The Holbrook news., 1911-01-06
MONTHS OF TERROR
Destruction Wrought by Philip.
 pine Volcano.
Greatest Eruption of TaaI Recordee in 1754-Four Towns and Numer- ous Small Villages Were
 Wiped Out.

The central or main crater of TaAi is nearly round, it's diameter on ar air line north and south is 6,233 feet and the east-west diameter is 7,54f feet. The edge of this crater is some what irregular, but is nowhere brok en through, its highest point standing at only 1,050 feet above sea level and it's lowest at 42G feet.
 It is said that Coshima, in Japan, if 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 50 feet in height from which escape steam and sulphur ous gas in. varying quantities.
 In the smaller lake every few min utes the water in the center is blowr up like an immense bubble, which, ris ing above the surface, finally bursts revealing black orifice and causing the boiling and very turbulent water to assume all imaginable colors. The aqueous vapor escaping is sufficient tc form 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 rumbling sound produced by the escaping vapor. under the influence oi the mysterious subterranean forces can be heard like that of an immense boiling kettle
 The greatest eruption of Taal tool place in 1754. It consisted of only fragmental ejecta, but these were suf ficient to destroy four villages lyins about the lake. "The ash" Sempel says, "has now indurated and new growth of bamboo and palms has sprung up around the projecting ru ins." Father Euencuchillo wrote alsc pathetic description of this eruption from which the following is taken:
 "The eruption began on May 13 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 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 o. Bombon disappeared, wis, SaIa, Lipa Tanauan and Taal. with the numer ous villages around them"
 It is impossible to describe the 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 it, it is as clear as crystal and much cooler than sea water and has an abundance of fine, hard-feshed fish which are highly esteemed by the Fiji pinos of the region. They are game fish and some reach size that makes their capture with light tackle mat ter of some difficulty
 The clear water of the lake has an other marvel that is we'll worth see ing. Some comparatively modern eruptions 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 ruffled one can look down and see the fish dart through doors and win dows of once populous barrios. The water is 25 feet deep, but so clear that every detail is visible.