Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-17
WHAT A VOLCANO is.
ONE OF THE sTRANGEST OF
EARTH'S PHENOMENA.
Causes Which Lead TO Great Seismic
Disturbances that Have Proven
Menace TO Life Since the Beginuing
of Time.

many thousands Of lives were lost
owing TO a volcanic eruption OF Mount
Pelee. naturally turns the minds OF
many 10 the consideration of these
strange phenomena of nature whlch
have been menace TO life since the
beginning OF time. To the geologist
and scientist volcanic erupuons nave
long been a most interesting problem
and a source Of constant investigation.
There is every evidence TO prove that
these eruptions extend back through
ages and ages of the worlds life. IN
all parts OF the earth are found noun
tains and other land formations when
are the result of long prOtracted erup-
tlOns Of volcanoes.
Eminent authorities differ as to the
exact cause of these eruptions. seem
ingly from the bowels of the earth.
I he generally accepted opinion, how
ever, is that the metallic bases OF the
earth when brought into contact with
the waters of the ocean react violently,
generating a great amount of heat,
causing steam and giving rise to the
elements of the silicated minerals
which make up the volcanic rocks and
/ which are elected from the opening in
/ the earth's surface. The gaseous
/ products or vapors arising from this
| internal commotion are of sufficient
| strength to rend the earth's crust, thus
| causing earthquakes and way of es-
| cape for the solid and liquid materials
/ which are belched from the earth's in
| terror. Volcanic activity, though it be
/ continuous, differs very much in de-
| gree at different times. Nearly all Of
/ the active volcanoes have times of rel
| ative repOse. interrupted often at great
| intervals by periods of increased ac-
tivity which terminate in a violent
eruption. Thus it will be seen that
| Oftentimes that which is called an ex-
| tinct volcano is but a seething, roar
| ing mass Of burning lava below the
| surface which finally bursts forth and
in many instances with appalling loss
| of life.
! Whatever the remote cause of q vol
canic eruption may have been it is diff
| ticult to believe that the immediate
cause can be anything but a gigantic
| explosion of steam in the bowels of
the earth. 1t is known that water
| penetrates to considerable depths in
| the earth, even in the middle of conti-
nents. This water goes as deep as the
| gradually increasing heat of the planet
| VIII permit 1t to do while retaining
| the liquid form. When, however, il
encounters heat sufficient to liuuefy
| solid bodies, it is changed into super.
heated steam-a thing whose resistless
power deties the mightiest bonds, and
even the rocky crust of the earth can
not Withstand the explosive energy
that Is thus brought to bear upon il
The question often arises as to why
these explosions do not occur any.
where. Sometimes they do and then
( we have new volcano. Ordinarily.
however, the explosion occurs through
| the vent or throat of an already exist.
ing volcano because the weakest
/ points, or lines in the earth's crust are
| the places where new assures are like.
ly to be formed, and along these lines
or weakness the volcanoes stand like
rows or safety valves or chimnevs
On the American continent modern
volcanoes are limited to the Pacific
slope along which they may be traced
almost continuously from Cape Horn
to Alaska Great numbers of yolco.
noes occur throughout the Andas
AIountains, in South America. There
some attain immense heights. such as
Catopaxi' in Peru, which reaches an
elevation of 1880 feet above the level
OF the sea. The volcanoes of Central
America and of Mexico are numerous
anu conspicuous. Throughout the
Aleutian Islands, on the north, the belt
OF volcanoes in Western America 10
connected with those of Kamcbotl,o
which, with those OF Kuriles. In Jonon
and of the Philippines, form q cboin
VI volcanic vents to the East Indian
archipelago. Thus it will be seen tb,t
a complete circle of volcanoes s,,,,
rounds the Pacific Ocean. This 10 .
noticeable fact in the history of vol
canoes-their general linear arranea-
1 ment.
volcanoes differ greatly among tbam.
selves, not only in dimensions bnt in
the degree of their activity. the oman.
tity and quality of materials aiaotns
from them, and the continuous or ~,
termittent character of their act,an
For more than 2,OOO years. for ~
stance, the volcano StromboI IN .hs
Mediterranean, has been constan. ne
discharging lava. vesuyius on 49,,
other hand, had lain dormant for oaae ane
prior to the beginning of the Cbristion
era, when its discharges of lava ana
ashes buried the cities of Pomnei, a ana
Herculaneum. anu
The many formations Of ,os
throughout the world which are.s,ha
result Of volcanic eruptions are a Nc
~ composed of lava. This mo,ov,a,
which, during its exit from tba laa,' n'a,I
OF the volcano resembles nao,.I
| maSc ic hnt