Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-26
American Officer in Philippines Sees
Mayor in Eruption
BRILLIANT and IMPOSING sIGHf
More Fighting With FiIipinos
Around Legaspi as Base.
ETAILS OF CAMPAIGN

An officer now campaigning in the Phil
| ippines sends the following letter to a friend
| in this city. under date of Legaspi, p. l.,
March 3, 1900:
"Since this regiment left Camp Meade last
November We have had many experiences
and seen many wonderful things but moth
ing that will compare with the events OF the
last few days. I think have spoken before
in my letters TO you of the volcano Mayor
pronounced My-own with the accent on
the last syilabie). to which we usually refer
as our volcano. 1t has always impressed
us with Its grandeur and beauty its WON
derful symmetry and tremendous size. It's
height is. in round numbers. 5000 feet and
1t Is said to be not only the largest active
volcano in the world, but also the one hav-
ing the most perfect cone and peak. OF
course, with such great height, we can
only occasionally get a glimpse of the ex-
IRENE tip, except at sunrise. when, a
rule, the air Is so clear that the entire out
line stands out in all its symmetry with
great clearness and disttnctness. Our loca-
ton with reference to the volcano Is a trife
to the east. this town being located on the
beach OF the Pacific and about three miles
south of the base.
When we first arrived here Mayor was
apparently dead, and had been for two
years. In 81 there was an eruption, which
destroyed a town about five miles north of
Legaspi and killed several hundred natives
We arrived here on February 8. and saw no
signs OF volcanic life until about February
~. "a: On that day we made one Of our
hikes, passing around the base of the vol
cano, and going some distance up one of its
faces We thought we detected signs of
smoke little puffs. much like clouds. A day
or Two later these reappeared, but in greater
volume and there could be no mistake now
that they were really clouds Of smoke
Gradually they grew in size, and grew more
constant. but as there were no signs of Sc
RI hfnly fl,aH,r i
never amount to anything
The Volcano Wakes Up.
About noon on February o. however
the great furnace woke up and since that
time we have been treated to one of ma
lures most marvellous displays, and have
enjoyed all the magniffcence of a severe
eruption The first display was a tremen-
dous column of gray smoke, that poured out
IN steady stream fully half mile in diam
eter. and straight up into the air to an ap-
parent height of two or three miles The
day was beautiful one. sun shining and a
good breeze blowing in from the Pacific so
tnat the clouds were blown away from us
and we had an unobstructed view of the
mountain side from base to peak Toward
evening lava began to pour down the sides
ana just before the sun set several large
poulders (plainly discernible to the naked
eye) We're vomited out, and after being
ptched to very great altitude, fell ba ok and
rolled down the sides toward the sea To have
must have been of great size That dav mi
.he next the show continued, and we
tiioueht al times We could hear a hoarse
lumpiins sound. but it was transient and in
instinct. AT night the scene was a most
wonderful one. Great masses of flame shot
up INTO the ar and then died down again
"hue large bodies of molten lava dubbed
over the top and rolled. seething and smok-
ing, quickly down on every side
On March 1 the roaring sound became
au.ie a1sunc'' though muffled and appar-
ehtiy long way off-seemingy seward
IL gradually grew heavier and mere dis
,inct until today 1t grew so loud that AT
times one had to elevate the voice decfd-
ealy IN order to be heard by persons a very
SHOT. Instance away. Unfortunately. this
morning the wind died down entirely and
the ash clouds. in consequence settled
around us so densely as to obscure the SIM
ana produce the effect of twilight. Fine
IN heavy cloud all day and flter;ng
through everything, SO that we are pretty
well coated with it.