Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-22
A STEAMING MOUNTAIN.
Exploration Of the New Volcano IA 3ehring
Apn.

Exploration Of the New Volcano IN 3ehring
Sea.
A Washington telegram says The Sec
rotary OF the Treasury has received from
Captain VI. A. Hcaly, Of the United States
revende-cutter Corwin, under dite OF
0unallska. May 2Sth, two interesting r.
norts by officers Of the Corwiu, describing
a visit TO the recently-upheayed volcano in
Behring Sea. Al the northeast end Of B0sos-
loft Island. in latitude go 81 Is" north,
longitude 1GSo 2l> west. This volcano.
which is in state OF constant aud in
tense activity, was upheaycd from the
sea in the summer Of 1882, bu. was
not seen by any civilized eve until
September 81, 1888, when it was dis
covered by Captain Anderson, OF the
schooner Matthew Turner. A few DAYS
later 1t was akO seen by Captain Hague, Of
The steamer Dora, but no landiug upon it was
made previous to that OF the officers OF the
Corwiu last spring. DR.. Yemans describes
it as a dull, gray, irregularly cone-shlped
hill, about 500 feet in height, from the sides
and summit of which great volumes OF va
por were arising. AT I height OF about two
thirds the distance from the base 10 the
apex OF me cone there issued very irregu-
lar series OF large steam jets, which eX-
tended I'm a horizontal direction completely
across the northwestern face OF the hill.
Around these steam Jets were seen, upon
nearer approach, deposits OF sulphur OF
various hues, which at a distance looked
like patches Of vegetation.
A landing was effected without difficulty
upon narrow sand spit connecting the
new volcano with the old island OF Bogos-
lotf, and DR.. Yemans and Lieutenant Can't
we'll undertook the ascent OF the smoking
cone. II was covered by thin layer OF ash
formed into thin crust by the action OF
rain, which was not strong enough to sus-
tain a mans weight, and at every step the
climbers feet crushed through it, and they
sank knee-deep into soft, almost impalpa-
BILE dust, which arose in clouds, and nearly
sufiocated them. AS the summit was
neared the heat OF the ashes be-
came almost unbearable. A thermometer
buried in them hllf way up the ascent
marked 1862, and in creyice OF the ram
parts OF the crater "the mercury rapidly
expanded and filled the tube, when the
bulb burst, and shortly afterward the solder
used in attaching the suspenSion-ring TO the
instrument was fused" The temperature
was estimated at 5000 Fahrenheit. On all
sides OF the cone were perforations, through
which the steam escaped with more or less
energy, and In some eases at regular inter-
walls, like the exhaust OF asteam-engine. The
interior OF the crater could not be seen on
account Of the clouds OF smoke and yapor
which filed ii. "A curious fact to be
noted" Lieutenant Cantwell says, Gin re.
gard TO this volcano Is the entire absence,
apparently. OF lava and cinders. Nowhere
could find the slightest evidence OF either
OF these characteristics Of other volcanoes
hitherto examined in the Aleutian Islands.
| Volcanic dust or ash, however, is thrown
out in considerable quantities, and carried
by the wind to places rs distant as Ouna-
| laska"
After carefully measuring the volcano
and photogrsphing 1t from various points
Of view. the exploring party returned with
out accident to the ship. Captain Healy
reports his intention TO leave on May 10th
for ST. Michael's and the Arctic, and says
that he will visit the new volcano again on
HIS return