The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-08-21
A VOLCANIC FREAK.
How Natures Powerful Forces
Nude and Unmade an Island.
= Interesting description Of the Strange
Formation of Graham Island and
OF Its Gradual Disap-
Dearauce.

- nv HtdYlhp up u VOlCdnlG%H1dbber
from the bottom of the sea to such a
height above the surface Of The water
< ~ TO form an island, which may be
safely trodden, is rare and interesting
0ccurrence. That such Things fire.
11ent1y hNppencd at d former and prob
ably an early period of the earths his
tory, is quite evident from the great
number Of islands which are found to
-hc Of Volcanic origin; but an eYent Of
this description, taking place in our
own times, is calculated to fix atten-
ton, as much from its novelty as from
its extraordinary nature.
In July, 1881, an island was thrown
up between Sicily and Pantellaria, in
. tho. following remarkable manner:
About the 10Th of July, a Column of
water, like q water spout, sixty feet in
bright, and afterward a cloud Of vapor,
were observed rising from the sea, at
tno@placc where tho island afterward
made It's appearance. No fire was seen
until the nth, when the master of a
London brig was able to distinguish
flame; and ft is probable that at this
period the land began to emerge from
the water. On tho night of the 18th,
flashes of brilliant light, mingled with
smoke. We're distinctly visible, and so
remarkable were the appearances as to
indHee2the commanded ia ship to steer
for Tire spot, for the purpose of examin-
ing them moro closely.
A largo column of smoke was seen
towering above the sea to considerable
height and from the midst of it, pillars
of lurid fire shot up, and then subsidized,
the column which was formerly dark
gradually becoming white. This alter
nation of eruption and repose, of white
and black, continued during the whole
4 night .4s
On the following morning, small
hilloclS Of dark-greon color was seen
rising a few feet above the surface of
the ocean, but it continued visible at
intervals only, between the more vio-
lent eruptiens. The volcano was in a
constant state of activity and appeared
to be discharging dust and stones, to-
gether with vast ql an titles of steam.
On soundings being taken, no bottom
was found till those who m ade sthe ex
pertinent wore. within twenty yards Of
the island. The form of a crater was
now clearly sdiscernible. 1t seemed to
be. composed OF fine cinders and mud of
n dark brown uufor;; and Within was
deserted, during the pauses OF tire erup-
tions, a mixture of muddy water, steam
and cinders, dashing up and down, and
eecasienall running over the sides into
The sea. -
All fh;c t;p,o slo,rorc 0f hot ctopnc ar
cinders shot upward n few yards, and
then fell into the gulf whence they
werc elected. No words can describe
their sublime grandeur; their progress
was generally as follows: After the
volcano had emitted fer some limo its
usual quantities of white steam, sud
denlS tho whole aperture was filled
with an enormous mass of hot cinders
aud dust, rushing upward to the height
Of some hundfed feet with loud, roar
ing noise, then falling into the sea on all
Sides with stfll louder noise, arising
in part, perhaps, from the formation of
ptodigious quantities of steam which
instantly took place. This@steam was
at first of brown color, having en-
bottie1 great deal of the dust; and as
ltrosc, it gradually recovered its pure
N-ll1n-colorr-d ting the dust in the
Shape Of shower OF muddy rain.
While this was being accomplished,
1rcne~ed eruptions of hot einders and
dust We're quickly succeeding each
other while forlSed lightning, &C.
-eal4Panied- by rafting thunder, darted
a ut in all directions within the
c'ttimR, now darkened with dust, and
FfFatly increased in volume, and dis
iortc2l by sudden gusts and whirfwipds.
tfr ftgItCF wrrc most frequent on the
lge alle,. where they often made i'm
le1iect water-spouts of curious shapes.
4 n-one occasion, some of the steam
4 rG4ebet the boat. it smelta little OF
aflpiflir and the mud it left became a
grltfy, sparkling. dark brown powder
N'ren dry. None OF the stones-er cinders
THROWN out appeared more than half a
ioo{ lnsliamctor, and. most of rfIenfr We're
nAeh smaller, s Nj
'v At.this- time theisland was from fifty
To ninety fcct in height, and about
three-quar6ers of a mile In circnmfer-
eaee 1t attracted great attention as
soon as he fact became known, and
- apllilr swinhuriR was dispatched In a
'a'ter TO ascertain the exact position OF
me island. This commander effected
tTp4ing on the Sd OF August, hoistcd the
Fetish ensign, and called it Graham
sand. We subjoin description OF tho
Volcano in nearly his own words: s
sseizjng a favorable moment we
ea{e Way. with our oars. Our distance
N44 rather greater than we could have
Sued. but we proceeded!a as quickly as
}r sea would allow. AS we approached,
s9Ae occasional jetsswerc thrownup, but