Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-21
A NEW VOLCANO.

The secretary of the treasury has received
from Capt. M. A. Healy, of the United
States revenue cutter Corwin, under date
of Ounalaska, May %, two interesting re-
ports by officers of the Corwin describing q
visit to the recently upheaved volcano in
Behring sea at the northern end of Bogosloff
island, in latitude 53', So, is" north; lon.
eitude 1862, OO>, 81" west.
This volcano, which is in state of con-
slant and intense activity, was upheaved
from the sea in the summer of 1882, but was
not seen by any civilized eye until Septem-
Der 81, 1888, when it was discovered by
Capt. Anderson, of the schooner Matthew
Turner. A few days later it was also seen
by Capt. Hague, of the steamer Dora, but
no landing upon it was made previous to
that by the officers ofthe Corwin last spring.
DR.. Yemans describes it as dull gray,
irregular, cone-shaped hill, about 500 feet
in height, from the sides and summit of
which great volumes of vapor were arising.
At a height of about two. thirds the dis
lance from the base to the apex of the
cone there issued very regular series
of large steam jets, which extended in 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
distance had looked like patches of vege-
tation A landing was effected without diff
icuty upon a narrow sand spit connecting
the new volcano with the old island of Bog
oslof, and DR.. Yemans and Lieut.. Cantwell
undertook the ascent of the smoking cone.
It was covered by layer Of ashes formed in
to crust by the action of rain, which was
not strong enough to bear mans weight,
and at every step the climbers feet crushed
through it, and they sank knee deep into a
soft almost impalpable dust which arose in
clouds and nearly suGocated them.
AS the summit was neared the heat ofthe
ashes became almost unbearable. A Their.
mometer buried in them half way up the as
cent marked 1862, and in a crevice of the
ramparts of the crater 1.-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 SOP
Fahrenheit. On all sides of the
cone were perforations through which the steam
escaped with more or less energy, and in some
cases at regular intervals like the exhaust of q
steam engine. The interior of the crater could
not be soen on account Of The clouds of smoke and
vspor which filled it.
"a curious fact to be noted Lieut. Cantwell
says "in regard to this volcano is tho entire alb.
sence, apparently, Of lava aud cinder Nowhere
could l 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 considera
BILE quantities and carried by the wind to places
as distant as Ounalasks. After carefully measur-
ing the volcano and photographing it from vari.
Gus points of view the exploring party returned
without accident to the ship. Capt. Healy reports
his intention to leave May 90 for st. Michael's
aud the Arctic, and says he will visit the new
volcano again on his return.