The Washington herald., 1909-07-19
ISLANDS COME AND GO.
Strange Commissions OF Nature on
the Alaskan Coast.

From the Providenee Journal
More than q century ago a mountain
rose out Of the waters on the southern
edge OF Bering Sea. at the extremity OF
the Aleutlan Islands, which mark the
outpost OF the Alaska Peninsula. The
Russians named II Bogoslof- Since the
whole property came into possession Of
the United States It has become known
as Castle Rock Forty miles distant,
nearly southeast, lies the Island Of IN
alaska. Il Is said that the inhabitants
OF Unalaska had a bad fright when
Castle Rock reared out Of the sea, smok-
ing and steaming, and no wonder. In
! lSS3 another submarine convulsion boosted
a second pile Of rock above the surface,
a mile and a half distant from Bogoslof.
which by that time had become a COM
monplace item OF geography This islet
was named GTewingk. after famous
Russian scientist; but the two are known
70 mariners as BogOslof Islands SHIPS
were able 20 make their way into and out
of Bering Sea between them without
hazard in good weather. A report is now
brought BY a steamer from the seal
rookeIies that Bogoslof has disappeared
completely The laundering of the island
was discovered by the revenue cutter
Perry OF the patrol feet. II is attri-
buted 70 the archaeological disturbance
which. shook Unalaska on June q. II is
said that the Perry's company actually
witnessed the sinking Of the mountain
as II settled close 10 the surface, where
a steaming lake was formed which re-
corded a temperature Of 240 degrees.
More particulars OF the startling occur
renee will be awaited with rare interest
! by the geographers and the experts in
volcanic phenomena Have both the Bo-
| gOslOf Islands sunk, or only the original
/ Castle Rock? And how about the third
island. MetCalf Cone-named after the
then Secretary OF the Navy-which rose
1 between the two as recently as 1906. ex-
citing widespread speculation as TO the
| prospect Of a considerable extension OF
/ the non contiguous territory OF the
/ United States? For short period there
was a fourth member OF the spectacular
group. McCulloch Peak. The appearance
! OF this newcomer was reported, by a
/ local trader in the following spring and
verified by the officers Of the revenue
cutter McCulloch. who found ii lying over
/ against Metcalf Cone. about half way be-
I tween Castle Rock and Grewingk. When
/ scientific party from the Massachusetts
/ Institute of Technology visited the scene
Of these wonderful happenings, in the
summer Of 1907. the group was studied
under conditions OF the greatest advan-
I tage. The two new cones, rising 800 feet
above the surface, were steaming like
puddings Il was estimated that the
| extinct volcano Castle Rock. had a height
/ Of 5000 feet from the bottom Of the sea,
/ :, 900 feet loftier than Vesuvlus. The out
] pOurings of lava had made land all
around the four cones.
! The explorers found that the sea lions
were luxuriating along the hot shores
and in the fuming waters, while sea birds
were making their homes and laying their
! eggs among the jagged rocks and grass
| beginning TO grow. There was another
| convulsion In the fall Of that year, but
| this time no new volcanic pinnacle rose
/ TO startle the inhabitants of Unalaska-
/ But what happened was equally start
! ling. McCulloch Rock collapsed, and in
its place a steaming lagoon was created
Metcalf Cone had already been split in
half and one-half had disappeared. Last
year news from the Bogoslof Islands
requiring further summary alterations of
tho charts, was expected but nothing
/ critical happened. The reports which now
4 come indicate that the earth's crust In
the depths OF the sea in that quarter
/ has by no means become settled into
even a relatively fixed formation.