The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-12-10


blown up certainly not more than a
few hours before the fall Of lava dust
at Uuaaska, and this, then. was the
much disputed source.
There had been an unusual erup-
tion of water into the crater beneath
it, tremendous pressure instantly
created and a shower Of rocks mud
and dust hurled high into the air, the
latter being carried with the prevail
ing winds and scattered over the Aleu-
tian Islands to the southwark from
their beaches to the SUBMITS of the
lortiest volcanoes
Mount Makushin. with an elevation
of 1861 feet. is an active volcano, sit
uated on Unalaska Island AT q point
about forty miles east Of Bogoslof ISL
and II is said that there rs q sub
terranean connection between the two
volcanoes, but the theory has no re-
liable foundation, and is hardly tenable
as the activity of the one does not pro-
duce any noticeable activity on the
part Of the other. However, as has
been previously stated, after the fall OF
lava dust at Unalaska, there was much
discussion as to the origin Of il. some
of the natives claiming that it had
come from a volcano on Umnak Island,
in which they were supported by the
direction of the wind at the time the
fall Of the dust occurred. Others, in
the vicinity Of Unalaska, claimed that
Mount Makushin was responsible for
the shower. But the natives of Ka-
sega bay stated that they had seen an
immense cloud Of dust over BOgoslof
Island. which was thrown to a great
elevation and carried in various di-
rections by counter currents OF the
higher attitudes Consequently the
direction from which this cloud Of lava
dust approached the earth was no evil
dence as to the direction Of its source.
While Mount Makushin was OBJ
served to be covered with lava dust, so
were all the surrounding mountains,
and to Lieut. Camden it seems there
can be but little doubt that the deposit
was belched from Bogohlof Island when
the explosion Of McCulloch peak oc-
Cured
No attempt was made to land on ac-
count of the heavy surf Had a land
ing been effected but little could have
been accomplished, as the lava dust
lay many feet in depth over the island
and would have proved but little bet
ter than quicksand to traverse.
From the northern side of the isl
and a small jet of steam escaping from
the apex Of Perry peak was visible
while over the more elevated portion
of the sand spit thin vapor was dis,
cernible, which was correctly sur
missed as later proved as arising from
lake or bay occupying the old site OF
McCulloch peak
"As the McCulloch steamed arounC
the northwest end Of the islanC
the increased width of the island be
came apparent and bearings were
taken from which its widest points
were plotted
When opposite Castle rock the shil
came upon the lagoon whose existence
had been suspected and for which al
had been looking Through the open
ing a deep bay over half mile in dia
meter could be seen extending to tn
base Of Perry peak, from the surfac
of which steam slowly rose in con
siderable quantities.
"'rhe northern banks Of this inle
were PERCEPTIONS and estimated to b
100 feet high At one or two point
ON the bank there seemed to be un
usual activity, and one as the men o.
the ship RACED dense cloud of smok
arose with a rush as if fired from
cannon, but there was no report
"A thick deposit Of sulphur was no
ticeable ON the beach and its fume
could be detected two miles away
Bogoslof Island was the picture q
desolation before the disappearance q
McCulloch peak but at the presen
time the spit adjacent to the site q
the vanished peak has the appearance
of a battlefield, ON which chaos reign
supreme, the huge rocks the discolol
alton of the sulphur ON the proiectin
eiecla, half buried in the lava dus
and the escaping steam require but
slight stretch OF the imagination t
be motamurphused into the corpses @
soldiers lying In the blood shed durin
phc hattie from which the smoke ha
not vet cleared
Judging from iJs chaotic aud sub
dued appearance the land has won hu
second place in the contest OF 1907 he
tween lhr Two elements but there nc
main two months of the year and
rs difficult Iu pruphr5y what new de-
yelopmeuts may occur before the ca
piwuuu of that time. ur aI what pou
tho sluuggle may hy renewed
The previous vppr. uf lIeul Cam
D. H.....