The herald., 1894-11-22
A TRANSFORMED MOUNTAIN,
Mount Rainier Undergoes a
Change.
L New Peak Appears in the Old
Crater.
Fire and Smoke Issue From 1.-THE
Long Extinct Volcano shows
stgns Of Becoming
Active.
By the Associated Press

citement has been caused throughout
the Puget eound country by what is
looked upon by many as an eruption OF
Mount Tacoma or Rainier, IA 444 feet
high, and one OF the loftiest peaks in
the United States. The mountain has
certainly been strangely transformed.
The crest oil the groat monarch OF the
Cascades has changed. the cone having
allen in, and steam can be seen rising
from the crater. There is no eruption,
IL is believed by those most competent
TO judge, but great masses OF rock seem
have fallen. The snow-capped cone
has disappeared. and a sharp pointed
peak his risen in i,s place to the east OF
the crater. The changed appearance of
the mountain is evident from the streets
oil Seattle, 90 miles distant. and thous-
ands OF people have watched the great
peak all the afternoon. But few people
have ever aecended the mountain, and
vt this eeason OF the year the ascension
10 an absolute impossibility. go there is
no way OF making a thorough investiga-
tion OF the phenomenon.
MILD ERUPTION.
Mount Rainier is in q state OF mild
eruption, the appearance of the summit
is entirely changed and new peak has
appeared in it's center. Soon after sun
rise this morning, the eky and air being
remarkably clear, clouds OF black smoke
were seen curling from the south western
part OF the peak, wherc the crater ia
located, coming at intervals OF about ID
L.. k<<, kaI a
appeared and been replaced by fiat top
with a large crevasse extending down
the eide, while in the center OF its sum-
init new pesx had appeared on the
northern side. The snow was all gons
from the summit as though melted of.
or some falling macs of rock had started
an avalanche from the summit. The
jagged points OF rock, stripped OF their
white covering, could BIZ plainly dis.
cerned. Steam was also seen mingling
with the smoke, which rose 100 feet
above the summit.
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.
Mount Rainier is cons-shaped peak
and stands slightly to the west OF the
main Cascade range, % miles southeast
oi Seattle. 1t rises fully 5000 feet above
the range. 1t has three craters, OF
which the principal and most perfect
one is the scene of the present volcanic
disturbances. This crater is half mile
across. with walls Of rock 80 feet high
and thousands OF jets OF hot air and
e,elm issue from this rim. The inside
OF the crater is filed with snow and ice.
in which the smoldering volcano and
>the stenm jets have formed innumera-
BILE caves. one OF which has been pene-
uated by explorers to depth OF 100
feet, while they have used the steam
jets for cooking. 1t is supposed that
the walls OF the crater, having been
gradually weakened at the base, have
fallen in. leaving peak composed OF
the rock on which the snowy cone
named Colum bias Crest had formed,
and that the internal fires thus set free
have burst forth In new vigor. The
eruption became hidden by clouds soon
after 8 a. m.
AS SEEN AT TACOMA.
TACOMA, WASH, Nov. 2l.-The story
Of Mt. Tscoma's changed appearance is
regarded here as having little iounda.
tion, though Tacoma looks at the noun.
tain from different point OF view than
Seattle. No steam or fre hsve been
observed here, but the eide nearest the
city, which 10 covered with the largest
glaciers in the world, seems to be COW
cred with snow to greater depth than
ueual. Nearly always in the summer.
on clear day, some steam can be seen
arising from the mountains crater, and
1t is thought here that this pheonme.
non has given rise to the story. Persons
have remained in the crater for Q few
hours at time, but cannot remain too
long on account Of the dense fumes of
sulphurous gases which are constantly
rising, and which have led come travel.
ers to suspect that the interior OF the
mountain is in close proximity to the
place known in literature as Hades.
EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.
Tonight at $3.50 O'Clock several slight
shocks of earthquake we're felt here.
Windows were ratified throughout the
city. The first shock was the most So.
vare. being accompanied by rumbling
noisss as OF q distant explosion, and
simultaneously . sheet Of fame was OBJ
served in the eastern heavens.
Inquiry tonight develops the fact that
several persons here saw the smoke
arising from Mount Tacoms this morn.
ing. Mrs. Lowell, an Iowa lady. visit
ing friends, says she saw at 7 O'Clock,
just before sunrise, q good-sizsd column
Of smoke rising from the mountain. Its
color was gray. She thought it rose too
rapidly to be cloud.
Prof. Fred G. Plummer, q local sci.
enlist who has made study of earth-
quake phenomena in the northw west,
says: "Old Hiaton, the oldest Indian
on the Puyallup reservation, said
through an interpreter before the Ia
coma Academy of Science on February
q, 1898, that he had many times seen
fire and smoke coming ont OF Mount
Tacoma. This was whom he was boy.
Gen. John @. Fremont reported on
November 13, 1843, that Mt. Tacoma was
in eruption. According 10 Prof. Holden
OF Lick observatory slight eruption Of
the mountain occurred October 10, 1873,
at 4p.m. In May, 1880. volumes OF
smoke were observed issuing from the
crater. On June II, 1884, jets OF steam
were observed shooting upward from
the mountain at intervals OF one min
ute. floating eastward. Steam WAS con-
tinually issuing from the crater's peak in
volumes varying with the height OF the
barometer.
1T is interesting to note" says Prof.
Plummer. that several Of the planets,
including the earth, are at present in
line. fact which bears out the theories
oi Prof. Alexis Perry and others that
auch conditions are favorable to earth
.quakes and volcanic phenomena.
Ihere have been 60 far 22 large
earthquakes throughout the world dur
ing tbs months Of Octohar and NOv0m.