The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-17
THE VOLCANO OF TAAL.
FORGE OF VULCAN NOT FAR
FROM MANILA.
Has History of More Than 200 Years
tury-Lives and Property Lost.

1t was my good fortune to be per-
mtted TO join a scouting party bound
for Batangas province. Our objective
point was incidentally the active vol
canO of Taal, situated near the center
of large lake of the same name. The
trial from Silan to Mount Gonzalves is
undressing; but once on the Talisay
ridge and a scene such as nature has
not often duplicated on this planet
bursts upon you. Taking ones posi-
ton near the base of the mountain
named, facing the west, by southwest,
and imagining oneself on pivot, there
is laid out before the beholder along
an arc of more than $50 degrees, a view
which is the ideal illustration of ply
steal geography; it is a veritable CYCLIC
rama which to be fully appreciated,
Gonzalves should be scaled to the sum-
init.
Beginning at the supreme left the
eyes traverse quickly the tropical plain
of Lipa until the same is broken square
off by the sheer walls which rise from
the eastern shores of Lake Taal. The
lake stretches away to the south while
out of the center juts the island whose
smoking cones tell of unquenchable
substerranean fires. This is the Cra
ter lake of the Philippines, viewed
from an altitude of $50 feet. The whole
lake bed was once a sea of fire and
molten lava. A descent of four miles
brought us to the miserable village of
Talisay, where the lake gunboat Lex
ington awaited our arrival. We were
aboard her in due time the next morn
ing and in the early forenoon were
ashore on the island and at work climb
ing toward the crater.
The grand crater is a full mile across
bowl in the summit with thin, rag
ged edge of lava and volcanic ashes
running all around. 1t is 500 feet to
the bottom of the basin. The floor is
wrinkled by a series of concentric rid
ges at the bases of which lie extensive
deposits of green, yellow and white sui
phur. Those ridges eliminate in two
vents very near each other, though not
directly in the center of the amphi-
theater. Clouds of smoke and shining
vapors ascend from the tunnels.
A majority of our party decided to
descend to the very edge of the blow
holes" l asked to be counted out"
remained with the guard who were
posted along the main ridge to pre-
vent a surprise from any band of in
surrectOs which might be lurking in
the vicinity. The exploring party were
plainly visible at every step of their
progress below. We saw officers and
men approach the edge of 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 Of
ticers and men from our view. We
caught a glimpse of them a few sec
onds later. They had begun the return
at double-quick. Some were nearly
overcome with the poisonous gases. All
were much exhausted when they got
out. They had not felt the earthquake,
but the noise of the explosion was deaf
ening. Captain ellison said with mock
gravity: Il can never again doubt the
existence of hell since l have been
there; l shall never go there again, if
l can help it,"
The volcano of Taal has a 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 seven months in the 18th
century Ashes fell in great quantities
over wide areas. The natives rightly
connect the numerous earthquakes
which shake up surrounding provinces
with this Volcano Mr.. Foreman, the
historian of the Philippines, devotes
pages of his work to an account of the
most notable eruptiOns. This forge of
Vulcan is "a miles from Manila as the
crow nies-Portland Oregonian.