Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-12-27
MOUNTAIN VANISHES.
RISES FROM THE SEA. ONLY TO
QUICKLY DISAPPEAR.

RISES FROM THE SEA. ONLY TO
QUICKLY DISAPPEAR.
Officers of the revenue cutter fleet
that patrols Bering Sea are discussing
a new phenomenon.
Last July the startling discovery Was
made that an island had appeared over
night, coughed up by volcano in the
vicinity of Unalaska. Steam was issu-
ing from every pore and fissure. and
showers of lava dust sifted down upon
the heads of the revenue officers of the
steamer McCulloch, who sought to 60
ashore to raise the American flag above
the volcanic visitor.
Two efforts were made to land, one
in July and the other in August. but
the cooling process was slow, and the
bs filed officers decided to retire for two
months. Mean while they speculated
on the possibility of additions to Uncle
Sans island possessions. Possibly the
volcano might cough again.
1t was October Is when the McUul
loch visited the scene again. and the
remarkable transformation that had
occurred in the eight weeks is best de-
ecribed in the works of Lieut.. B. II.
Camden, whose report reached the
Treasury Department recently:
"Over the land there was no evl.
dence of the cloud that had hitherto
been visible for such great distance,
and it was evident that there was but
little steam escaping from Perry and
McCulloch' peaks. from which such
dense volumes escaped at the time of
the visit of this vessel in August.
II was somewhat prepared to OBJ
serve many interesting changes, even
to the upheavel of another peak, but
the first change that was observed was
at such variance with anything that
bad been expected that it was startling,
to say the least. McCulloch peak, 800
feet high, with q base 100 by 2,OOO
feet, had entirely disappeared. leaving
the half of Perry peak, with its per
pendicular wall. standing in grim sll.
ence. as headstone at the grave OF
the deserted peak. However. a nearer
view disclosed the fact that McCul
loeb peak had not died without strug
gle, or without leaving some evidence
OF its short existence. for astonishing
changes had occurred in the pro6les
of the peak. The rugged outlines had
been softened to general symmetry
by padding of lava dust that almost
disguised them beyond recognition,
while the sand spit connecting the
peaks had attained a height varying
from 20 to 100 feet.
''Incalculable tons of dust, hundreds
of feet in depth, tad been deposited
over the entire island. Fire Island and
Perry Peak now lowered Into the air
with gentle incline rising from the
beach, several hundred yards distant,
to their SUBMITS.
"At intervals mass of lava, dust
was Jared or blown from it's bed high
up among the rocks and came tearing
down the cliffs of the beach. As soon
as realized that this new development
was composed of lava dust, which was
easily recognizable at the short dis.
tance we we're then from the island,
my mind reverted Immediately to the
fall Of lava dust that occurred at Unal
aska September 1, 1907, about the
source of which there has been so
much contradictory Information given,
and the connection between the incl
dent and the tons of lava dust cover
ing the island was obvious.
"McCulloch Peak had blown up Ger.
tainly not more than few hours bef-
ore the fall of lava dust at Unalaska,
and this. there was the much disputed
source" F."