Evening star., 1911-01-30
TIDAL WAVE FOLLOWED
ERUPTION OF MOUNTAIN
Mud and Stones Damaged Towns
Within a Wide Radius.
Is NOT FAR FROM MANILA
Scientists Think City Safe, But
Natives Are Apprehensive.
Volcano Is on an Island
in Middle of Lake.

MANILA, January 3O-Many natives
were drowned in the tidal wave that ac-
companied the volcanic outbreak of Mount
Taal. according to reports received by the
local papers.
An American school teacher who has
laboriously traversed the west shore OF
Lake Taal telegraphs that five small vii
liages were destroyed by the tidal wave
ana that not less than 800 persons have
been killed in that vicinity. Many were
burned in fires started by molten masses.
Many Towns Suffered.
All Of the towns within a radius of
twenty miles were more or less damaged
by the shower of mud and stones.
The eruptions continued today. The
sky was cloudless and there was no wind,
but the muddy rain fell steadily. The ma
tives 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. a body of water not more than
fifteen miles in circumference. 1t is
thirty-four miles from this city. from
which dense clouds of smoke rising from
the crater are plainly visible.
Think Manila Is Safe.
The observatory authorities believe that
Manila is in no danger. but there is some
alarm among the natives. who recall the
destruction caused by Mount Mayor, the
other volcano OF Luzon, in 1897. So far
however. Mayon has shown no threaten
ing disturbance.
Investigators of the bureau Of science
report that with the first violent eruption
of Teal Saturday the volcanic island ap-
peared To sink five feet and the waters
VI the lake, rising. swept the shores a
mile inland, carrying away the bamboo
shacks and catching score Of natives.
Took Refuge in Flight.
Others living in the vicinity had taken
warning and fled at the first rumblings
Of the volcano. The towns of Taal and
Palisay seem to have suffered most.
A constabuiary relief detachment re-
ports that twelve persons were drowned
and one killed by lightning at Talisay
and that three persons were drowned at
Lemery.
The government is hurrying relief
trains to the scene.
Volcano Peculiar One.
The Taal volcano is a very peculiar
one and Is readily accessible from Ma
nila. 1t lies on small volcanic
island and has relatively large GEN.
trail crater and several smaller extinct
ones. The main crater is nearly round
and over a mile in diameter. Within
its irregular rim are two hot pools
known. respectively, as the yellow and
the green Lakeland little active cone
about fifty feet in height, from which
escape steam and sulphurous gas. Taal
has had some violent eruptions since
the beginning Of the Spanish occupa-
tion. the worst being In 1854. 1t con-
sisted OF fragmental ejecta, but these
were sufficient to destroy four villages
lying about the lake. The eruption
began May 10 and continued with in
tervals till December /. when it ceased.
A typhoon followed. lasting two days.
left. In the tropics nature has won
derful powers of recuperation.
Country Is Beautiful.
I'm spite of the terrible lesson of the
last century, comments Cemteno. "all
Of these localities have been repopulated.
Their fertility. their surprisingly beauti-
ful typographical situation and their
healthfulness charm the people into a
prompt forgctfulness Of past disasters
No great eruption has occurred since
1854. In 1S0S and 1873 there were out
breaks. but the damage seems to have
been confined to the island itself"
In 176a Mount Mayor was in eruption
for two months, destroying the towns of
Cagsauaa and Malinao. together with
several villages. In 1Si4 il burst forth
again. destroying five towns. Another
eruption occurred in May, 1897. when 4UJ
persons lost their lives. The latest out
break less severe, was in March, 1893