Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-26
NEW ISLAND SHOWS UP IN SEA
Possessions Of Great Britain In
creased by Two and Half Acres.
NATIVES TERRIFIED BY SIGHT
Volcanic Uphenval Drought 60 Mind
the Catastrophe of Martinique,
and New Land Has Two
Volcanoes.

TRINIDAD. British West Indies, Nov.
25.-If you stand al Erin Point. on the
southern shores OF this island, and gaze
out into the Atlantic ocean toward the
coRst Of Venezuela, you VIII see why
British dominions are larger by two and
a half acres than they were before satur-
day November 4.
on that date an island Of the volcanic
type, not uncommon in southern waters,
thrust itself above the sea, with char
acterisuc rumble, kissing Of gases and
flashes Of fire, greatly to the alarm OF
the people on the Trinidad shore.
The new island has not yet been named.
and as its composition is largely oozy
blue mud or clay II Is doubtful II IL
win withstand the attacks of the sea
ANY day It is apt to disappear whence Il
came and Great Britain will have lost It's
newest possession. The enterprsing gov
ernor OF Trinidad visited the island with
n party OF officials shortly after It made
its appearance, ready 20 plant the Union
Jack on the warm oozy soil; but meas
urements showed that the island was
within the three-mile limit and planting
sAtN AeaH wa NAAANNNoeaANs
birth of an Island.
Gable dispatches have told briefly Of
the islands birth, but there is much that
is interesting about The phenomenon that
is known only TO those residents Of points
along the Trinidad coast who either witt
messed the occurrence or cautiously visited
the new land before It had had time to
cool.
Dr. FredholIn. a resident OF Trinidad,
says that the island was probably thrust
up by the pressure OF gas originating
from the decomposition OF carbonaceous
matter found in connection with asphalt
deposits for which Trinidad Is famous.
He predicts that a flow Of asphalt may
follow and an asphalt lake may maloe its
appearance on the island.
'If no flow Of asphalt follows, how
ever" he says. "the only result OF the
upheavai will be a mud volcano so COM
mon along the southern shore. Such a
volcano on a bank raised but slightly
above the sea level would probably not
remain above the surface very long, for
the debris would soon be washed away
and the vents. once below water would
become choked by sedlmentary deposits.
II would therefore not be surprising II
the new island dropped into the sea again
rs quickly as II emerged"
Terrified the Natives.
Residents of the little settlements OF
Erin and Chatham. on the southern
coast of Trinidad, were greatly terrified
when the island appeared. and many OF
them fled from their homes, dragging
their belongings into the bush. Others
lneit in prayer in the streets or rushed
to the churches.
Great fear was in the minds OF all, as
memories OF Martinique were awakened.
A fisherman. at midday. on Saturday.
November 4, first noticed signs OF dis
turbance In the sea. The water was dirty
and murlSy. but no land was then in
sight. But about 6 o'clock that evening
the people OF Erin ana other points
nearby were startled to see a great col
umn OF fire shoot up from the bosom OF
the water. Dense smoke followed the
flame, and there we're further intermit-
tent flashes OF fire. accompanied by q
rumbllng as OF thunder. When the smoke
cleared away II was seen that a new
island had been created. Flames contin-