DESCRIPTIONS OF 



BOGOSLOV ISLAND AND THE NEW VOLCANO IN BERING SEA. 



Visited by the U. S. 8. Corwin, Gapt. M. A. Healy, U. 8. Revenue Marine, commanding. 



REPORT OF SECOND LIEUT. JOHN C. CANTWELL. 



Approaching the islaud from the uortheast it has the appearauce of being divided into two 

 parts, the northern portion being in a state of eruption and the southern portion a much serrated 

 rock rising almost perpendicularly from the sea, while between the two and nearer the northern 

 part of the new Bogoslov a tower-like rock rises with a slight inclination towards the north to a 

 height of eighty-six feet. At a distance it might be easily mistaken for a sail upon the horizon ; for 

 this reason it is called Ship Rock or Sail Rock. A nearer approach discovers the fact that the two 

 elevations are connected by a low, flat beach free from rocks and affording an excellent landing 

 place for small boats. The Corwin steamed around the northern end of the island and close enough 

 to obtain an accurate view of the volcano. The top was hidden by clouds of steam and smoke 

 which issued not only from the crater but also poured forth with great violence from rents or areas 

 in the sides of the cone. On the northeast side these apertures are particularly well defined. I 

 counted fifteen steam jets forming a group situated on a horizontal line about two-thirds the 

 distance from the base to the apex of the cone. This grouj) was the more noticeable on account of 

 the force with which the steam escaped as well as the marked regularity of the spaces sei^arating 

 the vents. The sketch marked A gives a view of the northern end of the island and the position 

 of steam jets mentioned above. 



When the center of the island bore northeast and distant three-quarters of a mile the Corwin 

 was anchored in thirteen fathoms water and a boat lowered in which we proceeded towards the 

 shore, sounding in from ten to twelve fathoms until within one hundred and fifty feet of the beach, 

 when the water gradually shoaled and we landed without difiQculty, the wind being light from 

 northeast and the sea smooth. The landing place is shown in the sketch marked B. 



The narrow isthmus connecting the old and new formations is composed of a mixture of fine 

 black saud and small oolitic stone, the greatest quantity of sand being on a line dividing the islaud 

 longitudinally into two parts. During our stay the water did not rise high enough to cover this 

 beach, but pieces of drift-wood, algie, etc., found on the highest parts fully show that at the times 

 of highest tides or during severe storms the entire isthmus is submerged. 



The sides of the new Bogoslov rise with a gentle slope to the crater, and the ascent at first 

 appearance is easy, but the thin layer of ash formed into a crust by the action of rain and moisture 

 is not strong enough to sustain a man's weight. At every step my feet crushed through the outer 

 covering and I sunk at first ankle-deep and later on knee-deep into a soft, almost impalpable dust 

 which arose in clouds and nearly suffocated me. As the summit was reached the heat of the ashes 

 became almost unbearable, aud I was forced to continue the ascent by picking my way over rocks 

 and bowlders whose surfaces being exposed to the air were cooler and afforded a more secure foot- 

 hold. 



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