Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-10-03
The RirIh of nnIsInnd.

About four and a half years ago the peo
pie on an island in the southern part of the
Tonga group in the Pacific observed "A ter
rible commotion far out at sea 1t seemed
to them that the waters were boiling, and
that smoke was rising from the surface Of
the ocean. A little while before the waters
near their shores had been agitated in an
uuaccountable manner, and big waves
rolled in, although there was not much
wind stirring. few of the bravest among
the people launched one Of their sail boats
and started toward the scene of disturb
ance. They halted at a considerable dis
tance from the centre of the commotion,
but they were near enough to determine
accurately the nature of the phenomenon
before them.
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 a
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
the orifce. The eruption lasted for sew
eral days, and when it finally ceased a new
island had been added to the Tonga group,
and it now bears the name Of Falcon island.
1t was the old story, but one that has sell
| dom had eye witnesses to record it, In
similar manner the whole Of Iceland was
reared above the sea within a recent geolo-
gical age by matter brought from the bow
els of the earth Hundreds of islands, along
the lines of volcanic action, stretching far
across the Pacific, came to the light in eX-
actly the same way as Falcon island. This
latest of the volcanic islands was the prod
uct of a very moderate eruption, and we
can imagine what gigantic convulsions of
nature attended the birth of many an is
land that is a hundred fold 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 in
these later days, to be the scene of the most
stupendous volcanic activity. The great
eruption of Skaptar, a century ago is be-
lieved to have covered part of Iceland
and the adjoining seas with larger mass
of lava than has poured from Nesuvlus and
Etna combined since the burial of Pompeii
1t killed one fifth of the population, de-
stroyed 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 Is 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 Simbowa, little east
of Java, that an explosion occurred sixty
eight years ago, audible for nearly 1000
miles, aud so completely burying a whole
province that only twentysix persons es-
capped in population of twelve thousand.
In October of last year Mr.. j. j. Lister
visited Falcon Island, then four years old,
and he has Just reported the results of his
ob-ervations to the Royal Geographical so
ciety of London. The fine grained dust or
ashes, greenish gray in color, of which the
island is composed, is very friable and the
waves, dashing against the new obstruc-
ton in their way have torn off the edges
and considerably reduced the islands area.
The largest amount of material is gathered
on one side of the crater through which the
tide of debris poured and there clill,
l50 feet high, fronts the sea. Inland the
cliff slopes gently down until it reaches the
level of the tongue of land, about mile III
, length and only 10 to II feet above high
3 tide. which forms the rest of the island
"a
3 ocean rollers are doing their best TO bury
out of sight beneath the sea. As Mr.. List
er walked over the hillside there was "A dis
p tinct odor of sulphur in the air, and tn,
! distant parts of the island were seer
S through a thin, blue haze.
p The explorer found that beneath the sur
r face the mass was still very hot, At the
surface the temperature was II two fee
below the surface the Thermometer regis
n tered So and six feet six inches below, i
r reached 1866. Notwithstanding these dis
, couraging conditions, nature was beginning
p 10 put forth efforts 10 cover the unsightll
r heap with the luxuriant verdure of tn
e South Sea Islands. Two cocOanut tree
o were struggling upward, but they did no
f look prosperous. Specimens of grass AM
p two other plants were found, and STRANDED
n fruits were scattered here and there al
e ready to germnate if they had any en-
z couragement. The only living things tn
j. visitors saw were a bird and "A small moth
n but he found the burrows of some crea
J. ture.
n Unless the sea destroys Falcon Island be
- fore it has a chance, it is not difficult
IS foresee what will be its future. On thi
!, volcanic debris "a host of marine animal
3. and plants will find resting place cora
It reefs will spring from the shallow water
Is around it aud form breakwater agains
II the waves the seeds of cocoanuts and @
e many shore-loving plants will drift ther
a ON the tide decaying vegetation will mi
d with the volcanic ashes to form alluviun
1t and another verdant island fit for tn
II abode of man will exist in the souther
/ seas. ~ Y. sun