A NEW ISLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 13 January 1912, Page 4

A NEW ISLAND.

The appearance of a now island recently off tho coast ' of Trinidad, created sonic considerable excitement in that colony, and, according to one account published, a fisherman was the first to see indications of the strange phenomenon on the morning of November 4, when he noticed •

snail cone of black rock protiuii.ig from the sea at a point where he had often cast his net. He rowed closer and found that the water was bubbling round the rock. A few hours later there was a loud report, and a column of smoke and liro arose from the sea. The news was communicated to the Governor of Trinidad, Sir George Le Hunte, and he proceeded with a small party to the spot, where ho arrived the next day. He found that tho island had grown until it showed an area of fully two acres and a half above the surface of the water. The surface was still hot, but the ' Governor landed and examined the addition that had been made to tho colony. The island was composed of volcanic mud, mixed with rock and the fossilised remains of marine animals. The highest point was about fifteen feet above sea level, and gas was escaping fiom two craters, each being some six feet in diameter. Gas could bo heard rumbling below, and there was a strong smell of oil and sulphur. An expert opinion was to the effect that the island had been caused by the eruption of a mud volcano on the sea-floor. Natural gas and oil are plentiful in Trinidad and strange movements of the surface have been reported on many occasions. The flames that were noticed might have been duo to the ignition of gas by a spark struck from iron pyrites, fragments of which were T o be seen on the surface. The island is situated in the Bay of Erin, where Columbus is said to have landed on Jus discovery of Trinidad. The coloured inhabitants of the adjacent coast were much perturbed by the remarkable occurrence, which aroused all their superstitious fancies, and it will be many a year before they will dare to sot foot on the new territory.