Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-06-14
Alaska Amid Flames.

Alaska Amid Flames.
A Sitka dispatch of June oth gives
a vivid account of the unexpected
horror which befell large portion
of Alaska and the Northern coast on
that date. Four mountains sudden
" became active volcanoes. belching
fire. lava and smoke over surround
ing objects and sending clouds OF
ashes many miles over the sea and
surrounding country.
At Alaska. on that date, ashes
from the Aleutian range Of volcanoes
began to fall causing the sun to APP
pear like ball of fire through the
cinders, and their extent may be
imagined from the fact that Alaska
is in a direct line 200 miles from the
volcanoes. The awakened peaks in
the Aleutian range are 1lliamna, st.
Augustine, Redarpt, in the Cooks
Inlet country, and Katmai. which
overlooks the Shelikoff strait. Num-
erous shocks OF earthquake were felt
and the sun was almost obscured by
vapor. Land and sea for many
miles were covered with ashes, and
lava and rock were pouring forth de-
vastation upon everything in the
path.
A dispatch of the 9th says that the
prevailing gases nearly suffocated
all on the Dora. Like a phantom
ship in her white covering of ashes
she slowly steamed into Seward
harbor.
Afognak, Kadiak and Raspberry
Islands have been in total darkness
four days. and it will be almost i'm
possible for relief to reach them un-
til. the heavy pail of smoke and dust
that hangs over the country has
cleared away. The estimated popu-
lation within radius of 200 miles of
Mount Katmai is 1000, including
natives. Incoming vessels report
that total darkness at noon prevails
throughout q radius of 300 miles of
the volcano.
Three slight earth shocks were re-
corded on the seismograph at the
University OF Washington, at Seat
tie on the 10th, indicating that the
volcanic disturbance in southwestern
Alaska. which has agitated the deli
cate instruments in the observatories
throughout the United States the
last three days, are still in progress.
Prof. Henry Landes. geologist at
the University. said that the shocks
recorded on that day were not as
severe rs those OF the day before, and
thisled him to believe that the erup-
tions are slowly subsiding.
Its theopinion Of passengers on the
mail steamship Dora that much life on
Kodiak Island is extinct. The town
ofKadiak on the north side is reported
safe. Dora's master says that 1900
persons were engaged in the salmon
cannery, and as it is the height of
the canning season. the worst fears
NAV bo realized.
Mount Katmai's outbreak was de-
scribed by the crew Of the Dora a.
terrible lie It's violence. Deafening
subterranean explosions, they said.
occurred ct short intervals and
the hail Of hot ashes and monster
boulders has covered the earth four
feet deep.
The sea in the neighborhood Of
Mound Katmai, they reported, WAS
dashed into foam By the plunging Of
red-hot missiles hurled from Katmai's
throat into the sea. The vessel Was
struck By : number Of small boulders
and is deck was banked . foot and i
half IN ashes.
Shelikod Strait, from where the
Dora hed. resembled . monster
steaming cauldron. Smoke from
the blazing mountain obscured the
sky for hundreds Of miles and the day
was IS night. So dense was the
smoke the Dora's captain was obliged
to steer : course 50 miles from her
usual route in order to pass Kadiak
Island.
The wave indications IN Shelikoff
Strait we're such that that the Dora's
master did not attempt any landings,
fearing that there had been q general
shifting d the ocean bottom near
shore. For this reason, as well as be-
cause Of the smoke and ashes, the
Dora did not dare to approach
Kadiak.
Katmai has always been regarded
as extinct. The natives have no tra-
dition Of any former activity Of the
mountain.
The wireless station at Kodiak is
out Of commission, As is also the
Dora's wireless and, in fact, oil the
wireless instruments in Alaska, be-
cause Of electric conditions in the
atmosphere.
Dispatches Of the 18th state that
Kadiak island is covered with IL
inches Of ashes, and it was still fall
ing. Vegetable growth and animals
perish. The islands is buried 20
feet deep in places. An appeal for
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