The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-09-14
FIERCE ERUPTION
IN NORTH PACIFIC
SAND AND ASHES BELCHED
FORTH FALL THICK OVER
THE LAND.
POPULATION LIVING IN THE OPEN
Cutter Rush Close to Scene of the
Outbreak of Mount
Makushin.
POPULATION LIVING IN THE OPEN

SEATTLE, Wash, Sept. 13.-Vol-
canic eruptions, accompanied by a
terrific electric storm and slight seis-
mic disturbances, occurring Septem-
Der 1st, threw the entire population
consisting of whites and natives liv-
ing among the Aleutian islands, Alas
ka, into a state of terror for several
hours while tons of gray black sand
and askes fell upon the land as far
as the eye could reach. A difference
of opinion prevails among those is
lands as to which volcano was in
eruption to the southwest of Dutch
Harbor. Some of the inhabitants OF
the village are of the opinion that
the eruption was from Mt. Makushin,
situated some twenty miles to the
southwest of Dutch Harbor Others
believe that it was from one of the
volcanoes situated on Umnak island,
still further to the southwest.
The first word of the eruption
reached Seattle from Dutch Harbor
today by the steamship Victoria.
When the hail of ashes descended up
on Dutch Harbor the inhabitant fled
from their homes in terror. Many of
the natives ran through the village
streets screaming that the world was
about to come to an end. The first
intimation of the eruption came
shortly after o'clock, when a slight
quivering of the earth was followed
by heavy detonations. Shortly after
ward heavy black clouds were seen
far 10 the southwark, and it was
Al INxrf 1,o J,n hi tsDr re
of Dutch Harbor that it was merely
an electrical storm approaching.
Gradually the black pail crept up
over the surrounding mountains, and
then the people were first mystified,
then terrorized. to discover tiny par
ticles of sand falling about the hous-
es and upon the streets. No deserts
mark the wastes of the islands, and
the people familiar with the sur
rounding country knew not the
source of the sand. By o'clock the
village was in darkness.
Caught under the brow Of Mount
Makushin, the United States revenue
cutter Rush, Captain A. Ainsworth,
which was returning from the Prib-
iloff islands, was buried above decks
with the sand and ashes. The vessel
was anchored off Cape Makuskin at
1870, where the men were allowed to
fish for cod for fresh food. The YES
sci ran under the lee of Cape Maku-
shin and dropped her kedge anchor
Within a few moments a great black
cloud, inky black, belched forth from
the mountain, spreading over the sea
for miles. Although but brief time
before broad daylight reigned over
the sea, it was necessary to turn on
the electric lights aboard the vesse
in order to see properly.
Officers of the Rush surmised that
volcanic eruption had taken place
but could give no definite informa'
ton as to the exact location owing
to the fact that it was impossible to
penetrate the gloom. A suffocatine
odor of sulphur fumes indicated that
the vessel was not far from the
source of the volcano, and it was this
fact which led many aboard her to
believe that the disturbance came
from Mount Makushin. This theory
was borne out by officers of the cut.
ter Perry, which arrived in Dutch
Harbor one day after the Rush, who
stated that smoke could be seen is
suing from Makushin when the Perry
was approaching the entrance tc
Dutch Harbor.
From officers of the Rush it was
also learned that Mount Akutan, sit
uated on the north side of Unimal
pass, was also in eruption. FLAMES
and smoke could be seen issuing
from that peak as the vessel came in
| to the harbor