The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-31
Government Reports Show Ap-
palIing Loss of Life During
Cataclysm in Philippines.
SOME SURROGATE in RED
HOT ASHES FROM VOLCANO
Tidal Wave Follows, Destroy
ing Five Villages in Twink
ling of All Eye.

MANILA, Jan. 31.-Latest govern
ment reports confirm the previous re-
ports that three hundred persons were
killed by the earthquake and eruption
of Mount Taal. No Americans are
among the number.
1t is impossible to estimate how
many natives on the west shore were
buried in the ashes, but it is known
that twenty-one were suffOcated and
five fatally burned.
The organized relief expedition now
has charge of the situation. A major
ity of the inhabitants were driven to
snfety on Friday and Saturday
Five villages were obliterated and
three partly destroyed by a twelve-foot
wave which followed the early shocks.
Coincident with this u superheated blast
from the volcano practically cremated
those who escaped drowning.
Lemoy and Taal are believed to have
been destroyed. Many members of the
constabulary were prostrated while at
tempting to rescue natives who were
unwilling to abandon their homes. Many
deep assures have opened on the north
shore and preliminary soundings indi-
cate that the lake bottom is sinking.
The volcano is mildly active and
earth shocks continue frequently.
Relief Train Sent.
A constabulary relief detachment re-
ports twelve persons were drowned and
one Killed by lightning at Talisay, and
that three persons were drowned at
Lemerv. The government is hurrying
n relief train to the scene
An American school teacher who has
traversed the west shores of Lake Taal
telegraphs that FIVE small villages were
DESTROYED by the tidal wave and that
not less than 300 persons have been
killed in that vicinity. Many we're
burned In fires started by molten mass.
All OF the towns within radius of
twenty miles were more or less dam
aged by the shower of mud and stones
The eruptIons continued today. The
sky -as cloudloss and there was no
wind, but the muddy rain fell stead
lily. The natives have abandoned
their village homes in the vicinity of
Lake Taal and sought refuge in the
surrounding hills
Mount Taal rises in the center of
Lake Taal. body of water not more
than fifteen miles in circumference. IT
is thirty.four miles from this city,
from. which dense clouds of smoke ris-
ing from the crater are plainly visible.
The observatory authorities believe
that Manila is in no danger, but there
is some alarm among the natives, who
recall the destruction occasioned by
Mount Mayor, the other volcano of
Luzon, in 1897. So far, however. it
has shown no threatening disturbance.
Island Sinks Five Feet
Investigators of the bureau of sci
ence report that with the first violent
eruption of Taal on Saturday the vol
canic island appeared to sink five feet
and the waters of the lake rising swept
the shores mile inland, carrying
away the bamboo shaeks and catching
a score of natives. Others living in
the vicinity had taken warning and
dcd, The towns of Taal, Lomery and
Talisay suffered the most.
Mount Taal rises 1901 feet from the
center of Lake Taal, province Of Ban
tangas, Luzon. 1t is the second vol
cano of Importance in Luzon and has
preceding the present one since 1909.
Tt has been more or less active from
time immemorial, It's most destruc-
tive eruptions occurred IN 1854 and
continued for a period of six months,
causing much loss of life and enormous
destruction of property, There were
less serious outbreaks In 1908 and
1873.
In 1859 Mount Mayon was in erup.
tion for two months, destroying the
towns of Cagsauaa and Malinao, to-
gether with several villages. In 1914
it burst forth again, destroying five
towns, Another eruption occurred IN
May, 1897, when 400 persons lost their
lives. The latest outbreak, less Sc
we're, was in March, 1900.