The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-05-01
THE LONG LOST CONTINENT.
Some Interesting Theories Regarding the
Submerged Atlantis.
PlatO's SGOFy Of the IsIand..DesCEip.
lions Given ~ Several OtheF
Ancient Writers.

SAA AoSteae aHN PlStuiC~luC NiOoA uiyNHi
claimed the existence Of q celebrated is
land, Atlantis, supposed to have existed
at = very early period In the Atlantic
ocean, and to have eventually been 90
thoroughly destroyed by an earthquake
that the Atlantic rolled over the spot
where Il once 6ourished.
Plato was the first to give a comprehen-
sive account Of the island, crediting what
Information he gave to the priestsOf Egypt.
His story was Substantially as follows:
In the Atlantic ocean, not q great dis
lance from the Pillars Of Hercules (Gib-
%raltar), was an island Of greater extent
than all Asia and Africa taken together.
and in its virinity were other islands,
from which there vas a passage to a
large continent lying Tar beyond in the
faTthest west. The Mediterranean, COM
pared with the vast ocean in which these
islands were situated, resembled q mere
harbor with q narrow entrance. Nine
thousand years before this island Of At
lantis was thickly settled and very pow
erful. 1t had conquered all Africa, even
as far as Egypt, and its sway extended
over Europe as far rs the Tyrrhenian sea,
situated between Corsica and Italy. The
further progress Of its cOnquests, however,
was checked by the Greek states.
A short time after this 4 violent earth
quake, which continued for nearly a day
and q night, and was accompanied by
enormous waves and 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.
Surh was the history Of the land as
Plato gave II. Other ancient writers de-
scribed the island as extremely produc.
tive, producing wine and grain and 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 u vast scale.
The land was rich and plentiful in every
way. There were ten kingdoms, each
governed by a 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 countrv then known, and Neptune
was the principal legislator and divinity
Of the people Of the lost land.
There have been many theories ad-
vanced and many books written on the
subject. One theory, held in especial
favor by many scholars, is that America
is the Atlantis Of Plato, and many argu-
ments are advanced in support Of this
idea. For instance, it is easy to connect
the legend Of the lost Atlantis with the
remains Of . very remote civilization
which are now found in Mexico and Cen
trail America, where there are ruins Of
cities The style Of whose architecture raj.
ries US back to Pelasyic 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 4 grand civil
Eation are long anterior to Mexican times,
and attention is called to the curious in
formation Of the American continent along
the shores Of the gulf Of Mexico, where
everything indicates n sinking at q remote
period Of a vast tract Of land, the site Of
which, Il is said, Is now occupied bY the
waters a the gulf. The mountain 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 ne having
formed portions Of It; and some writers
have claimed that 1t extended rs far as
Newfoundland.