Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-10

volcanic mountain generally have af
1rmed that there are plenty of evi-
dence to show plainly that the Pixies
Peak crater has in its centre a circu
lar or cup-like opening through which
lava has certainly been emitted.
1t was on the night of the 10Th of
October that the crater first displayed
any signs of volcanic activity. Ser.
geant % keete was aroused from his
slnmbers by a dreary, doleful sound
which apparently emanated from be
meath the signal staten. HIS first
convictions were that it was an earth
quake, but this impression was soon
dispelled by the fact that the sound
still continued without any signs of a
jar. The sergeant concluded to in
vestigate the cause of this mysterious
sound, and he and his assistant, Mr..
+. l.. Jones, dressed themselves and
started out in search of the cause
They had barrel ly steYped over the door
sill when bright flash, at first thought
to be lightning, surmounted the sum.
NIT of the peak. 1t was only of a
seconds duration, and the peak was
again clothed in darkness. From this
time on the sound heretofore described
seemed to decrease until the
usual quiet of the solemn mountain
peak was again restored. The follow
ing day Sergeant O'Keefe visited the
crater feeling confident that the souni
heard the night previous had eman
ated from that source What was bis
surprise on looking down into the
crater to discover vapor curling up
from the cup'hke enclosure. This
discovery only prompted him to
further continue his researches and
after two hours laborious climbing he
found himself standing within about
200 yards Of the crater chimney. The
heat, even at this distance, was very
oppressive, and the ground about him
vas covered with pulverized ashes and
lava which had been emitted from
what he believed to De an incipient
volcano The snow for distance of
half a mile from the crater had entire
ly disappeared. This was all the more
remarkable, as it had upon the day
previous been several feet in depth.
Since the 18th of October but one
eruption has happened, aud that was
on the night of November 7th. when
another ole similar to thatwhich took
place on the 18th, only more violent,
occurred. Sergeant 0'Keeffe hap
pened to be on the roof of the signal
station on this occasion, and he por-
trays the majesty of the scene as the
grandest that he has ever witsessed,
not excepting that of Vesuvius, s5en
by him in 1872, when he was a lad
The eruption began with tremendous
burst, which shook Pixies Peak to its
very foundation, hurling into the air
dense clouds of ashes and lava. These
explosions succeeded each other with
rapidity aud increased violence for
about one hour, when the volcano
seemed to enter into profound sleep
During the eruption the clouds we're
strongly Illuminated by the reflection
Of the glowing lava in the crater, Civ
ing the scene the appearance of a vast
conhagration. This accounts for the
peculiar light which has been noticed
by the sheep herders on the plains east
Of this city. Savants give it as their
opinion that the present upheaval will
last about three month, after which
the volcano will settle down to a state
Of comparative repose, only to burst
with renawed yigor in about six years