Daily globe., 1882-04-15
CAPT. ROBsON's DISCOVERY.
He Finds a NeU Island in the AtJantic,dnG
on the Island. Some Curious Remains.

He Finds a NeiU Island IL, the AtJantic,dnG
on the Island. Some Curious Remains.
From the New Orleans Plcayune.
Yesterday the British steamship desmond,
Capt Robson, arrived at this port from Mes
sina with cargo of fruit. Capt. Robson re-
ports q remarkable discovery. He says that
when about 200 miles to the westward of Ma
deira, 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 eye could reach. They were OF
several species, amo ng them being noticed
mullet. 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 next
morning the captain was ava
kened 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 mountain peaks, were visible even
without the use of the glass. Above it hung
cloud of smoke. The water was more tur-
bid than on the previous day, and the shoal OF
dead fish thicker. Capt. Robinson deemed It
advisable to take soundings, not expecting,
however, to get bottom, as the charts show a
depth of from 2,O00 to 5000 fathoms
in that portion Of the Atlantic.
For some time the sounding was
bottom at fifty fathoms. When about four
leagues distant from the island the desmond
came to anchor in seven fathoms of water.
The island was located twentY-eight degrees
and forty minutes west, twenty-five degrees
north. Capt. Robson determined to make an
examination of the strange land, and the yawl
was lowered and the captain and one of his
officers were rowed to the island. landing
was effected on the low coast of the western
border, where a convenient harbor was found
for the yawl. The captain and several of the
crew, with some difficulty, ascended the de-
clivity.
The promontory seemed several miles il
length, and Joined an extensive plateau, which
sloped gently back to chain OF mountains at
a great distance off, from which rose light
columns of smoke. The surface of the ground
was covered with pumice stone and volcanic
debris, and entirely destitute of vegetation. 1t
was desOlate scene, where not single living
thing was to be perceived. The Captain and
his com panions started on tour inland, but
soon found their progress impeded by yawning
chasms. It was therefore determined to re-
turn to the beach and inspect the island from
that side. While examining the base OF tne
cliff where the rock was fractured and twisted
as if by some tremendous convulsion, and dis
closed bed of breccia, a surprising discovery
was made by one of the sailors. On thrust
ing the prong of boathook into the loosened
mass of gravel, he dislodgeda a stone arrow
head. Excited by this incident, the search
was continued, and other articles OF stone
were discovered. A large excavation was
made and it was ascertained that the opening
led between the crumbllng remains OF what
must have been massive walls. A number of
articles were exhumed, such as bronze swords,
rings, hammers, carvings of heads and fignres
of birds and animals, and two vases or jars
with fragments of bone and one Uranium
almost entire. The most singular thlng
brought to view was what appeared to be
mummy, contained in stone case. 1t was
so incrusted with volcanic deposits as to be
scarcely distinguished from the rock itself.
Much difficulty was experienced in dlslodging
the sarcophagus, which was finally taken out
whole and, with the fossils, transported to the
steamer.
Can't. Robson would have continued this ina
yestieation, but as the aspect of the weather
became less favorable, and he could not 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
IlQS6 Known 10 eXl5L III Tue AtiauIlC, duU u
which the Azores and Canaries are part. de
took pleasure in exhibiting the fossils and Gu
rious articles of which he was the fortunate
finder. The carved heads are in the Egyptian
style of sculpturing, being distinguished by
the veil or hood which character
ICES Egyptian figures. The urns and
vases are spherical with large mouths, and
upon them may be discerned inscriptions In
The edges of the axes and ar
row or spear heads are blunted and Jagged
The sword is straight weapon of bronze
with cross-hilt.
"That is the mummy" remarked the cap
tain. pointing to what the reporter had taken
to be long block of stone. ScrutlnlzLng
closely the lidless cases, the outlines oil hu-
man figure could be traced through the coat
ing of scori@ and pumice. 1t will require
careful handling to remove the coating. capt.
Robson proposes to present the relics 10 tne
British Museum at London upon his retur
to Liverpool.