessandro, Is assigned
| to be I'm latitude 25o IA north anu III Iungi-
tude 14lo 10/ east. BY the recent eXplora-
tions of the United States ship Alert the
correct nosition OF the island was ascer-
tained. locating it fully 10/ latitude further
north than indicated on the existing Quarts.
II Is in the vicinity Of this island that the
recently.discovered submarine volcano Is
! found. due west from It's northern end and
one and half miles distant from 1t.
THE VOLCANO.
The volcano is in constant eruption,
throwing its mud and ashes nearly sixty
feet i'm the air, which, with the outnOWlhg
lava, is forming dangerous reef around
the crater. imperilliDg The passage between
the volcano and the island. The surface
temperature OF the water in the vicinity OF
the volcano was found to be from 80 To- ~
degrees Fahrenheit, and TO THIS may De at
| tributed the presence or immense quantities
Of black -brownish sharks, OF more tnan or
dinary size, measuring from Twelve 10 SIN
teen feet in length. The sedlmentary SUD-
stance floating in the water had gradua'ly IN
creased the thickness OF their skins TO one
| half inch, as was shown by one OF the
specimens brought on board.
LOCATION OF THE ISLAND.
According to the report OF Commander
Huntington. commanding the United States
ship Alert, the English charts OF this part
OF The Pacific ocean locate the position OF
the two southern islands OF the group tole-
rably correct, but the nOrthernmost should
be placed in fully ten minutes latitude
further north, which brings the exact posi-
tion OF this island and the submarine vol
cano in longitude l4l deg. l6 min. east and
in latitude % deg. a min. north.
The exact positions OF the other dangers
living north from the Volcano Islands, be-
tween the latter and Japan, were ascer.
tanned by Commander Huntington, and VIII
probably be published with his report 10y the
Bureau Of Navigation. They differ consider
ably with the assigned positions on the ex'
isting photographic charts.