The herald., 1898-12-27
AN ISLAND THROWN sKYwARD
Strange Phenomenon Witnessed by
Sailors in the Indian Ocean

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Sailors in the Indian Ocean
| The British steamer Breconshre, which
arrived Saturday from Java with cargo OF
| sugar, brings a remarkable tale OF phenom-
enon witnessed while the vessel was but two
weeks out of port and in the southern part
to the Indian ocean. According to the
story, which is tod in a manner so graphic
and SO tree from exaggeration as to leave
little doubt regarding its genulneness, the
captain and crew saw thrown up by
mighty upheaval of the subterranean strata
of the oceans bed a curious island OF basaltic
formation, and which came into existence
almost in the twinkling of an eye. These
curious volcano eruptons occurring far be-
low the surface of the sea are extremely
rare, and the account given by eyewitnesses
at this date, when such manifestations are
supposed to have ceased, cannot fail to be
of general interest.
In the part of the Indian ocean in which
the phenomenon was seen there have Tor
years been manifested phenomena suggest
i've of enormous internal disturbances be-
yond the solution of the average navigator.
There is portion of this enormous body of
water which continually steams with bale
full sulphur impreganted vapor OF such in
tensity and volume as to cause this part of
the ocean to be studiously avoided by all
mariners. The Breconshire, however, was
caught by the fringe of a monsoon and hur-
ried thereby far to the southeast of the
usual beaten track pursued by the home
ward bound fleet.
On September l there was noticed by the
man on the lookout, just AFTER eight bells,
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ahead and presenting most menacing front
in the pathway of the advancing craft. As
far as the eye could see to the westward the
entire horizon was encompassed by this
wall Of steam, into which the captain did not
care to venture until the sun would rise IN
the morning and he could count on at least
fourteen hours OF daylight. The steamer
accordingly hove to during the few remain
ing hours of the waning afternoon.
The scene at this time was indescribably
weird The sea, in its supernatural calm
showed a surface so immovable and CLASSY
that the shadowy outline of the vessel was
clearly traced on its bosom by the declining
sun, which cleaned like the mouth of fur
mace directly ahead, while extending around
to all points of the compass, except to the
south, was the mysterious wall of vapor
rising perpendicularly from the sea. The
terrible aspect which nature had assumed
terrified the crew and they stood silent with
bianched faces staring at these mighty mar
vels But there was still more to come, and
| that during the succeeding night.
Shortly after O'clock, when a titful moon
had risen and shed an erratic luster over the
deep, tremendous booming sound appar-
enly over three miles to the northward ap-
prised the frightened crew that more mar
vels were about to occur. At the same mo-
ment, borne upon the bosom of an immense
wave, the Breconshire mounted vertically
to point at least twenty feet above her for
mer position on the ocean bed, and to the
accompaniment of an immense upheaval of
water an island appeared to leeward where
all previously had been but the sea and sky.
| The suddenness of the event almost de-
prived the crew of their senses, but they
had little time to comment on the pheno-
menon, being obliged to look to the safety
of the vessel. 1t was many anxious mo-
ments before that safety was assured, but
apparently as though nature had exhausted
herself the sea in few moments returned
again to its wonted tranquility, the erst-
while looming clouds of vapor disappeared
like magic and the full moon shed bright
paths of silvery radiance across the quiet
bosom of the deep.
When the day dawned clear view was
afforded OF the island, and its volcanic
origin was clearly established. 1t consisted
of vertical columns of hard mineral arranged
with wonderful geometrical exactitude, re-
sembling very strongly the pictures OF the
famous Giants causeway. 1t was found to
be only small island, possibly not more
than one-quarter of a mile in circumference
and at its highest point not at a greater al
titude than 100 feet In all probability the
new island has been in formation for many
years below the surface, and only by an up,
heaval of extraordinary intensity did it
emerge above the surface.