Washington sentinel., 1899-01-07

est owing TO the richness OF tnGlr
scenery, the variety and beauty OF
their rocks, the magnificent and
vet fearful horrors Of their phen.
omena. The peculiarly of their
internal structure is largely shown
along their water-line in immense |
uuarries wrought by the breakers |
which foam and boil all around. |
These islands are only the SUBMITS
of a submerged volcanic region
extending between the coasts Of
Sicily and Calabria. From dis
tance they appear like school
OF enormous whales lying motion
less over the surface OF the water,
and blowing their vapOurY breath
70 height Of two or three thou
sand feet! One can easily imagine
how vast must have been the
mutations in the topography OF
this archipelago from the time
when the first volcano appeared
above the surface OF the sea; how
many eruptive cones must have
from time to time alternately risen
and sunk; hoN many islands must
have been formed and DESTROYED
and then formed and destroyed
again! Even within historical
times, we know that, in this region
the products Of submarine erup-
tions, deposited at the bottom Of
the sea, have been raised into land;
new islands have been built, old
ones have been completely worn
away. In the year Of Rome 627
Vulcanello appeared and, by sub
sequent eruptlOns, was hnally
united to Vulcano in 1870. The
great Eolia of old days, that un-
heaved its broad back into the
clouds, is now crumbled into
cluster OF islets and reefs. The
first appearance oil the Lipari goes
back to the ancient Pliocene epoch.
Professor Seguenza found, on the
north coast Of Sicily, their earliest
eruptive products mingled and
strati6ed with numerous fossils,
which belong, without doubt, to
Mat age. Till then the blue
Tyrrhenlan Sea had rolled un-
checkedto dash its toaming billows
on the rocky shores Of a wide bay
formed by the coasts OF Italy and
Sicily which were united.
One day, perhaps in dead calm.
the crystal surface Of the sea sud
denly. rose IN a large black mass
which burst into the AIR as from
the explosion of a gigantic torpedo,
and fell back with a crushing roar
in terrible cascades Of foam. Il
looked like an enormous water
spout, but the funnel shaped cloud,
which lowered over the surging
waves, was an immense column Of
steam and incandescent sand. The
clouds OF vapor raced up furiously
into the sky, whirling, expanding,
uuiurling, and spreading thicker
and thicker till they shut cut tn c
light Of day. Upon the blackening
sea arose and foated great heaps
OF seaweed, and scori4, and dead
fish, which the billows rolled to-
wards the shore. The enormous
amount and rock fragments elected
accumulated round the eruptive
vent, and, at length, an island ap-
peared amidst the troubled waters.
At night the great clouds OF steam,
set aglow by incessant flashes OF
lightning, and by Volleys Of red
hot stones, looked like flames
rising from a great fire. 1t was a
terrible and grand sight this COM
bat between fire and water, though
but a minor episode in the eternal
struggle between the HYDRA and
the dragon. Wild sounds, like
groans and howls, added to the
terror Of the scene. Ii was the re-
port Of blasting steam which
hurled enormous blocks OF rock
far up into the air; the fearful rust
ling Of sand, the clashing and rat
Ting Of falling stones, the clapping
and rumbIing Of thunder, the roar
ing and kissing OF lava rushing
down in torrents, the laundering
Of the enormous waves as they
rolled and roared and ragged round
the emerging island, and fercely
tried to undermine It. The mon
strous leviathan, arising out OF the
abyss, stretched to the skies It's
long neck, tossing and waving .ts
name Of clouds like a war horse IL
the rush OF a charge, and looked
round for plundeT and for victims
while fire flashed from its broad
glittering eye and foam flew from
its lips.
AT first it seemed as if the vol
cano would get the victory over
eba cea. hygf fh q W. yes like rOuuf
less packs OF hounds, flew against
it on all sides, inAIcting the most
deep and deadly wounds upon its
huge bulk. AT length the hideou:
native Of the deep was over.
whelmed. The waves continued
their blows; they spued on its car
cass their angry white foam, theT
they tore of its flesh, and the hug,
ribs looked like an appalling
wreck. Again and again the tenn
pest rolled against these reefs it.
masses Of liquid steel till the las
rock was dashed into the ABYSS
Then all was covered by the leve
surface Of the uncOnquerable sea
This is the old, old tale Of al
volcanic islands told again in ou
days by Giulia, Santorino, Sabrina
Thus appeared the earliest Lipari
many Of which were destroyed
whilst others heaved their peak
above the surface Of the sea, spout