The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-26
LOST ATLANTIS.
Pisto's story OF d. Isiand-some Interest
Ing Theories.

Pl.to's story OF the Islsnd-Some Interest
Ing Theories.
From the New York Ledger.
An ancient and picturesque Greek myth
claimed the existence OF a celebrated is
land, Atlantis, supposed To have existed
al q very early period In the Atlantic
ocean, and TO have eventually been SO
thoroughly destroyed by an earthquake
that the Atlantic rolled over the spot
where Il once fiourisbed.
Plato was the first to give a comprehen-
sive account of the island. crediting what
information he gave to the priests OF
Egypt. His story was substantially as fol-
lows:
In the Atlantic ocean, not a great dis
trnce from the Pillars OF Hercules Glib
~raltar), was an island OF greater extent
Thar all Asia and Africa taken together,
aud in It's vicinity were other islands,
age TO a large continent lying far beyond
in the farthest west. The Mediterranean,
compared with the vast ocean In which
these islands were situated, resembled a
mere harbor with a narrow entrance.
Nine thousand years before this island Of
Atlantis was thickly settled and very
powerful. II had conquered all Africa,
ever as far as Egypt, aud its sway ex-
tended over Europe as far as the Tyr.
rhenian sea-, situated betwyOn Corsica and
Italy. The further pro9os s Of It's con-
quests, however. was checked bS the
Greek States.
A short time after this a violent earth
quake, which continued for nearly a day
day and q night, and was accompanied
by enormous waves n foundations OF
the sea, caused the island to sink, and for
some centuries subsequent to this the sea
in that quarter was impossible, owing to
the reefs and the shoals.
Such was the history OF the land as
Plato gave il. Other ancient writers de-
scribed the island as extremely product
i've, producing wine and grain n fruit
in abundance. There were extensive and
rich pasture grounds, rich mines of both
the base and the fine minerals, vast and
valuable forests, hot and mineral springs.
Commerce was carried on on avast scale.
The land was rich and plentiful In every
way. There were ten Kingdoms, each
governed by n king, who claimed TO be
descended from Neptune, and white
winged peace brooded over all. There
were numerous and splendid cities and
many populous towns. The harbors shell
tered vessels that carried the products OF
every country then known, and Neptune
was the principal legislator and divinity
OF the people of the lost land.
There have been many theories a
vanced and many books written on the
subject. One theory, held in especial IA
vor by many scholars, IL that America Is
the Atlantis Of Plato, n many argu-
ments are advanced in support Of this
idea. For instance, il Is easy to connect
the legend of the lost Atlantis with the
remains of q very remote civilization
which are now found in Mexico and Cen
trial America, where there are ruins of
cities, the style of whose architecture car
ries us back to Pelasgic times; and one
writer states that the religious symbols
and ornaments connected with these re-
mains call strongly to mind the mysteries
Of early Greek antiquity.
These curious remains of q grand civil
ization are long anterior to Mexican
times, md attention Is called to the Curl
Gus formation of the American contin-
ent along the shores OF the Gulf of Mex
leo, where everything indicates a sinking
Mt q remote period of n vast tract of land,
the site Of which, it is said, is now occu-
pied by the waters Of the gulf. The
m~ountain-tops of this sunken land now
appear as islands, forming the group OF
the West Indies.
Other theories held are that Atlantis
was actually situated in the Atlantic
ocean, and point to the Canaries, the
Azores and the Madeira isles as having
formed portions OF il; and some writers
have claimed that it extended rs far as
Newfoundland.