Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1892 — Volcanic Islands Sinking. [ARTICLE]

Volcanic Islands Sinking.

Letters received from the British ship Eg ria, which has been engaged for u considerable time on sounding operations in the South Pacific, state that she has just completed a survey of the Union group of islands, and a line of soundings has been carried from those islands to Fiji, and thence to Tonga, tor the purpose of cable laying, should a eabie at any time be deemed necessary. On the first of October the Egtria left Tonga for the Falcon Island, one of the Tonga group, which was thrown up five years ago by a volcanic eruption, and w.as then stated to be five miles wide; but to the surprise of the scientific officers on board, they .found it to be only about halt its original size. The place proved to be composed entirely of volcanic cinders, with small, hot, sulphuric springs here and there, and in some few places the ground was so hot as to render walking exceedingly uncomfortable and in places actually dangerous. Lieutenant Maresceaux and a party of men were employed in putting up mark flags for surveying purposes, and had placed a mark on the highest point of land on the island, about two hundred and fitty feet from the level of the sea, and about twenty yards from the extremity of the cliff. Soon after this work ha 1 been completed those on board saw a large mass of ground fall away into the sea, and this was followed by a white vapor which rose from the water. In less than three days from the hoisting of th s mark the flagstaff erected by Lieutenant Maresceaux and his party had completely disappeared with the whole of the intervening ground between it and the sea. Many pieces of the cinders which cover this volcanic head have been taken on board the Egeria, and although very much resembling coke, when placed i* the fire they run off in a liquid rorm. It is thought that should there be no further upheaval tnls island will be entirely submerged in a few years.