42 CEUISE OF THE STEAMEE CORWIN. 



Fo earthquake shocks or other unusual phenomena were noticed on the neighboring islands at 

 the time of the supposed eruption, though the two volcauoes on Akoutan Island ceased to smoke 

 at about that time and have shown no signs of activity since. 



October 20, 1883, a shower of volcanic ashes fell at Ounalaska, sixty miles to the eastward, 

 although it is i)ossible tlmt this pumice dust came from Mount St. Augustine, a volcano then active 

 some seven hundred miles northeast of that place. 



May 21, 1884, at 4 a. m., the new formation was seen from the deck of the Corwin, as a'dull gray, 

 irreguhirly shaped hill of about five hundred feet in height, from the sides and summit of which 

 great, volumes of steam were arising, obscuring the upper third, and becoming detached, tloated 

 otf on the northwest wind, then blowing, as cumulous clouds. At a height of about two-thirds 

 of the distance from the base there issued, on the north .side, a series of large steam jets, which 

 extended in a horizontal direction completely across the northwestern face of the hill, which at that 

 part was considerably flatteued liiterally and quite steep, giving it a very striking resemblance to 

 a smoking charcoal kiln. This is shown in a photograijh, somewhat blurred, unfortunately, owing 

 to a sudden lurch of the ship. 



Fortunately, the day was clear, not hazy, although the sky was overcast, a somewhat thick 

 layer of cumulostratus clouds obscuring the hill most of the time, rendering the process of 

 picture-taking a difQcult undertaking, and our artist, Lieut. George 11. Doty, is to be congratu- 

 lated on his (under the circumstances) brilliant success. Without the accompanying photographs 

 an a^lequate description of this recent and most interesting addition to the Aleutian group of 

 islands could hardly be given, while with them one can avoid creating false impressions, and can 

 also remove erroneous conceptions. 



On nearer approach what at tirst sight appeared to be i)atches of vegetation became visible. 

 A closer examination, however, revealed their true nature— collections of condensed sulphur which 

 had accumulated around the orifices of what had once been active steam jets. These condensa- 

 tions were still going on, each vent, in fact, having its encircling collection of condensed sulphur 

 of various hues and tints. 



Steaming to within one-fourth of a mile of the south side of the isthmus, which was first dis- 

 covered to form a connecting link between the oltl and new portions of Bogoslov, thus making 

 them one, so to speak, the Corwin was brought to an anchor in thirteen fathoms of water, and a 

 landing by boats was immediately made. But little surf was breaking on the beach, which at 

 that point was composed of fine gravel and sand, and landing thereon presented no difficulties. 



Photograph No. 2 was taken from the shii), at a distance of thiee miles off Ship Eock, which 

 then bore NE. 5 N., and shows distinctly the exact relation of the old and new portion of the 

 island, including also the isthmus, near the middle of which stands the rocky pinuacle known as 

 Ship Rock. 



The low, narrow intermediate portion of the island termed in this report the isthmus, lying 

 between and connecting the higher extremes, is readily seen to be of much greater age than the 

 newly formed portion, and had evidently been, previous to the recent eruption, a ])artially sub- 

 merged spit, making out in a northwesterly direction from old Bogoslov; but the same force which 

 pushed up the new addition elevated it also, especially that portion, the extremity immediately 

 beneath the northeastern half of the new formation. The extent of this elevation, judging from 

 the barnacles and water-marks on Ship and other rocks, being some twenty or more feet. It is 

 the extremity of this spit which forms a considerable part of the foundation of the new portion. 



But few shells were found on the beach, and the only vegetation seen was a few patches of 

 kelp and some ispecamens of Fucacine thrown upon the beach. Myriads of sea fowls occupied the 

 clefts and crevices of the rocky heights of old Bogoslov and on tlie beach and rocks surrounding 

 that end of the island. Large numbers of sea-lions, some of immense size, were seen, but took to 

 the water on our approach. Both birds and animals seemed to avoid the newer portion, on which 

 I saw no animal life whatever. 



The temperature of the water at the place of landing was the same as that more distant from 

 the island, 42°; of the atmosphere, 44°; and a thermometer buried in tlie gravel of the beach above 

 high-water mark registered 44°. Already had the odor of sulphurous oxide become distinctly per- 

 ceptible, which near the summit and in the depressions rendered respiration decidedly ditticult. 



