Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-11-02
ALASkA'S VOLCANO.

Description of the Recent Outburst-A
Sketch of Akutan in activity.
The origin Of the immense cloud of
volcanic dust which was reported by
Capt. Erskine as having passed over
the steamer st. Paul on her last trip up
to Oonalaska, and which he estimated
TO be more than 100 miles in extent has
been definitely ascertained. The sea-
otter hunting schooner Everett Hays
arrived here last week from the Shum-
agin Islands, says a correspondent of
the San Francisco Chronicle, and from
her owner, l. j. Apologize, the follow
ing particulars of the eruption of a new
volcano have been obtained:
On Sunday, August IS, the Hayes put
into a small harbOr known as lvanef
Bay, at the extreme western end Of the
Alaskan peninsula, and anchored for
the purpose Of securing fresh water
and TO allow the crew to hunt for deer.
The position of the schooner, as esti-
mated by Mr.. Applegate, was in latitude
90 degrees 81 minutes north, and longi-
tude l59 degrees 20 minutes west. The
weather at the time of anchoring was
calm and clear. About midnight Of the
9th the crew of the schooner were
aroused by a subdued rumbling noise,
which sounded not unlike the steady
breaking of surf on the beach. Know
ing that such a noise would hardly be
heard in the inclosed bay, the captain
and Mr.. Apologize went on deck to as
certain II possible the cause of the dis
tuTbance. The night was then calm
and clear, and not thing could be seen,
SO that the two watchers returned to
their hunks with the mysterious noise
still unexplained.
hS77t ~ 40 of
vessel went on deck, and shortly after
ward reported what appeared 10 be a
small black cloud low down in the north
west sky. The rumbling noise now grad
uaIly increased in volume, and soon the
whole sky was filed with dense volumes
of smoke.
Before daylight the crew OF the
schooner saw vast column of smoke
suddenly shoot straight up to distance
of a mile into the clear atmosphere, and
then slowly expand in the form of an
immense caulifiower from 10 to y
miles in diameter. From the lower
edges and periphery of this black cloud
binding flashes Of lightning shot down
ward toward tho base ofthe column, and
the air was filled with almost continuous
and deafening detonatiOns as if of thun-
der.
The display was magnificent beyond
description. 1t lasted until daylight.
Feeling that the vicinity was anything
but pleasant or safe, the schooner got
under way as early as possible Monday
morning, and made her way out into
the open waters of the Pacific. A brisk
northerly wind swept the smoke cloud
clear Of the schooner, but the country
to the southwest must have been COW
cred for miles with the ashes and Gin
ders, which fell like heavy rain from
the cloud. At Metrofem, a small ma
tive settlement eighty or ninety miles
away, the Inhabitants witnessed the
eruption and distinctly heard reverbra-
tons OF the thunder, and at all the ISL
ands lying to the southwest OF the pen
insuIa quantities of dust and cinders
fell during the greater part Of three
days.
The exact locality and appearance of
the new volcano could not be obtained,
for the reason that it Is inland some
thirty miles, as estimated by Mr.. Ap-
plegate, and hidden from view by the
higher mountains which border the sea-
1t must, however, be of considerable
extent, as there can be no doubt now
that the shower of volcanic dust which
fell on the decks of the st. Paul during
five hours of August %, came from the
new volcano. The scientific public will,
of course, be anxious to learn more
about this new eruption, but at present
it is doubtful if any power on earth
would induce any Of the natives to visit
the spot. III connection with this up
heaval it is of interest to recall the fact
previously noted by the Chronicle cor
respondent of the unusual activity Of
all the VOLCANOES situated along this part
of the Aleutian Islands during this sea-
son.
On September %, while the revenue
cutter Rush was cruising in the vicinity
Of Akutan Island, the volcano situated
thereon suddenly opened up its hidden
batteries, and blast alter blast Of dark
purple smoke shot upwards from the
crater to distance Of nearly 200 feet,
accompanied by rumDling noise like
distant thunder. At the same instant,
as was subsequently ascertained, a dis
tinct earthquake shock = something
very unusual in this region-was felt at
Oonalaska, thirty miles away. Attempts
were made to photograph the volcano
while in a state of eruption, but owing
to want of light the results were not
very satisfactory.