The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-25

Trinidad, British West Indies. Nov.
25--f you stand at Erin Point on
the southern shores of this island, and
gaze out into the Atlantic ocean to-
ward the coast of Venezuela, you will
see why British dominions are larger
by two and half acres than they
were before Saturday, November 4.
On that date an island of the vol |
canlc type, not uncommon in southern
waters, thrust itself above the sea
with characteristic rumble, kissing of
gases and flashes of fire greatly to
the alarm of the people on the Trini- |
dad shore.
Blue Mud and Clay.
The new island has not yet been
named, and as its composition is large |
~ oozy blue mud or clay, it is doubt |
ful If it Will Withstand the attacks of |
the sea Any day it is apt to disap-
pear whence it came and Great Britain 1
will have lost its newest possession
The enterprising governor of Trini- |
dad visited the island with a party of |
officials shortly after it made its ap-
pearance, ready TO plant the Union |
Jack on the warm oozy soil: but meas |
urements showed that the island was
within the three-mile limit and plant |
ing the flag was unnecessary
Gable dispatches have told briefly |
of the islands birth, but there is much |
that is interesting about the phenome- |
non that is known only to those resi-
dents of points along the Trinidad |
coast who either witnessed the occur
renee or cautiously visited the new
land before il had had time to cool.
Predicts Asphalt Lake.
DR.. F'redholm, a resident of Trini-
dad, says that the island was probably
thrust up by the pressure of gas orig
mating from the decomposition of car
bonaceous 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 make its appearance
on he island.
If no flow of asphalt follows, how
ever he says, ttthe only result of the
upheaval viii be a mud volcano so
common along the southern shore.
Such volcano on bank raised but
slightly above the sea level would
probably not remain above the sur
soon be washed away and the vents,
once below water would become
choked by sedimentary deposits. It
would. therefore, not be surprising if
the new island dropped into the sea
again as quickly as it emerged"
People Were Scared.
Residents of the little settlements
of Erin and Chatham, on the southern
coast of Trinidad, were greatly terri
fed when the island appeared, and
many of them fled from their homes,
dragging their belongings into the
BUSH Others knelt 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 Satur-
day, November 4, first noticed signs of
in the sea. The water was
dirty and murky, but no land was ,
then in sight. But about s o'clock !
that evening the people of Erin and J
other points nearby were startled to t
see a great column of fire shoot up I
from the bosom of the water. Dense /
smoke followed the fame, and there
were further intermittent flashes of i
fire, accompanied by a rumbling of I
thunder When the smoke cleared
away it was seen that new island
had been created. Flames continued
20 flicker over the surface of the geo. .
era rhical visitor throughout the night,
but on the following morning they
had subsidized and the governor and
party set out in 4 boat to claim the
lew land for King George. They r
leared the island with extreme care :
n the face of a choppy head wind. !,
A landing was effected with difficulty I
and it was quickly ascertained that
he surface of the island was yet warm l
and very soft and boiling hot under )
heath. This made walking difficult :
and dangerous. and boards were used I
'or a footing. :
Find Two Craters. /
They found two craters on the c
Sland, five or six feet in diameter, al
hough the highest part of the entire I
stretch was not more than u to Is i
eet above the surface of the sea. Gas
vas escaping from the craters and the {
lir was saturated with the smell of |
sulphur and oil. Rocks We're EN- edded |
n the hOneyc0mb surface of the is
and. and as many of them contained q
marked traces of iron pyrites, the the :
Try was advanced that these rocks, =
striking together had caused the /
lashes of fire. The fossilized remains
# several strange marine animals
we're found in the mud, but otherwise
10 signs of sea life were visible. O
How Island Was Destroyed Il
AS the island is yet unrecorded on t
marine charts, it is a menace to navi- 7
-ation and the harbor master at Trini- =
marines that this part of the south d
cast should be approached and navi- h
-ated with great care until such time
s a detailed examination has been
made of the island and soundings
aiken in the vicinity. II
1t is a tradition in Trinidad that a y
furnishing settlement of Indians once :,
xisted in La Brea. on the north coast ~
f that point of the island which juts Il
ut toward Venezuela. and that it was "
estroyed by the sudden appearance r.
{ the now famous Pitch lake there. =
is related that loud explosions were -
card by Indians in other parts of the
Stand and that on investigating the
ause they found the camp of their
rothers at La Brea destroyed and in
s place the strange sight of a lake
f pitch