The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-22
RAINIER CAVES IN
MONARCH OF THE SIERRAS IN 4
STATE OF MILD ERUPTION
Snow Capped Cone Vanishes and a
Sharp Pointed Peak Appears in
Place-Vapor Emitted From One
of the Three CraterS-TheOry of
the Occurrence.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 21-Great excite
ment has been caused throughout Puget
Sound country by what is looked upon by
many as an eruption of Mount Tacoma, or
Rainier, Il 444 feet high and one OF the
Hottest peaks in the United States.
The mountain has lately been strangely
Transformed. The crest of the great mon
arch of the Cascades has changed, the cone
having fallen in and steam can he seen rls-
ing from the crater. There is no eruption,
it is believed by those most COMPETENT to
Judge, but great masses of rock seem to
have fallen. The snow capped
cone has disappeared and sharp
pointed peak has risen in its place
TO the east o. the crater The changed ap-
pearance OF he mountain Is evident from
the streets of Seattle, ninety miles Instant,
and thousands of people have watched the
great peak all the afternoon, But very
few people have ever assembled the noun
tain at this season OF the year. The sscen-
sion is an absolute impO>sibi!itv. There
is no way OF making thorough InyestIga-
ton OF the phenomenOn.
WHAT SEATTLE HAS OBSERVED.
SEATTLE, Wash, Nov. 2l.-Mount
Rainier is in a state of mild eruption. The
appearance of the summit Is entirely
changed and another peak has appeared
in its center. Soon after sunrise
this morning, the sun and sky being re
markably clear, clouds were curling from
the southwestern part OF the peak, where
the crater is located, coming at intervals
of about fifteen seconds. TIE dome.lke
peak has disappeared and been replaced
by u fat top with large crevasse extend
ing down the side, while in the center of
its summit new peak has appeared on
The northern side. The snow was ALI gone
ha rsoit nt,h malt al of
for fallen masses Of rock, stripped OF their
white covering, could be plainly discerned.
Steam is also seen mingiing with the
smoke, which rose 100 feet above
The summit Mount Rainier is
cone shaped peak ana stands slightly to
tie west OF The main Cascade range, sixty
five miles sou;hrasa OF Seattle 1t rises
fully 1900 feet above the range. Il has
three CRITTERS Of which the principal and
most perfect is the scene of the present
volcanic disturbances. This crater is half
IA mile across vial walls Of rock fifty feet
high and thousands of Jets of hot air aad
steam issuing from the rim. The in
eide of H. crater Is filled with snow and
ice in which the smOuld-ring volcanoes
steam jets have formed innumerable
raves one Of which has been penetrated by
explorers to the depth OF one hundred
feet. while they have used the steam
jets for cooking. 1t is supposed that the
weakened at the base, have fallen, leaving
a peak composed of the rock on which the
snowy cone had formed, and that the in
ternai fires have burst forth in new vigor
The eruptlou became hidden by big clouds
soon after O'Clock
TACOMA Is NOT so SURE.
TACOMA, Wash, Nov. 2I-The story of
Mount Iacuma's. Oh RaiuIer's. changed ap-
pearance l. regarded here as having little
foundation, though Tacoma looks at the
mountain from different point of view
Than Seattle. No steam or fire has been
observed from here, but the side nearest
this city, which IS covered with the
largest glaciers in the world. seems to be
covered with snow TO a greater depth than
usual. Most always in the summer time,
On clear day, some steam can be seen
trising from the mountains crater, and il
Is thought here that this phenomenon has
biven rise To the story. Persons have
Slept in the crater for few hours at a
time, but cannot remain long on account
IF tie dense fumes Of the sulphurlc gas
which are constantly arising and which
have led some travellers to suspect that the
Interior of the mountain was in close
proximity 10 tie place known in literature
IS Hades.
LATER OBSERVATIONS AT TACOMA.
TACOMA, Wash. Nov. 2L-rouigh5 ex-
petty ii $50 o'clock several slight shocks |
81 earthquake were Ieit mere. WIDOWS |
were ratified throughout the city. The |
tirst shock was most severe, being accom- |
panied by rum bling noises, as OF IL distant |
explosion and simultaneously a sheet OF |
was observed in the eastern heavens.
Inquiry tonight develops the fact that !
several persons here saw tie smoke ariS- |
Ing from Mount Tacoma this morning. |
Mrs. Lowell al Iowa lady visiting friends, |
says she saws at o'clock, just before sun |
rise; good sized column of smoke rising |
from the mountain top. Its color was !
gray. She thought 1t rose TOO rapidly to |
be cloud.
Professor +. c. Plummer, local scien-
ti>t, who has made a special study Of earth |
quake PHENOMENA in the nor Invest, says:
Old Hiaton, the oldest Indian in the
Puyallup reservation. said through an ill.,
terpTeter before the Tacoma academy of
tcience, on Feb. &. 1898. that he had many
times seen fire and smoke coming out OF
Mt. Tacoma. This was when he was "A
boy. General John C. Fremont reported
On Nov. l3 1913, that Mt. Tacoma was in
Eruption. According to Prof. Holden OF
he Lick observatory a violent eruption of
the mountain occurred Oct. is. 1873. at 4
p. m.
In May, 1850. volumes OF smoke were
observed issuing from the crater. On
June Il, 1884, j-is of steam were observed
ElpofiD.r ri ba