The Yellowstone journal., 1894-11-23
VOLCANIC
Mount Tacoma Shows Signs
of Spouting Fire
and Lava.
~ Has Had Like symptoms In Previous
Times, 50 says the Oldest Red
Man Out There.


ment has been caused throughout the
Puget sound country by what is looked
upon as an eruption Of Mount Tacoma,
or Rainer, 1i.iI4 feet high. and one Of
the loftiest peaks in the United States.
The mountain has lately been strangely
transformed. The crest OF the great
monarch Of the Cascades has changed,
the cone having fallen in and steam can
be seen rising 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 Of the crater. The changed
appearance OF the mountain is evident
from the streets Of Seattle. sixty-five
miles distant. and thousands Of people
have watched the great peak all after
noon. But very few people have ever
assembled the mountain. and at this sea
son ascension is an absolute impossible
ity. 80 there is no way OF making thor
ough investigation of the phenomenon.
Soon after sunrise this morning, the
sky and air being remarkably clear.
clouds and black smoke were curling
from The southwestern part OF the peak.
where the crater il located, coming at
intervals OF about fifteen seconds. The
dome-like top had disappeared and been
replaced by fiat top with large crev-
asse extending down the side. while in
the center of lite summit a new peak had
appeared on the northern side. The
snow was all gone from the summit. as
though melted off. and some falling
masses OF rock. stripped OF :their white
covering, could be plainly discerned.
Steam is also seen mingling with smoke.
which rose loo feet above the summit.
Mount Rainer is a cone shaped peak
and stands slightly to the west OF the
main Cascade range. sixtyfive miles
southeast Of Seattle. 1t rises fully 1900
feet above the range. 1t has three era
tiers, OF which the principal and most
perfect is the scene Of the present vol
canic disturbances This crater is half
a mile across with walls OF rock fifty feet
high and thousands Of jets Of hot air
and steam issue from this rim. The in.
side Of the crater is filled with snow and
ice. in which smsldering volcanic steam
and steam jets have formed in innmer-
able caves. one OF which has been pene
trated by explorers to depth lof 100
feet. while they have used steam jets for
cooking.
1t is supposed that the walls of the
crater having been'grsdually weakened
at the base have fallen leaving the peak,
composed OF rock on which a snowy
cone named Columbus crest had formed
and that the internal fires thus free
have burst forth in new vigor. The
eruption became hidden by clouds soon
after a. m.
TACOMA, Wash. Nov 22.-Tonight at
$50 o'clock several slight shocks of
earthquake we're felt here. Windows
ratified throughout the city. The first
shock was most severe, being accompan-
led by rumbling nois-s, as Of distant ex-
plosion. and simultaneously sheet Of
flame was observed 10 the eastern heav-
ems. Inquiry tonight develops the fact
that several persons here saw the smoke
arising from Mount Tacoma this morn
ing.
Prof. Plummer, az local scientist who
has made special0study. OF earthquake
phenomena in the northwest. says: "Old
Naotian, the Oldest Indi an on the Puy-
allup reservation, said through an inter
prefer before the Tacoma academy Of
science. in February, 1898. that he had
many times seen fire and smoke coming
out Of Mount Tacoma. This was when
he wac . boy. Gen. John Fremont re-
ported, in November. 1S4S. that Mount
Tacoma was in eruption. According to
Brof. Holden. Of the Lick observatory,
violent eruption OF the mountain oc.
Cured Oct. IS. 1873. at four p. N. In
May, 1850, volumea iof smoke we're oh.
served Issuing from theecratsr. On June
IL. 1854, jets OF steam were observed
shooting upward from the mountain 1t
intervals Of one minute.
1T 10 interesting to nots," says Prof
Plumnsr. that several planets. includ-
ing the earth. arc st present in line. =
fact which bears out the theory Of Proe.
Alexis Perry and others that such con-
ditions are favorable to earthquakes and
volcanic phenomsnon. Thsrs have besu
- fer tvsnty-two large earthquakes
throughout the world during the months
of October and November of the present.