Year: 1863

A BURNING ISLAND IN TUE MEDITERRANEAN


Letters from Malta mention an extraor-


dinary convu!sion of nature not far from


that city. Between the island Of Pantilla-


ria and the town of Sciacoa, on tbs coast Of


Sicily, submarine volcano las lately bro


ken out, abou, twenty-five miles from the
shore. 1t is said that volcano existed


there in the year 17Ol, AID on an old chart
there is an old reef laid down precisely on
the spot where the volcano now is. 1t was
first seen by smoke rising from the sea
about the 18th of August last, which gradu.
ally increased in volume for several days.
TIN fire was seen, and eventually a sort of
small island was thrown up above the sur
face, about eighty or ninety yards long and
twenty or thirty high, composed Offenders.
in the centre of which is the crater, which
is continually throwing up steam and smoke,
and during the eruptions, which occur on
an average every hour and half, large
stones and cinders are thrown to the height
of one thousand feet. 1t is mentioned as q
singular circumstance that about the same
time this vol ano first showed itselfa strong
earthquake took place in the island of Sa-
mos. which divided hill into two parts,
leaving valley with stream Of water fow-
ing through it. Recently party of curious
persons Visited this wonderful island. and
one of them thus reports the result of their
observations


The beech, which appeared to be mix
ture of ashes anil sand reduced to pow
der, was as hard as the frmest sand. but
very few yards from the water side the SUR
face was extremely rough, composed of
loose cinders Of all sizes heaped lightly to-
gett er 50 that at every step we sank over
shoes in cinders very hot to the touch. Our
first objec', of course, was to get up to the
flagstaff, planted by the crew ofa British
vessel on the summit, which we accomplish
ed after steep climb up the sliding ashes.
When on the top we were nearly to the lee
ward Of the crater, and the consequence was
that the volume Of steam that rose from it
drove full in our faces so strong sulphur
GUS vapor as to make several Of the party,
including myself very nearly sick. The
part on which we were was then the high
est, and seemed on rough computation
about two hundred feet above the sea. The
crater was some distance below us, round,
and perhaps thirty or forty yards across.
The level Of the water in it was from twelve
feet to twenty feet below the lip, or highest
edge, of the actual crater. 1t was much dis
colored and boiling strongly. throwing up
quantities Of white steam, with this sulphur
Gus vapor which annoyed US so much
There was apparently an under ground rush
of boiling water from the south east side
into the sea, which might be traced long
way by its dark color, and at the same place
a thick volume Of steam rose from the out
side of the original crater. as if new one
was forming After staying some time upon
the top, we went down again to the crater,
and having examined it, adjourned to our
boats, and pulled round the south side, so
as to command a view of the rush of water
before mentioned. which came from the ISL
and, boiling and foaming. and throwing up
a quantity of white vapor and steam. Moth
ng can be more singular than the appear
ance of this mass of ashes in the middle OF
the sea. You may form some idea of the
force Of the fire that must have been req tired
to form it, by considering that it is, as near
as could be guessed, three quarters of a
mile around, and that where it now stands
former charts give soundings Of one hun
dred and irty fathoms, and from the
soundings lately made it sssms to stand to
a large base.