St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-11-15
PHILIPPINES CRATER LAKE,
A. interesting Natural Curiosiey
That In to he Seen In the Neigh
borhood Of Mandla.

An interesting Natural Curiosityl
That In to BE Seen In tho Neigh .
borhood OF Mandla.
Now .natthe long-deferred tranquil
lily appears to have come to our Amer
lean orient a geological survey Of these
islands is likely to be made within Is
few years. This will bring to light
many natural wonders hidden away in
the jungles and mountain Businesses.
The location Of some Of these is al.
ready known to many army officers
and enlisted men, who have stumbled
upon them in the course OF military
operations, writes q correspondent Of
the Portland Oregonian.
It was my good fortune to be per-
mitted to join scouting party bound
for Batangas province. Our objective
point was incidentally, il practical le,s
the active volcano of Taal, situated
near the center Of . large lake Of the
same name. The trail from Silan t0s
Mount Gonzales is undressing; but.
once on the Talisay ridge and . seems
such as nature has not often dupliss
Gated on this planet bursts upon yonsl
Taking ones position near the bate
Of the mountain named, facing the
west, by southwest, and imagining
ones self on pivot, there is laid ont
before the beholder along an arc Of
more than 1870 degrees q view which IL
~ :l..1 :ly,,.% 80 %;nr, ~ :, In a rrAem
raphy; It is q veritable cyclorapaE
which, to be fully appreciated, Gone
zales should be scaled to the summit
Beginning at the supreme left the
eyes traverse quickly the tropical
plain of Lipa until the same is broken
square of by the sheer walls whicA
rise from the eastern shores Of Lake
Taal. The lake stretches away to thes
south, while out OF the center juts the
island whose smoking cones tell a. pn-ss
quenchable subterranean fires. ks1
is the crater lake Of the Philippdne III,
viewed from an altitude Of 1,5OO text.
The whole lake bed was once sea Of
fire and molten lava. Asdescent 81 four
miles brought us to the miserable VIII
lage Of Talisay, where the lake guns
boat Lexington awaited our arrival
We were aboard her in due time the
next morning, and in the early fore
noon were ashore on the island and al
work climbing toward the crater.
The grand crater is a full mile across,
| bowl in the summit with q thin,
ragged edge of lava and volcanic ashess
running all around. Its 500 feet to the
bottom of the basin. The floor is wrin-
killed. by series of concentric ridges atS
the bases OF which lie extensive de-
posits of green, yellow and white suls
phur. These ridges culminate in TIVE
vents very near each other, though not
directly in the center Of the amphi-
theater. Clouds Of smoke and sitting
vapors ascend from the tunnels.
A majority Of our party decided to
descend to the very edge Of the '.lbs.nw-
holes;" asked to be counted out.
remained with the guard who were
posted along the main ridge t0preyent.
a surprise from any bam of insurrec-
tos which might be lurking in the VI
cinity. The exploring party were
plainly visible at every step Of their
progress below. We saw officers and
men approach the edge 81 the black
and smoking shafts. A moment later
an earthquake shook the mountains.
A rumbling sound was distinctly
heard and tremendous explosion fol-
lowed. A great cloud OF smoke hid
officers and men from our view. We
caught a glimpse Of them 9 few sec
onds later: They had begun the r.
turn at double-quick. Some were near
ly overcome with the poisonous gases.
All were much exhausted when they
got out. They had not felt the earth-
quake, but the noise Of the explosions
was deafening. Capt. ellison said, with
| mock gravity: 81 can never again
doubt the existence Of hell, since have
| been there; shall never 60 there
again, if l can help It. !"
The volcano Of Taal has . written
history Of more than 200 years. On
several occasions it has been destruc-
tive to life and property. The original
cities of Lipa' and Taal were utterly
destroyed by an eruption which con-
tinued for several months in thu
eighteenth century. Ashes fell n
great quantities over wide areas. The
natives rightly connect the numerous
earthquakes which shake up surround
ing provinces with this volcano.
Mr.. Foreman, the historian d tn
Philippines, devotes pages of his work
to an account Of the most notable
eruptions. This forge Of Vulcan is 81