Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-12-01
MONTHS OF TERROR
Destruction Wrought by Phillip
pine Volcano.
Greatest Eruption Of TaaI Recorded
In 1754-Four Towns and Numer-
GUS Small Villages Were
Wiped Out.


The central or main crater of Taal
Is nearly round, its diameter on an
air line north and south is 6,233 feet
and the east-west diameter is 7,546
feet, The edge of this crater is some
what irregular, but is nowhere brok-
en- through, It's highest point standing
at only 1850 feet above sea level and
It's lowest at 426 feet.
1t Is said that Coshima, in Japan, is
the only other volcano of similarly
low altitude. Within the rim are two
hot pools, known respectively as the
yellow and the green lake, and little
active cone above so feet in height,
from which escape steam and sulphur
GUS gas In varying quantities.
In the smaller lake every few min
utes the water in the center is blown
up like an immense bubble, which, ris-
ing above the surface, finally bursts,
revealing a black orif1ce and causing
the boiling and very turbulent water
to assume all imaginable colors. The
aqueous vapor escaping is sufficient to
form a broad, smokeike column
which is visible especially during the
night and in the early morning.
At some distance, and before reach
ing the edge of the crater, where a
view of the bottom can be obtained.
the rumbling sound produced by the
escaping vapor, under the influence Of
the mysterious subterranean forces,
can be heard like that Of an immense
boiling kettle.
The greatest eruption Of Taal took
place In 1754. 1t consisted Of only
fragmental ejecta, but these we're suf-
ficient to destroy four villages lying
about the lake. 'The ash" Semper
says, has now indurated and a new
growth Of bamboo and palms has
sprung up around the projecting ru-
ms" Father Buencuchillo wrote also
pathetic description of this eruption,
from which the following is taken:
THE eruption began on May 1S and
did not end till December 1. During
this time the intensity and aspect Of
the eruption were continually chang
ing. It was 200 days o. devastation
and ruin for the inhabitants, to whom
the time must have appeared an eter-
nifty. During this terrible time the
four principal towns of the laguna Of
Bombon disappeared, Wis, Sala, Lipa,
Tanauan and Taal, with the numer-
GUS villages around them"
~ L. 4Aa
beautiful coloring effects caused by
the different mineral deposits on the
walls and cliffs OF the crater.
AS the lake is fed from underground
springs and no surface water drains
into 1t, II is as clear as crystal and
much cooler than sea water and has
an abundance of fine, hard-heshed fish
which are highly esteemed by the Fill
pinos of the region. They are game
fish and some reach size that makes
their capture with light tackle a mat
ter Of some difficulty.
The clear water of the lake has an
other marvel that is well worth see
ing. Some comparatively modern
eruptlons of the volcano covered some
towns, in two of which only the
church roofs are visible. Others are
completely submerged and on days
when the surface of the lake is un-
ruffied one can look down and see
the fish dart through doors and win
dows Of once populous barrios. The
water is % feet deep, but so clear that
every detail is visible.