Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-01
A PHILIPPINE VOLCANO.
The Craters and Hot Pools Of Taal In
luzon.

The central or main crater of Taal
is nearly round, it's diameter on an air.
line north and south is 6,233 feet and
the eastwest diameter 1916 feet. The
edge of this crater is somewhat ire
gular, but is nowhere broken 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 yell
low and the green lake, and little ac-
tive cone above so feet in height, from
which escape steam and sulphurous
gas in varying quantities.
In the smaller lake every few min
utes the water in the centre is blown
up like an immense bubble, which ris-
ing above the surface finally bursts.
revealing a black orifice and causing
the boiling and very turbulent water
to assume all imaginable cOlors. The
aqueous vapor escaping is sufficient to
form a broad. smokelike 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
view of the bottom can be obtained, the
Gaping 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 1854. 1t consisted Of only
fragmental ejecta, but these were 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
ruins" Father Beuncuchillo wrote
also a pathetic description Of this
eruption, from which the following is
taken:
THE eruption began on May 13 and
did not end till December l. During
this time the intensity and aspect of
the eruption were continually chang
ing. 1t was 200 days of 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
Bimbon disappeared, viz, Sala. Lipa,
Tanauan and Taal, with the numerous
villages around them"
1t is impossible to describe the beau
tiful cOlOring effects caused by the diff
ferent mineral deposits on the walls
and cliffs Of the crater.
AS the lake Is fed from underground
springs and no surface water drains
into it, it is as clear as crystal and
much cooler than sea water and has an
abundance of fine, hard fleshed fish
which are highly esteemed by the Fill
ipinos of the region. They are game
fish and some reach a 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 seeing.
Some comparatively modern eruptions
of the volcano covered some towns, in
two of which only the church roofs are
visible. Others are completely sub
merged and on days when the sur
face of the lake is unruffled one can
look down into the streets of these
submerged towns and see the fish dart
through doors and windows of once
populOus barrios. The water is twen-
ty-five feet deep. but so clear that ev-
cry detail is visible.-Manila Times.