Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-11
uplifted to the southwark and connected isrel,

uplifted to the southwark and connected itrelt
These changes were accompanied BY volcanic
erupuons, the sea In the neighborhood becom-
ing BY turns red green, milk white and cherni-
cal blue. Mariners kept at . respectful dis
lance, for fear that the pitch between the planks
OF their vessels would melt in the water. which
bad attained a temperature of 40 degrees Fahr-
enheit.
Volcanic eruptions are very common at the
bottom OF the ocean. During the past century
crews of vessels have frequently reported see
rising out of the mid Atlantic. DR.. Darwin
and other scientists have expressed the opinion
that IN archipelago is In process OF formation
IL the middle Of that great watery expanse.
IN THE PACIFIC.
However, the Pacific is the great region Of
volcanic islands. The southern par, of that
ocean is one vast archipelago, mainly Of Laws.
Some Of the islesare OF peculiar form. being in
ths shape Of rings surrounding bodies Of water.
The biggest of these "atols. =" as they are called
is that Of Hogolen, a. the east end OF the Caro-
line group. II is q strip of land from Eve to
eight miles wide and in the form OF a circle,
varied by hills and valleys and covered with
tropical vegetation. 1t incloses a body of
water on whose broad expanse all the uavies of
the world might ride together at safe anchor
age. These atolls are an important feature OF
the geological formation in that part of the
world. They scattered all over the great
watery waste of the South sea. looking like the
last outposts of a sunken continent At one
time they were ordinary islands with noun
famous ceuters. but in each case the central
portion has sunk, leaving the fringe OF solid
coral reefs built by patient polyps. There are
usually from one to four deep-wster entrances
through which ships can reach snug harbors in
bad weather.
THE CELEBRATED EASTER ISLAND,
about which there is much mystery, is a
lonely volcanic rock in the midst of the Pacific
Though its area is only thirty-two square miles
it is believed to have supported for centuries
population of Mt least 20. zoe souls. 1t is
literally honeycombed with caves, which were
originally formed by bubbles OF ex-
banding gases during volcanic action. In
these caverns the inhabitants formerly
dwelt and in them they placed the
bones of their dead. Hundreds of such cavi-
ties in the lava have been found crowded with
innumerable skeletons. There are only a few
hundred people on the island now, but the
gigantic stone images and other works Of art
left behind by their ancestors remain an endur
ing evidence Of a wonderful standardization.
I'm PAST AGES.
1t is believed that once upon time there
were many more islands in the southern Pacific
than now, and that great numbers of them
have disappeared through volcanic causes.
Real estate in that part of the world would not
seem to be held on the most secure terms. 1t
is always going down looming up. new
volcano 1855 feet high was reported in 1854 by
the United States steamer Alert $50 miles south
of Japan. 1t has since vanished. The Samoan
group uplfted by volcanic forces and
masses of coral are found today imbedded
III lava $500 feet above the sea. As
has been said, the Hawaiian Islands arc
merely the tops of mighty volcanoes. After
they had risen out of the ocean the lava Of
which they are mainly COMPOSED became dis
integrated. Such black lava makes the richest
of all oils. Seeds fetched by ocean currents
and by birds soon covered the isles with q rich
tropical vegetation. rendering them fit for
human beings aud other animals to live upon.
No large mammals native to the isolated
islands OF the Pacific, because they could not
reach them, but hogs overrun most Of them,
thanks to Capt. Cook, who made it a rule to
leave pair of pigs on every isle he visited.
In the northwest part of Florida is vast
area OF swamps, and for many wears sailors
passing along the coast have reported that they
saw smoke rising from the great morass and at
night a dim fire light Exploring parties have
tried in vain to solve the mystery, but they
have found it impossible to make their way into
the swampy region. The theory that the phe-
nomenon is of volcanic origin has been widely
held, though it has also been suggested that the
supposed smoke may be nothing more than q
column of mosquitoes.
There exists in Oregon an extinct volcano
which closely resembles the fre-belching noun
tains of the Hawaiian group. In place of lava
its crater is occupied by body Of water six
miles in diameter surrounded by cliffs which
tower to the height of 1900 feet. The lake
which is known as Crater lake, is tbs deepest
fresh water on the earth. Ii is 1900 feet deep
and Of lovely blue like the Mediterranean.
Near its center perfect little volcano rises to
height of 800 feet. The origin Of this noun
tain is similar to that Of the volcanoes OF
Kilauea. The central part long ago sank into
the bowels of the earth, leaving the rim of the
crater, and subsequently the small cone re-
ferred to popped up in the middle.
RENE BAcHE.