The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-11-30
ASPHALT ISEAND
NE w LAND MA Y BE
Or 1t May Disappear As
Suddenly As 1t
Came.

TRINIDAD, British West Indisz.
November 25.--If you stand at Erin
Point on the southern shores Of this
island, and gaze out into the Atlantic
ocean toward the coast OF Venezuela,
you will see why British Dominions
are larger by two and a half acres
than they were before Saturday, No
venlber 4.
On that date an island Of tho vol
csnic type. not uncommon in southern
waters. thrust itseit above the sea.
With characteristic rumble, kissing of
gases and flashes Of hrs, greatly to
the alarm Of the people on the Trlni-
dad shore.
The new island has not yet been
named, and as its composRlon IS
largely oozy blue mud or clay it is
doubtful II 1t Will Withstand the at
taeks of the sea. Any day It is apt
20 disappear whenee it came and
Great Britain will have lost It's newest
possession. The enterplising govern
or OF Trinidad visited the island With
party OF officials shortly after 1t
made its appearance ready to plant
the Union Jack on the warm ooEy
soil; but measurements showed that
the island was within the three-miie
limit and planting the nag was unnec-
essary.
Gable dispatches have told briefly
of the islands BIRTH but there Is
much that Is interesting about the
phenomenon that is known only 4
those residents Of points along tho
Trinidad coast who either witnessed
the occurrence or cautiously visited
the new land before it had had t!,pe
to cool.
DR.. Fredholm, resident OF Tri-i-
dad. says that the, island was proba-
bly, thrust up by the pressure of gas
originating from the decomposition OF
carbonaccous matter found in connec-
ton with asphalt deposits for waieh
Trinidad is famous. He predicts that
a flow OF asphalt may follow and an
asphalt lake may make it's appearance
on the island.
II no flow Of asphalt follows. how
ever he says the only result OF the
upheayal will be a mud volcano SO
common along the southern shore.
Such a volcano on bank raised but
slightly above the SEA level would
probably not remain above the sur
face very long. FOR the debris would
soon be washed away and the vents,
once below water, would become
choked by sedimentary deposits. 1t
would therefore, not be surprising il
the new island dropped into the sea
again as quickly as it emerged"
Residents of the little settlements Of
Erin and Chatham. on the southern
coast or Trinidad, were greatly terri
lied when the island appeared, and
many Of them tied 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 awak
ened.
A fisherman, at midday, on satur-
day November 4, first notlced signs
Of disturbances In the sea. The water
n"s uIFy ana murky, hut l.O land was
then in sight. But about O'Clock
that evening the people Of Erin and
other points nearby were startled to
see great column Of fire shoot IN
from the bosom of the water Dense
smoke followed the flame. and there
were further intermittent flashes OF
fire, accompanied by a rumbllng as Of
thunder When the smoke cleared
away it was seen that a new Island
had been created. Flames continued
to flicker over the surface Of the geo
graphical visitor throughout the night
but on the following morning they had
subsidized and the governor and party
set out in n boat 10 claim the new
lard for King George. They neared
the island with extreme care In the
face Of chOppy sea. and head wind,
a landing was effected with dificulty
and it was quickly ascertained th.t
the surface of the Island vas yet warn
and very soft and boiling hot under
meath. This made walking dimcuit
land dangerous and boards were used
[ for a footing.