The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-08-06
hLASKA'S WONDERS.
SIX VOLCANOES THAT ARE AL
WAYS IN OPERATION.
Bogosiotf, the Most Active, Sud
denly Appeared Out of the Sea
Shishaldin Relchcs Smoke at a
Height of 5000 Feet.

Height of 5000 Feet.
Much is heard Of the stately Mount ST.
Elias. in Southern Alaska, which towers
10, 900 feet above the sea level because
IF its being the highest mountain in
America. but This mountain with its
smoking crater, though probably tho
yrandest, is not the most interesting one
Of the North by any means. The vol
canoes Umlah, BorpslotF. Programme,
Akutan, Shi>haldin aud pavloT, all 10
Gated in the Alcutinn islands, /, 300
miles from Si,kn. are probably the most
interesting mountains III the world. All
six mountains are in active operation and
are located within rnlil> of 100 miles
of tnnlaska From the Pacific ocean
side all the mountains, with the eXccp
ton Of payluii, which is hidden from
view behind another mount, can be seen
at once, with the smoke aud steam roll
ing upward from ;hcir craters. More is
not told the world Of these splendid
mountains because thcy are seldcin visit
ed. Tourists do not go within 300
miles of them, FOR there is no regularly
established line of steamers running
further north lhal Sitkn The far oil
land favored with the presence OF these
smoking mounts, which should prove the
he study Of II geological student, is
visited only by an occasional whalcr or
revenue cutter.
The revenue cutter Bear, which re
turned from the Alcutiau Islands last
week, and which is now on her return
north. SAYS the Seattle Post Intclli
gencer, brought down great deal of
information concerning the volcanoes.
Lieut.. d. II. Jarvis, Of the Bear, who
has taken especial notice of the six vol
canoes in this group Of islands has made
several cruises north, having been in
both the Bear and Rush, government
cutters. and upon each cruise he cn-
brarcd every opportunity to learn more
of them. Several of them he has visited;
he has climbed 10 their summit, and &C
quainted himself with their peculiar
tiles.
lie spent much time eNaming Bogos-
loft, which he soon found to be the
most interesting mountain Of the group
Speaking Of Alaska and volcanoes, the
lieutenant says: From the mainland to
Attu. distance of 1000 miles, are hun
dreds Of islands. The map will show
that they are chained along. Attu being
the westward island of ;hc group that
composes the Alaska peninsula. The
islands Hre all If volcanic origin. Tn
alaska, or tnalaska Island, is east to the
centre Of the group by several hundred
miles, and is in the centre Of the Aleu-
tian islands. t~na!aska Island. which is
about eighty miles long, is the largest.
The other islands, of which there are
numbers, vary in sizc from this down to
mere reef or rock projecting out of the
sea-
The lieutenant found Bogoslotf an es-
peciallv fascinating study. one hundred
years ago Bogo~loif did not exist The
island on which the volcano is situated
lay at the bottom of the sea. Just about
100 years ago there were continuous Jar
rings in the Alcutian group, and the
several volcanoes smoked and bechcd
forth lava, showing that an internal war
was in progress IN the bowels Of the
earth. One morning, during a heavy
disturbance, the natives of Unulasku saw
an immense object rise up out Of the sea,
about sixty miles to the northward.
Great volumes Of smoke and showers of
ashes aud running lava came ont Of the
object. After many days the disturb
ance subsidcl, and the natives could see
that new island had come to join the
group, and they called the new arrival
BoyoSlotf. The island was about half a
mile long and was $50 feet high. The
island in reality was nothing but the vol
cauo, for from the water line it lowered
from all sides up 10 the summit. \ Pc
c'iliar feature of the m punt was that it
had no weii-aetincti crater. From many
tisSures which cut across the sides OF the
mountain and around the top, huge vol
umcs of smoke came, but at the top
there was no hole. S.,lI, notwithstand-
ing the dcformty. Bogoslotf was very
lively, and male more fuss than all the
rest Of the larger volcanoes.
About eight years ago, during vio--
lent eruption, another island came up
ont of the sea, and Joining Boeosioif, be
came one island. During the summer OF
1889, while in the government service,
Lieut.. Jarvis visited Ho9osiotf for the
first time. He walked all over the noun
tain, whose entire sides were rent with
huge tissures, o 1t Of which came hot,
sitting smoke, odoro,' with sulphur.
So much smoke came ont of the assures
that it was simply impossible to 90 close
to them, much less look down into them
There was 30 crater OF iiSsures directly
ii the summit, rs was found ny examn-
alton. Again last summer the lieutcn-
ant went to Alaska, this time in the
revenue cutter Rush.
When the cutter made landing at | ma
laska the natives told the officers Of the
steamer that a few months before there
were cruptions among the volcanoes and
that Bogoslptf was especially angry; that
the island gave out great showers OF hot
ashes and steam and black smoke. The
Rush made the run of sixty miles to the
island, and long before she hove to those
on board could see that the whole top of
the volcano had fallen in, forming an
immense crater, from out of which the
smoke not only rol cd but putfed like
the exhaust of an enormous engine.
Those who went on shore did not dare
go near the summit because of the intense
heat. BY the top falling in the height
OF the mountain was reduced fully $50
feet, leaving only 200 feet above the sea
level.
Clear days are thing almost unknown
in this land of ice and volcanoes. When
it is not raining in summer, it is fcggy,
and when it is not showing in winter,
the wind is fierce and howling. Once in
while, in the early spring, mariners are
favored with few clear days. The wind
dies down, the sky is free of clouds, and
the deep blue azure Of space looks down
upon the trembling ocean with a cold,
unfeeling gaze. At this time of the year
the country is covered with ice and
snow, the land being distinguishablc
from the sea because of its whiteness.
The scenery from the deck of a cutter or
whaler on such a day is enchanting, and
tho view remains indclible upon the
memory.
Umnak, which is 5000 feet high, lies
the furthest to the westward of tie group,
aud Pavlolf, also 5000 feet high, lies
farthest to the eastward. Between these
two are ranged in order, from west to
rect tbn M hur four ,pn,,%s Dc-,o1ofr