The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-27
Cur Oliu.
From Chambers Journal.
VOLCANOES.

The phenomena OF volcanoes are among
the most imposing and awe-inspiring within
the circuit of natural influences. This is
due in great part to thes of utter help
lessness that fills the mind of the observer
in view of stupendous natural forces which
he is powerless to check, and of tremen-
dous agencies of destruction which it is i'm
possible for him either to resist or control.
Moreover the apparent irregularity of the
eruptions which take place from time to
time in the chief centres of volcanic action,
is such as to stimulate his curiosity as pow
erfully as they excite his fears; and thus
the phenomena and their attendant mani
festations of irresistible and destructive
energy, have rendered the 'burning noun
tain" in all ages and among all people an
object of unceasing wonder and apprehen-
SION In the more poetic ages of the world,
when men were disposed to personify those
powers in nature that were beyond their
comprehension or control, such volcanic
outbreaks were attributed to causes in keep
ing with the modes of thought which then
prevailed. The volcanoes in the Mediter
ranean area were accounted for, in the pic
turesque mythology of the time, by sup
posing that the gods were then engaged in
conflict or toll; the mountain Of Vulcano,
or Volcano, in the Lipari Islands, being
appropriated as the forge of the Greek
Hephastus and his Roman representative,
Vulcan-and the name thus came to be
applied to all similar phenomena. Etna,
again, was regarded as formed by the noun
tains which the vengeful Zeus had heaped
over the rebellious Typhon, its periodically
reearrent eruptions being ascribed to the
tremendous struggles by which the buried
giant sought to free himself from the su-
perincumbent mass. But such poetical
explanations have long ceased to have
weight among mankind, and we now seek
for solution of those wonderful problems
of nature in manner more in keeping with
the scientific spirit that is every day re-
moving us further and further from the
era of NEUROLOGICAL influences.
Within the last thirty years volcanoes
have been made the subject of close and
scientific observation, and the questions
that still remain unsolved are now confined
within comparatively narrow area. The
chief contribution which has ever perhaps
been made to the scientific elucidation of
the subject, is to be found in volume by
Professor Judd, entitled, "Volcanoes;-
What they are, and What they Teach, "
London Kegan Paul & Co.. This vol
ume will serve as the basis of some obser-
vatfons, in which we shall endeayor to sum
up the extent of present knowledge on this
interesting subject.
A volcano is generally described as IA
burning mountain, from the summit of
which issue smoke and flames This def
inition Mr.. Judd takes exception to, both
as whole and in its individual PROPOSE
tions. In the first place, the action which
takes place at volcanoes is not external
"burning," or combustion, and bears, in
deed, no relation whatever to mat we'll
known process Nor are volcanoes neces-
sarily "mountains' at all; essentially they
are Just the reverse-namely, holes in the
earth's crust, by means of which commu-
nication is kept up between the surface and
the interior of our globe. The mountains
that generally exist at centres of volcanic
activity are simply the gathered materials
thrown out of these holes, and have not
therefore to do with the causes, but with
the consequences of volcanic action. Meth
er is this action confined to the 'summits'
of mountains, for it as frequently occurs
on their sides or at their base; while what
is called ''smoke" is in reality steam or
watery vapor; and what is described as
'sfames" is nothing more than the glowing
light of the molten matter in the crater re-
fected from these vapor clouds.
Such, then, being some of the popular
misconceptions of the causes and character
of volcanic action, more accurate concep-
ton may be obtained of what volcanoes are,
if we have an opportunity of hearing from
eye-witnesses how they are made. An in
teresting example of this operation has been
afforded within the modern historical period
On the Bay of Naples, and about eighteen
miles distant from Mount Vesuvius, is a
conical hill four hundred and forty feet in
height, and covering an area more than hall
a mile in diameter. This is called Monte
Nuovo, or the "New Mountain, ;" and came
into existence less than three hundred and
fifty years ago, its site having been ancient
ly occupied in part by the Lucrine Lake
This continued till 1888, when the "NeW
Mountain was formed; and the facts at
tending its formation have been conclusive
" proved. For more than two years pre-
viously the country around was affected BY
earthquakes, which gradually increased IL
intensity, and attained their climax IN Sep
tember of the year last mentioned.
"On the 9th and 18th of that month
these earthquake shocks are said to hav'
been felt almost continuously day anc
night. About eight o'clock in the morning
of the 10Th, depression Of the ground wa
noticed on the site of the future hill; ant
from this depression, water, which was
first cold and afterward tepid, began tt
flow. Four hours afterwards the groun'
was seen to swell up and open, forming