Year: 1864

Letters from Malta mention an extraordi.


nary CONFUSION of nature not far from that


city, between the island of Pantillaria and


the town OF Sciacea, on the coast of Sicily,


submarine volcano has lately broken out


about twenty five miles from the shore. 1t


Is SAID that volcano existed there in the wear


liOl, and on an old chart there is an old reef


laid down precise.v On the spot where the


volcano now is. 1t was first seen bv smoke


rising from the sea aboutthe 18th of August


last, which gradually increased in volume


for several days till fire was seen. and even


tualiy a sort of small island was thrown up


above the surface, about eighty or ninety


yards long and twenty or thirty high, com


posed OF cinders in the centre of which is the


crater, which is continually throwing up


steam and smoke, and during the eruptions.


which occur on the average every hour and


half. large stones aud einders are thrown


to the height ofon thousand feet. Iti men


toned as Il singular circumstance that about


the same time this volcano first showed itself
strong earthquake took place in the island
OF Samos, which divided a hill into two parts.
leaving valley with stream of water flow


ing through it. Recently a party of curious
persons visited this wonderful island, and
one of them thus reports the result Of their
observations


The beach, which appeared to be mix
ture OF ashes aud sand reduced to powder.
was as hard as the irmestsand, but very few
yards from the water. side the surface was
rough, composed of loose einders of all sizes
heaped lightly together, SO that at every step
we sank OYER shoes in einders very hot to the
touch. Our first object, of course, was to get
up flagstaff, planted by the crew of a Brit
lsh vessel on the summit, which we accom-
pllshed after steep climb up the sliding
ashes. When on top we were nearly to lee,
ward the crater, and the consequence was
that the yofums Of steam that rose from it
drove full in our faces SO strong sulphurous
vanor as to make several of the party, nclu-
ding myself, very nearly sick. The part on
which we were was then the highest, 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 1t was from twelve feet to twenty
feet below the lip, or highest edge cf the ac-
tual crater. Itwas much discolored and boil
ing strongly, throwing up quantities ofwhite
steam. with this sulphurous vapor, which an
n'yed Us so much. There was apparently
an underground rush of boiling water frcm
the southeast side into the sea, which might
be traced long way by its dark color, and
al the same place a thick volume of steam
rose from the outside of the original crater,
as If new one vas forming. After staying
some time upon the top. we went down again
to the crater, and having examined it ad-
lourned to our boats, and pulled round the
South side, so as to command a view Of the
rush of the water before mentioned, which
came from the island, boiling and foaming,
and throwing up quantity of white vapo- and
steam. Nothing can be more singular than
the appearance 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
required to form it by considering that it is, |
as near as could be guessed, three quarters
OF mile round, and that, where it now stands,
former charts give soundings in one hundred
and thirty fathoms, and from the soundings
lately made 1t seems to stand on large base.