Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-01-06

10 a volcano mountain. penerou,.
have affirmed that there are plenty Ce
evidences to show plainly that the
Pixies Peak crater has in its centre
circular or cup-like opening througT
which lava has certainly been emitted
1t was on the night of the Goth of o..
tober that the crater first displayed any
signs of volcanic activity. Serpeant
Okeefe Was aroused from his slumber.
by dreary, doleful sound which an.
parently emanated from beneath the
signal station. His first convictions
We're that it was an earthquake. bnt
this impression was soon dispelled BIZ
the fact that the sounds still continued
without any signs of a jar. The ser
geant concluded TO investigate the
(Iuse of this mysterious sound, and he
and his assistant, Mr.. f. l.. Jones, dress.
ed themselves and started out in search
of the cause. They had barely stepped
over the doorsill when a bright flash, a.
first thought to be lightning, surmount-
ed the summit 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 days Sergeant O'Keefe visited the
crater, feeling confident that the sound
heard the night previous had emanated
from that source. What was his sur
prise, on looking down into the crater.
to discover vapor curling up from the
cup-like inclosure. This discovery ONLY
prompted him TO further continue his
researches, and after two hours labor
Gus climbing he found himself stand.
ing within about 200 yards of the
crater chimney. The heat, even at this
distance was very oppressive, and the
ground about him was covered with
pulyerized ashes and lava which had
been emitted from what he believed to
be an incipient volcano. OK eefe wa,
lost in establishment. The snow for a
distance of half mile from the crater
had entirely disappeared This
was all the more remarkable, as ii
had upon the day previous been sew.
eral feet in depth. The Sergeant was
very much astonished at the remarka-
BILE discovery thus brought to light
but he was not deceived by the calm
He was convinced that the absolute
repose which the volcano then display
ed would be of short duration. since
the Goth Of October but one eruption
had occurred, and that was on the
night of Nov. I, when another similar
to that which occurred on the Doth
rnly more violent, occurred Serg't
O'keefe happened to be on the roof Of
the Signal Station on this occasion
and he portraits the majesty Of the
scene as the grandest that he has ever
Witnessed not excepting that Of Nesuv-
ius, seen by him in 1922, when he was
a lad This eruption began with q
tremendous burst, which shook Pixies
Peak to It's very foundation, hurting
into the air dense clouds of ashes and
lava. These explosions succeeded each
other with rapidity and increased VIC
lence for about one hour, when the
volcano seemed to enter into pro-
found sleep. During TIE eruption the
clouds are strongly illuminated by the
reflection of the glowing lava in the
crater, giving the scene the appearance
of a vast conflagration. This will ac-
count for the peculiar light which was
noticed by the sheep herders on the
plains east of this city. Scientists give
it rs their opinion that the present up
heaval will last about three months.
after which the volcano will settle down
to a state Of comparative repose, only
to burst with renewed vigor in abou.
six years.