River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-06
PIXIES PEAK A VOLCANO.
fire. smoke, Ashes and Melted Lava
Pouring from the Crater--The sig
nal Service Officers STORY
From lhe Colorado Springs Gazette.

From the Colorado Springs Gazette
The probability of volcano existing
in the Rocky Mountains he's never en-
tered the minds of our citizens. Con
elusive evidence that such thing does
exist. and not very far from Colorado
Springs, has recently been furnished us
by Sergeant O'keefe, of the Signal Ser
vice. The first knowledge that was
gwen of this peculiar and newly dis
covered phenomenon was reported last
Saturday afternoon, and since that
time a Gazette reporter, under the guild
ance of Sergeant 0'Keefe, visited the
scene of VII proved to be one of the
most Wond discoveries ever brought
to light in tnl~ region. Nearly all the
citizens of Colorado Springs have seen
or read of the crater, which is located
near the summit and just west of the
peak. 1t has always been conceded by
scientists that this selfsame crater had
in times gone by been the scene of Il
terrible eruption, rs particles of lava
had been discovered III the crevices
OF the rock adjoining it. Those who
have investigated more closely the
various formations which are peculiar
to a volcano mountain, generally
have affirmed that there are plenty of
evidences to show plainly that the
Pixies Peak crater has in its centre a
circular or cup-hke opening through
which lava has certainly been emitted.
1t was on the night of the 20th of Oc-
tober that the crater first displayed any
signs of volcanic activity. Sergeant
O'Keefe was aroused from his slumbers
by dreary, dolcful sound which ap-
parentlv emanated from beneath the
signal station. His first convictions
were that it was an earthquake, but
this impression was soon dispelled 10y
the fact that the sounds still continued
without any signs of jar. The ser
geant concluded to investigate the
t,luse 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 fast, at
first thought to be lightning, surmount-
ed the summit Of the Peak 1t was
only of 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
inc day 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 Enclosure. This discovery only
prompted him to further continue his
researches, and after two hours labori-
Gus climbing he found himself stand
ing within about 200 yards of the
crater chimney. The heat, even mt this
distance Was very oppressive, and the
ground about him was covered with
pulverized ashes and lava which had
been emitted from what he believed tC
be an incipient volcano. 0keefe was
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 sev-
cral feet III depth. The Sergeant was
very much ast0nished at the remarka-
bic 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 10th Of October but one eruption
had occurred, and that was on the
night of Nov. Z, when another similar
to that which occurred on the goth,
My 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 grandcst that he has ever
witnessed, not excepting that of Nesuv
ius, seen by him in 1922, when he was
lad This eruption began with q
tremendous burst, which shook Pixies
Peak to its very foundation, hurting
into the air dense clouds of ashes and
lava. These explosions succeeded each
other with rapidity and increased vio-
lence for about one hour, when the
volcano seemed to enter into a pro-
found sleep. During the eruption the
clouds are strongly illuminated by the
reflection of the glowing lava III 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 as 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 about
SIX wears