Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-05
A VOLCANIC ERUPTION.
Episode In the Island Of yolcano-show-
ers Of Red Hot Stones.


On the Sd inst. we had an outburst in
the crater, with stones, flames. thunder
Irregular lighlningsJ. 1t was strong
enough to throw stones of considerable
size to the sides Of the mountain. We
bad often seen such eruptions during
twelve to thirteen years I have been on
the island, and ] hoped it would end like
former eruptions. Toward evening. how
ever, the rushes of smoke, steam and
ashes (which used 10 be projected into
the air TO about twice the height Of the
mountain) had completely ceased. AS
the night approached the leading fu-
marole (which was very active,
giving of an offensive smell for
months before the EVENT. had begun to
show a clear high flame, much paler than
the flames produced by the burning Of
wood, and somewhat greenish or blush.
This phenomenon, together with the sud-
den stopping Of the smoke, was not evil
IDENTIFY a good omen. Consequently l
spent all the night dressed on a sofa in
the dressing room. Toward morning /
was o~verpowered by sleep and went to
the little bedroom which looks toward
the mountain, rested on the bed, and
soon was evidently sound asleep. Soon
afterward / was awakened by a ire
mendous din, which can hardly be de-
scribed.
As jumped up from my bed felt
stones falling on the roof as hail-such
cannonading going on. | understood
what was the matter, and ran 10 the OPP
posite room, where / had made my chill
dren sleep that night. They were also
up IN consequence Of an Undesirable
noise Of thunder, rush Of gases, flames,
falling Of huge powders, rocks, etc. /
took them 10 the drawing room, but as
soon as the door was opened a big stone,
red hot TALL these stones were quite red
with heat, fell through the roof, ceiling
and floor a few yards from us, smashing
all, setting fire to everything. Now |
took my children back 10 the bedroom
which looks ON 10 the veranda. and tried
10 gain the terrace by that side. The
house doors were shivering aud shaking,
SO that Il wa a difficult matter to open
them. At last ! succeeded, but before
we were out in the veranda another
stone fell at our feet, was smashed to
fragments, and burned the feet and legs
of my boys.
Now we passed through the yeranda,
regained the house at the top Of the stairs;
here another stone fell very near us none
Of these stones were less than two feet in
diameterJ. This last stone (which Is the
fourth that struck the house, has nearly
blocked our way out in the rubbish il
brought from the roof. We passed
through over the heap Of rubbish and
were now out in the open 10 the north Of
the house. BY this time mot many min
utes after alb the whole place was lighted
up; woods, grass, buildings, hedges-all
was on fire; the huge powders and
stones were literally raining everywhere
about us-what confusionl Natal, the
faithful boy, had by this time come Il
the help Of my little boys. We all began
TO run 10 Vulcanello and away from tn,
dreadful laundering mountain. Toward
noon boats OF rescue reached us frou
Lipari, and we thus ended one Of TIN
most eventful days Of our life.
On evisiting the spot I saw the whol'
plains below the mountain, 10 tho dis
lance OF n and q half miles, especially
the Deighborhood Of the house and thu
mems babitations, literally covered will
powders and rocks Of all sizes, which
have embedded themselves In tho grount
30 various depths. The most huge q