New-York tribune., 1911-10-01

REACHED Manila a few days after the
recent eruption Of the volcano Taal.
/ and thus was able to see, while IL was
.,ir fresh. much Of the havoc incident 70
tho great catastrophe and 10 appreciate
the horror OF the grim tragedy 10 an ex-
tent not possible TO later spectators.
on the day OF my arrival heard
graphic. II technical account OF the
disaster from member OF the Insular
bureau OF Science VINO with several
sciontsts Lad ascended the ominously
rumoIlng volcano on the day previous
10 the eruption and had observed the
latter from the little pueblo OF Tanuan,
A. a distance of fourteen miles. Later. I
hoard the story Of a man and his wife who.
esmucd upon the margin Of the lake, had
been cngufed 10y the tidal wave following
the eruption. from which they escaped in
trcir night clothes. through showers of hot
mud 20 d Filipino hut upon a nearby hill.
Graphic and exciting this also. and SO too.
tlo accounts which I heard during the FOL
loving days from some OF the refugees of
-rc ruined harrios along the western edge
o. tho AXE. where the loss OF lifc had been
So great
Bus an Of these accounts interesting as
trrv were. were the recitals Of people who
had been no nearer TO the dread centre Of
destruction Taal volcano itself than the
rim of the large lake from which il raises
ITS blunted cone Of ashen gray, with from
ftc 20 q dozen miles Of cool clear water
and ordant close growing jungle TO miu-
gate the first fury of the outburst.
A STORY AT FIRST HAND.
What Of the six or eight hundred people
who were known 20 have been upon the fer
tile little island at the time Of the great
eruption? n would be the story of some
ono n these. who had felt the beat Of the
lrsrf Of the great volcano who had stood
a. tho gate Of hell itself. that would be
rts.Iy worth hearing Where were all Of
these people? How vjvidly { recall tho dra-
matte answer which 7 received tho first
tfmo that 7 ventured 10 pvt that question
bad come afoot over The deep-worn.
uoor-t Jungle road from the railway sta
tor af Tanuan 70 a camp a. tho edge Of
lake Taal I'M the company of Lieutenant
o. philippine oonstabulary. and a. Q o'clocl,
iu Pho morning We had started Tor tho
island .n "a native "hanca
"-ra native vaccinator claims that no
scratched tho arms of close to 500 Teople
On TasI Island last spring no said. and
We believe that there could NOT have been
many Jess there tho night of the eruption.
$50 have heard" 7 cut IN. Where are
they an now I've inst been thinking how
interesting tho story OF many ~ those who
escaped would be-
Where a~o they 10 repeated. the lines
Of "a sad smile streaKinE his face for an
instant in tho gray light. Where are
t1eyr' He looked from the glinnerjnG
lg1, rne which was yoilovng behind the
eastern range of mountains 20 the blurred
mass OF opacity which was hulkiug higher
above the mist ahead. You wouldr have
asked that question five minutes from
now" he said presently There is where
they ara"-the words had the sting Of per
soma. hatred 90. tn,m-'there. He waved
his hand toward the blank blueness ahead
but before 70 had fallen again 70 the rail
cf the hanca The cloud which had veil7d
the segment of tho rising sun drew back
and r. was blank hJucucse no longer be-
led smooth. round tumble NJ gray cones
end ridges and hoIlow= ass devoid of trace
Of animal and vegetable mo as roiiot
map M ..at There" rc repeated and
10 ..r moment was too. wucn 1Wcd ~
ssk further Questions.