Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-26
OUR GREAT ACTIVE VOLCANO.
Latest Discoveries About Mt. Wran'
CELL, in Alaska.

Latest Discoveries About Mt. Wran.
CELL, in Alaska.
Only few years ago the necessarily
active volcano, Mt. Wrangell, in Alas
ka, was represented on all our maps rs
an isolated mountain situated in the
midst of a great snow covered plateau.
Almost nothing was known OF that in
land region, but Mt Wrangell had at
tracted attention because smoke was
always pouring from its summit.
Exploring parties of the United
ticularly active in this region for the
past three years and are at last able
to give much definite information
about it. 1t has been found that Mt.
Wrangell is not a solitary mountain,
but is in the midst of vast array Of
SUBMITS covered with snow and gla-
ciers and spread over an area of no
less than $500 square mile.
Within this area are at least 10
snowclad peaks 10000 feet or more in
height. Several of these are still I'M
named and two, Mt Sanford, 1920
feet, and Mt. Blackburn. 1910 feet,
are higher than Mt. Blanc or any of
the peaks within the United States
south of Canada. Mt. Wrangell. which
has attracted more attention than tho
others, because it is an active volca-
no. is third in altitude, $4,000 feet.
This entire mountain region, in the
basin of the Copper river. is now
known as the Wrangell group of noun.
tains. w. c. Mendenhall of the SUR
vey has an article on the group in the
latest number of the National Geo.
graphic Magazine. Among his illus
trations he gives a fine panoramic
view. about three feet long of the part
of the group which contains some Of
the highest SUBMITS.
| 1t is wonderful scene of the grim
NEST desolation, peak after peak ris-
| ing from high valleys, their black steep
| sides streaked with snow and the
higher elevations completely white
with it, and in the centre of the pic
| ture is Mt. Wrangell with it's column
| Of smoke.
But Wrangell itself is grand noun
tain, though dwarfed by the higher
cones of Sanford and Blackburn 1t is
wide-spreading cone nearly three
miles high and eight times as broad.
Its gently arched surface is glisten-
| ing snowfield, smudged here and there
| by volcanic ash from the crater, which
| sends up rolling columns of smoke and
vapor to height of three miles.
| From it's eastern slope descends tho
| Nabesna glacier, frozen river so miles
| in length. On it's western face dozen
| Jets of steam may be seen on a still
| morning issuing from as many vents
| The glaciers proceeding from the shall
! low valley where these vents occur are
| black with the breath of the mountain.
The summit has never been reached,
| though prospector named John Brem-
| ner declares that he got within milo
of the top.
But Mt. Wrangell may be assembled.
Mr.. Mendenhall thinks that some time
may elapse before the summit of Mt
Mckinley is reached, but he says it
will not be difficult feat to get to the
| top of Wrangell. The line of perpetual
snow is about $500 feet and the summit
rises 1900 feet above this. He describes
| four feasible routes of approach and
| thinks that the ascent of the only
known active volcano in the interior Of
| the continent north of Mexico may
| fell appeal to the hdrlu shrdlu shrdlu
we'll appeal to any mountaineer. All
the other active Alaskan volcanoes are
| on or near the seacoast.
The Wrangell mountains are for the
most part, masses of lava and volcanic
| earlier surface, burying the old land
| forms and substituting for them tho
present splendid group of mountains.
Sun.