Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-17
THE BIRTH OF AN ISLAND
HOW A RECENT ADDITION WAS MADE
70 THE TONGA GROUP.

There Was a Volcanic Eruption at the
Ocean Bottom, and Falcon IsInnd Was
the Result Thereof "A visitors Impress
sions Of u as : Tour-Year-old.
During the year 1886 the people on an ISL
and In the southern part of the Tonga
group in the Pacific observed terrible
commotion far out at sea. It seemed to
them that the waters were boiling, and
TINT smoke was rising from the surface OF
the ocean. A little while before the waters
near their shores had been agitated in an
unaccountabe Manner and big waves
rolled In, although there was not much
wind stirring. a few Of the bravest among
the people launched one OF their saflboats
and started toward the scene Of disturb
ancc They halted ut considerable dis
tance from the center Of the commotion,
but they were near enough to determine
accurately the nature Of the phenomenon
before them.
NOT COMMON SIGHT.
A new island was coming into view. One
of the volcanic vents at the bottom of the
sea had spread its molten rock and ashes
over the ocean bed until the growing mass
reached the surface. No longer impeded
by the ponderous weight of water the vol
canic debris shot high into the air with
roar that was heard for many miles and
was sifted over the growing mass. BY far
the larger part OF it fell to one side of the
crater through which the matter was find
ing vent. A very large part Of the debris
was nothing but ashes, and the prevailing
wind carried nearly all of it to one side of
the orifice The eruption lasted for several
days, and when it finally ceased new
la add aI IN, fka
and II now bears the name Of Falcon Island.
it was the old story, but one that has sci
dom had eye witnesses to record it. In a
similar manner the whole of Iceland was
reared above the sea within a recent geo
logical age by matter brought from the
bowels of the earth. Hundreds of islands
along the line Of volcanic action stretching
far across the Pacific, came to light in OK
1sctfy the same way as Falcon Island. This
latest of the volcanic islands was the prod
net Of O very moderate eruption, and we
can imagine what gigantic commissions OF
nature attended the birth of many an isl
and that Is hundredfold larger than the
new little speck in the Tonga group.
+, Those islands, which were reared above
The sea only by prodigious and probably
long extended eruptions, are likely, even
IA these later days, to be the scene of the
most stupendous volcanic activity The
great eruption of Skaptar century ago
"a believed to have covered part OF Ice
land and the adjoining seas with larger
mass OF lava than has poured from Nesu
wins and HEtna combined since the burial
OF pompeii 1t killed one-fifth of the popu
lation. DESTROYED the arabic lands and
frightened the fish from the adjacent
waters, SO that for long time the people
were In danger Of starvation. The volcanic
vent that gave birth to little Falcon Island
IA right In line with the great chain OF
volcanic islands in the Malay archipelago,
where most Of the stupendous eruptions OF
modern times have occurred. 1t was on
Sinbowa. d little east of Java, that an ex-
pIosion occurred sixty-eight years ago, au-
dible for nearly 1000 miles, and so com
pleteIy burying whole province that only
twenty-six persons escaped in population
of 1900.
WHAT MIR, LISTER OBSERVED
In October, 1889, J. J, Lister visited Fal-
con Island, then four years old, aud he has
reported the results OF his observations to
the Royal Geographical society of London
Tho tine grained dust or ashes, greenish
gray in color, of which the island is com
Dosed. u very friable, and the waves, dash
way. have torn of the edges and consider
ably reduced the islands area The largest
amount OF material IL gathered on oneslde
Of the crater through which the tide of
debris poured and there a cliff, 100 feet
high. fronts the sea. Inland the Gill
alopes gently down until II reaches the
Yayel OF the tongue of land, about o mile
In iensrth and only ten TO twelve feet above
hiqh tide, which forms the rest OF the
laiand. II Is a bare dark heap OF ashes,
Syhich the ocean rollers arc doing their best
~ bury out of sight beneath the sea, AS
Mr. Lister walked over the hillside there
was a distinct odor Of sulphur in the air,
and the distant parts Of the island were
seen through Il thin, blue haze.
The explorer found that beneath the sur
face the mass was still very hot. At the
surfnce the temperature was n degs.i Two
80. below the surface the Thermometer
eS.te.o,,' IS dogs and six feet six inches
ts1nw n rescn,,,d LOG dogs. AQkWlthstand,
ing these discoufnsing conditions natuIV
was beginning to put forth efforts to co1@'
the unsightly heap with the luXuriant
xerdure OF the South Sea islands. Two
cocoanut trees were struggling upward
but they did not look prosperous. apecf
mems OF grass and two other plants were
found, and stranded fruits were found mere
and there, oil ready to germinat9 II they
had any encouragement. The only l'thB
thiurs the visitor saw were bird ana
small moth, but he found the burrows oil
some creature.
Unless the sea destroys Falcon leland be
fore II has chance tits not difficult 60 loIg
see what will be its future. On this vol
canic debris host Of marine animals ana
plants will find a resting place, coral reei,
viii apring from the shallow waters AROUND
It and form breakwater against the waves
the seeds Oi cocoanuts and of many shore
loving plants will drift there on the tide
siecaying vegetation viii mix with the vol
eanic ashes TO form ailuyium, and another
verdant island fit for the abode OF man Wll
saxist In the southern seas.-Ney YORK sun
Mr. weleh's Experience.
yames WEIGH, of Middletown, Conn.
having been told that the force of dyna
mite explosion WAS downward, made
-. c4icai fact of this Dtigcple by boring