Washington sentinel., 1899-12-02
The Island Of Sulphur.
Scientific Amsrtean


About thirty miles from the
shore in the Bav of Plenty, North
Island, New Zealand, is an inn.
mense rock or rather series OF
rocks three miles in circumference
which rise precipitously from the
sea to height Of 300 feet. white
Island" IS the name given to the
spot, and the name is particularly
appropriate because it is constantly
enveloped in thick impenetrable
clouds OF white vapor which rise to
over 1000 feet in height, making
White Island conspicuous object
for many miles around. 1t is per-
haPs the most extraordinary island
in the world, and il is the subject
Of an interesting article bV James
r. Falconer, in the September
number OF the Windsor MagasfnS,
and from this article we obtain our
facts. The island is practically
one mass Of sulphur, while the
clouds OF vapor constantly rushing
from the crateTs are highly charged
with acid fumes, which can be no.
tIced sixty miles away. The ap-
pearance from the sea is most i'm
posing, the rocks rising abruptly
from the water. AT first sight il
seems i'm possible to effect land
ing, but as the steamer sweeps
around the south side Of the island
into Crater Bay,a beach comes into
view, which though small is suffi-
cient to admit OF disembarcation
provided the sea is calm. This Is
the only level stretch on the island,
the rest being great irregular
rocks.
In the centre of the island is an
immense lake SO acres in extent
and "a feet deep and it is Is feet
above the sea level. The water
contains vast quantities Of acid and
the temperature is about IIo deg.
Fair. 1t is dark green, and the
dense clouds OF dark sulphurous
tunes are constantly rolling off
trom-this boiling caldron. AT one
side Of the lake are blowholes, and
the roar Of steam as it pours forth
into the air is deafening, and huge
boulders and stones are often
hurled to heights Of many hundred
feet. A boat brought from the ship
can be launched on the lake, and
the very edges OF the blowholes
may be safely explored, but the
trip IS by no means an ENJOYABLE
one, and only those who have in
hailed fumes Of acid can form any
idea OF their very oVerpowering
nature when given of in large
quantities from such an expanse.
Should the boat upset, death would
be instantaneous. When the boat
was taken TO the sea, it beca me so
corroded that it dropped to pieces
after all the passengers had been
landed. The mouth of the blow
holes are weird in extreme. Steam
belches forth from every fssure and
cTeVice in the rocks and ground.
while the noise browns all other
sounds. The whole island is in a
ceaselesss state Of agitation.
Except in the immediate neigh
borhood OF the craters no sulphur
is apparent on the surface, but by
digging a little into the earth large
beds of this mineral will be laid
bare, for the island is practically
one mass OF sulphur mixed with a
quantity OF gypsum and one or two
other substances. The White ISL
and sulphur is much esteemed on
account OF its purity, and it can be
employed for any purpose without
any preliminary preparation. The
older deposits contain about 90
per cent. pure sulphur, and that
around the blowholes 90 per cent.
1t is surprising that these immense
deposits have not been more sys-
tematicallY worked. Some years
ago a company was formed for
working the deposits, but for lack |
oi capital the scheme was aban-
doned and the amount OF sulphur
and gypsum exported at present is
very small. In the event OF a SER
ious war, doubtless the island
would Immediately rise to promi.
nence,