Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-03

was 40 Fahrenheit and at the highest
point reached 66o. A thermometer buried
in The sand at the base of the cone regis
tered 40, half way up the sides 1910, and
IN a crevice of the ramparts of the crater
the mercury rapidly expanded and filled the
tube when the bulb burst, and shortly after
ward the solder used to attach the suspen-
sion ring to the instrument was fused. We
estimated the temperature at this spot to
be over 5000. The temperature of the
water contiguous to the island was 44o, and
did not differ from that of the sea as OBJ
served outside of any possible influence OF
the volcano. On all sides of the cone we
observed numerous vents through which
steam and vapor escaped with dull,
kissing sound. Around each of these
apertures thick deposit of sulphur
had been made, the fumes of which were
almost unbearable. We pushed forward
now with the utmost precaution toward
what appeared to be large fissure of the
main peak or wall of the crater if any ex-
listed, intending to pass through it and gain
a better view of the inside of the cone. As
we progressed the dull noise which is per-
ceptible on the interior of the cone as low
purring sound became louder and louder
until at last it filed our ears with a muff1ed
humming reverberance, which was exceed
ingly trying and altogether impossible to
describe. When We were within some 80
feet of the fissure a sudden gust of wind sent
a cloud of sulphurous smoke, ashes and
vapor down the little canyon in which we
found ourselves and compelled us to beat
retreat.
One Noticeable Feature.
On the northwest side of the volcano the
fanks of the cave are broken into thous-
and irregularities by masses of erupted
rock, but the southern face is, as have be-
fore stated, almost entirely covered over
with an accumulation of ashes and cinders.
A curious fact noticeable in Bogaflof was
the entire absence of lava. Small guam
titles of rock-froth, consisting of unused
particles in semi-fused mass, were OBJ
served, but it is evident that the heat of
the discharge has never been so great as to
produce true fusion. We observed no shells
and but little sea weed on the beach.
Kelp in considerable quantities. however,
was seen close inshore. A walk of a third
of mile along a pebbly beach brought us
to Old Bogaslof The northern face of this
extinct volcano rises almost perpendicular
to heigh2 of 1926 feet, and is so deeply in
dented as to give it a cave-like formation
and causes the rock to appear as if leaning
toward the north.
Probably nowhere can there be found a
better example of the disintegration of
stone into soil by the action of the asmos-
phere than is furnished here. The compo-
sition of the islet was originally of shale,
but under the varying conditions of tenn
perature to which it is continually sub
jected the exposed portions of old Bogaslof
are crumbllng away, and in time the island,
which at present is cone-shaped. will be-
come tower-like pinnacle or cluster of
pinnacies similar to hundred of isolated
l.oht trfr ,lx h
sentinels at the extremities of nearly all of
the Aleutian islands, which are of older and
doubtless similar origin.
Myriads of sea birds were found nesting
in the crevices of the cliffs of Old Bogaslof,
and large herd of sea lions, some of tre-
mendous size, we found on spit projecting
into the sea from the southern face of the
island. But not sign of life of any kind
was seen in New Bogaslof
Another Visit THIS Year.
AT the time of our visit in 1884 the fol-
lowing measurements were obtained: Old
Bogaslof-Helght of highest peak, 3S9 feet;
breadth OF base, 933 feet New Bogaslof-
Height of highest peak, 3S4 feet: breadth of
base, 1,00S feet; width of isthmus marrow
est), 326 feet; length of south pit, 1924 feet;
total length of whole, 1904 feet.
During the summer cruise of the United
ctoJcS III lLie pTeSeHJ wear l.
again visited the new volcano, and through
the kindness of Captain w. c. Coulsen,
commanding that vessel, was enabled to
make some comparative sketches and OBJ |
servations, which show that during the in
tervening seven years many changes have |
taken place in the new formation aud
enough has been learned to form a pretty
good idea of the future OF this island.
Although still in a state of eruption, the
new formation has sunk into the sea some
hundred feet and the highest point is not
now over go feet in height. No accurate
could be obtained on the day
of our last visit on account of the dense |
clouds of vapor which hung persistently
around the upper p ortiens of the islet, COM
pletely shutting out from view the promi- |
nent points. The isthmus, which once con-
nected the old and new formations has sunk |
out of sight, carrying with it Sail rock,
which at one time stood 81 feet above sea |
level In fact, where we walked on dry
land seven years ago is to-day covered with |
seven fathoms of water, and the sea has
made a passage between the two parts of |
the island deep and wide enough for mod |
erate-sized ship to sail through.