Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-03
ALASKA VOLCANO IS ACTIVE
Eruption Of Mount Blackburn in Southeastern
Portion Of the Territory.
THRILLING ACCOUNT OF AN EYEWITNESS
Substance Thrown from the Crater
Not Even warm, but Consists
OF Dust, Rocks and
Earthly Matter.

SEATTLE, Wash. June 2.-There was an
eruption Of Mount Blackburn. southeastern
Alaska. on April ii.
A special to the Times from skagway,
under date OF May rs, says
Accounts Of a most thrilling nature re-
garding the volcanic action Of a supposed
harmless mountain in Alaska we're brought
to this city by ]. c. Mcfarland this after
noon.
Seven weeks ago a slight earthquake
shock was felt in all parts OF Alaska and
until today the phenomenon has been unex-
planned.
Mr.. Mcfarland, who is a geologist, hap
pened to be within a few miles Of Mount
Blackburn. This story is best told in Mr..
McFarland's language.
On April IL, about 1880 in the morning,
l was Just packing my cooking utensils
when the air about me suddenly became
oppressive with a distinct ana uncommon
ferent wlids / had become used to many
strange freaks Of nature. but, this one APP
palled me: l was in a rough, mountain
miles from the base Of Mount Blackburn. in
southeastern Alaska. not far from the
f fesTsin ies P faee on OF the the EEl oftS PS w9iSh' oe as it
is called Muir glacier.
Peak of Mountain opens.
Suddenly the earth beneath my feet
shook; a low, rumbling sound accompanied
f BIscf 9SgaE1nsis uddeb sIlan e seemed up a. a. Mount Y int
peak had opened and ;he points burst out.
A cloud of ashes and smoke shot into the
seemed to flow from the opening in the
top a stream of dirty stun, mixed with
large and small boulders. This continued
ceased as suddenly as It had begun. The
air cleared and then nature seemed again
to wear her CHEEKY smile.
1t was three daV9. after many nerilOtl9
attempts, before l succeeded in reaching
the base Of the mountain. Then l discov-
been affected. The small underground OF
trees had been entirely covered up. This
stun, which poured from the top of the
TO consist purely of dust, rocks and earthly
substances. l stayed IN the spot only a
AS near as 1 can find out this mountain
had never been considered of a volcanic
nature.
Testimony of Others.
Passengers from Cooks Inlet, who arrived
by the steamer Chico, confirm previous
rumors Of another eruption of Redoubt vol
cano, which is situated on the west side,
about forty miles northwest of Hanna.
Among them was A. c. Losey OF Tacoma,
who has been in the employ of the Trans
Alaska company and who saw the present
eruption. He sailed from niamna on the
morning OF May g.. From Hanna only
heavy smoke was to be seen in the direc-
tion Of Redoubt. but they knew that the vol
cano was in eruption again. Precipitous
mountains shut of the view until Chico
was reached twenty miles or so on theil
trip up the inlet. when the show became
thrilling. Dense black clouds covered the
entire region, spreading entirely over
Cooks Inlet. At times the smoke directly
over the volcano region was lightened tc
a dark gray, but no flames were seen dur.
ing the day and no ashes reached the ship
but when evening fell bright flames flashed
up and lighted the whole sky in that direc.
tion. The ships course out Of the inlet
left the volcano directly to the westward
at which point, Mr.. Losey says, Their,
seemed a continuous sheet Of FIRE rising
probably miles high.