The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-06-02
G on no NRA/NQE

"a started for the Taal volcano,
bright and early. 1t was nee
essary to start from shore in
bancas and to crawl from them into a
little steam launch, and to board it as
it bobbed up while the bancas dipped
low in the trough of the swells re-
Quired an aCrobatic feat of no small
merit, but once on board the 16-horse
power engine drove us rapidly to our
destination.
Lake Bombon has an area of $50
square miles. Some scientists be-
lieve that it originated in the collapse
of a volcanic cone; others think that
1T may have been formed by an explo-
sion. Out of it's center rises Volcan
island, which Is four and a half miles
in diameter and comprises several
small extinct craters and a main GEN.
trail and active one, which is known
as Taal volcano. Seen from a distance
the green at it's base is imperceptible
and the sight is an impressive one. On
every side of the lake are high peaks
clothed in brilliant green, and the APP
p%earance of the CHASTITY gray cone out
Of the dancing waters is like death at
an al fresco fete.
After landing on the island 1t takes
talf an hours walk through winding
paths, STOPPING to escape the sharp
mesquite branches, bending low under
the tortuous arms of banyan trees, and
skirting the sides of wild hogs wal
lows before emerging on a clearing
from where the ascent begins in earn
est over rugged volcanic rock and
~scoriae. After 20 minutes hard climb
ing the summit is reached, whence a
good view of the crater may be OBJ
tanned. Standing on its edge, the view
is over an elliptical plain 1867 feet in
its greatest diameter from east to
west, and $3.50 feet in it's lesser from
north to south. A solid ridge of rock
runs through the middle of the crater,
terminating at one end in a pool CO.
/vered with a yellow film of sulphur,
where seething bubbles break the sur
face.
On one side of this ridge the stag
nant waters of another pool are broken
by occasional ripples, while at ones
ISSI ollSIShSo q pldlh u Iluu IN u
phur Astounding in treacherous quick,
sands; here and there large indenta.
lions in it's surface show where bowl.
ders have recently been swallowed up
Farther along two lagunas bubble
angrily, from both of which heavy
spouts of boiling water and clouds OF
steam rise at regular intervals. The
level of these pools is approximately
that of Lake Bombon itself, and here
Is the volcanoes center of activity. The
huge volumes of steam are accompa
MED by a muffied roar and the kissing
of boiling water may be plainly heard
while pounding and splashing indicate
that rocks are ascending and descend
ing, although they usually cannot bt
seen on account of the dense clouds
On the southwest side the crater
wall rises steep and forbidding to
height of 1907 feet above Lake Bonn
bon. Its summit at this point is rug
ged and up the gray sides jets o
steam isue constantly, gentle remind
ers of latent possibilities. To the nortl
the walls, glowing with marvelou
colors, tower 7S0 feet above the in
terror lake. The suns rays sparkling
over the pink and orange-tinted rock
delight the eye, while the green's an,
blues blend gently into the shadows
making a most fantastic picture.
Distances here are most deceptive
A stone thrown with full force fror
the summit, in the direction of the Ia
guna, instead of crossing the sea c
mud and dropping into he foamin
waters will presently be heard dasf
ing against the side of the cliff under
meath, and that, too, when there !
no breeze to thwart its course.
The priests of Taal have chronicle
the many eruptions of this volcano
The earliest known published refel
ence to it Is by Father Gaspar de Sa
Augustin, written in 1880. The frs
historic outbreak is placed in 1872. |
1716 and 1871 much damage was don
and in 1749, during an outbreak whic
lasted three weeks, the land al far
Calamba, in Laguna de Bay, was d
yided with tremendous noise. Batanga
province Is scanned with great later;
chasms, originating in this perio
whose singular beauty makes the
one OF the most interesting sights
the country. They make a charmir
variation in the landscape, with wavir
= bamboos growing up their sides, al
here and-tie1e a mantle Of purp
morning glories screening a shal
angle, while away down in their co
depths quantities of ferns grow alor
the course of a gentle stream.
The greatest outbreak Of Taal VI
cano occurred in 1854, when the v
lagos Of Taal, Lipa and Tannan, {
sAe0 DID ms Nos2er Of Lake Bomho
disappeared. 1t began on May IL al