Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-02-06
PHILIPPINE VOLCANOES.
Some Interesting spouters In Our
Annexed Islands.

Mostofthesmall Philippine Islands,
IL not the entire group, are OF vol
canic origin. There are many vol
canoes, two Of which are almost con
stantly active. The Mayon. in the
extreme eastern part of Llizon, and
the Taal volcano, on an island in the
center of Bombon Lake, thirty -four
miles south of Manila.
The Mayon volcano, sometimes
called the Albay volcano, because
situated in the province Of Albay, is
computed 10 be between S20O and
84OO feet in altitude. 1t is not pos
sible to reach the crater because OF
the almost perpendicular walls OF
lava formed on the slopes. Around
its base are several towns and vii
lagos, the largest being Albay, the
capital of the province Around il
also are Camaling, Malinao, Tabaco,
Cagsaua Daraga and others. In
1869 there was a serious eruption,
which destroyed two towns and sew
eral villages. Lava and ashes were
thrown out constantly during two
months, and property was destroyed
within a radius Of twenty miles. In
1871 there were indications of an
eruption, which failed. however, to
materialize. But on February |,
1914, without warning, it burst forth
in tremendous violence. Stones and
ashes were hurled distance Of
twenty miles, and there was fright
ful destruction of life and property.
Many natives were overtaken by
streams of lava, and it is estimated
that from this cause aud falling pro-
iectiles more than 2200 people lost
their lives and many We're wounded.
A slight eruption took place in 1887,
but resulted in but slight damage.
A severe eruption took place on the
9th of July, 1899, and several vii
lagos were destroyed, as were also
many hundreds of domestic animals;
fifteen natives lost their lives.
In May, 1897, occurred the last
eruption. Again showers II red
hot lava fell over radius OF twenty
miles, and in the immediate vicinity
over 400 persons were killed. Homes
in the village Of Bacacay were en-
tirely buried beneath lava, ashes
and sand. In Tabaco total darkness
obtained, and the earth opened. In
Libog more than 100 people perished
in the ruins. The villages of San
Rogue, Misericordia. and Santo Nino
were entirely covered with debris
and their population destroyed
AT night time the sight of the fire
column, heaving up thousands of
tons of stones accompanied by noises
like the booming of cannon afar OFF,
was indescribably grand, but it was
the greatest public calamity which
had befallen the province for some
years past.
Taal volcano is on Vulcan Island,
in Bombon Lake, Batangas province,
and by ordinary route OF travel
about sixty miles from Manila. 1t
has been in an active state from time
immemorial and many eruptions,
more or less severe, have taken
place. The first one Of which his
tory takes cognizance. occurred in
1911 in l716 the crater vomited fire.
with a deafening noise. On Septem-
Der q, 17l6. it threw out burning
stones and lava over the entire is
land upon which it stands, but thus
far there is no record of serious
damage having fallen upon the viii
lagos in the vicinity. In 1871 there
arose, in four days, from the waters
of the lake, three tall columns of
earth and sand, which, subsiding
eventually, formed an island abouta
mile in circumference. In l749
there was a tremendous outburst
that tore asunder the conform peak
of the volcano. disclosing the crater
as il is now.
The most desolating ofall its erup-
tions occurred in 1854, when stones,
lava, ashes and waves OF the lake,
caused by volcanic action, utterly
destroyed Taal, Tanauan, Sala, I ipa
and ruined much property at Bala-
yan, eighteen miles away. An old
manuscript declares that people in
Manila dined with lighted candles
ct midday and walked around the
streets confounded and thunder
struck, and that the odor Of sulphur
and fire pervaded the atmosphere
for six months after the event, and
was followed by a malignant fever
that resulted in the death of more
than one-half Of the inhabitants OF
the province
The parish priest Of Sala was an
eyewitness 20 the event In the
manuscript report of the eruptions
now in the archives of the corpora
aion st. Augustine in Manila, he
says that ut about III O clock at night