The Osceola times., 1882-05-13
CAPTAIN ROBsON's DISCOVERY.

The New Orleans Picayune of April
first, has the following;
Yesterday the British steamship Jes-
mond, Capt. Robson, arrived at this port
from Messina with cargo of fruit. Capt.
Robson reports remarkable discovery.
He says that when about POO miles west
ward Of Madeira his attention was called
to the singular appearance of the sea,
The water had dark. muddy look. and
was covered with dead fish as far as the
eve could reach. They were of several
species, among them being noticed null
let, cod and bass. Soon after entering
this field of dead fish he observed faint
smoke on the horizon nearly ahead, on
the course of the vessel. Early the next
morning the Captain was awakened by
the second officer, and informed that
land had been sighted in the course of
the steamer. He was greatly surprised
at this information, knowing that there
was no land in this part of the Atlantic.
Upon going ON deck, however, he found
that the report was correct. The dim
outlines OF an island, broken by noun
tain peaks, were visible even without the
use of the glass. Above it hung a cloud
of smoke. The water was more turbid
than on previous day, and the shoal of
dead fish thicker. Capt Robson deemed
it advisable TO take soundings, not ex-
pectiDg, however, to get bottom, as the
charts show depth OF from 1000 to 5000
fathoms in that portion of the Atlantic.
For some time the sounding was without
bottom at fifty fathoms. When about
T., ,cto ~ ,alo al
desmond came to anchor in seven faith
oms of water. The island was located 2s
deg 40 min. west, 25 deg. north. Capt
Robson determined to make an inyesti-
CATION OF the strange land, and the yawl
was lowered and the Captain and one OF
his officers were rowed to the island. A
landing was effected on the low coast of
the western border, where a convenient
haroor was found for the yawl. The
Captain and several of the crow, with
some difficulty, assembled the declivity.
The promontory seemed several miles
in length, and joined an extensive tab
leau, which sloped gently back 10 chain
of mountains at great distance off, from
which rose light columns ofsmoke. The
surface of the ground was covered with
pnmice stone and volcanic debris, and
entirely destitute of vegetation. II was
a desolete scene, where not a single liv-
ing thing was to Re perceived. The
Captain and his companions started on
tour inland, but soon found their pro-
gress impeded by yawning chasms. 1t
was therefore determined to return to
the beach, and inspect the Island from
that side. While examining the base
of the cliff, where the rock was fractured
and twisted as il by some tremendous
convulsion, and disc,os a bed of brec.
cia, surprising discovery was made by
one of the sailors. On thrusting the
prong of a boathook into the loosened
mass of gravel, he dsodged a stone ar
row-head. Excited by this incident, the
search was continued, and other articles
OF stone were discovered. A large exca.
vation was made, and it was ascertained
that the opening led between the crumb-
ling remains of what must have been
massive walls. Anumber ofarticles were
exhumed, such as bronze swords, rings.
hammers, carvings of heads and figures
of birds snd animals, and two vases or
jars, with fragments of bone and one era
MUM almost entire. The most singular
thing brought to view was what appeared
" pc q iiiuuiihy, tohtdiucu III q SIouc
case. 1t was 80 incrusted with volcanic
deposits as to be scarcely distinguished
from the rock ITSELF Much difficulty
was experienced in dislodging the sarco.
phagus, which was finally taken out
whole, and, with the fossils transported
to the steamer.
Captain Robson would have continued
this investigation, but as the aspect of
the weather became less favorable, and
he could net afford to spend more time
at the island, he sailed for this port. He
considers that the new island was raised
from the sea by volcanic action, and that
the fish were killed by the poisonous
gases from the volcano. The Captain
thinks that the new land is section Of
the immense ridge known to exist in
the Atlantic, and of which the Azores
and Canaries are part. He took pleasure
in exhibiting the fossils and curious arti-
cles of which he was the fortunate finder
The carved heads are in the Egyptian
style Of sculpturing, being distinguished
bv the veil or hood which characterizes
Egyptian figures. The urns and vases
are spherical, with large mouths, and III
on them may be discerned inscriptions
in hieroglyphics. The edges of the axes
and arrow or spear heads are bluntei and
jagged. The sword is straight weapon
of bronze, with a cross-hilt.
"That is the mummy" remarked the
Captain, pointing to what the reporter
had taken to be long block of stone
Scrutinizing closely the lidless case, the
outlines of a human figure could be
traced through the coating of ecorie and
pumice. 1t will require careful handling
to remove the coating. Captain Robson
proposes TO present the relics to the Brit
ish Museum at London upon his return
to Liverpool.