Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-15
NEWEST VOLCANO
IS SCOUTING FIRE
Burst of Smoke From Mount
Lassen Rises 1000 Feet
Over Sacramento Valley.
GEYSER THEORY SECUTED
BY TRAINED MINERALOGIST
Rocks, Ashes and Noxious Vapors
Emitted-One Venturesome Lum-
herman Fatally Injured.

RED BLUFF, Cal. june 15.-Mount
I.assen. ninety miles south of the
oregon line and ninety miles west OF
the Nevada line. the world $ newest
active volcano. spluttered through the
early hours today What may come
from her two new cones which came
into existence last night. or the third
" hich has been growing larger steadily
since May so, is matter of much
scientific conjecture. Her activities.
beginning with geyser-like steam clouds
two weeks ago. have augmented steadily
until a burst of smoke rising two thou
sand feet yesterday morning. was fol-
lowed last night by pillar of fire
visible a hundred miles down the Sacra-
mento valley. W. Fl. storms. former
state mineraIogist, who arrived here
yesterday to make observations. secuted
the geyser theory.
indications are that I.assen will imi-
tate the performance of krakatoa,
volcano on the Island of Java. he SAID.
"krakatoa. in 1883. after a few minor
disturbances similar TO Lassens pres
ent activity. burst into one tremendous
explosion which destroyed the mountain
and spread a pail of darkness over thou
sands of square miles.
1T is mistake to put the disturbance
in the class of geyserS. Geysers do
not eject rocks, scoria cinders and
ashes These are the characteristics of
genuine volcanoes. Lassen is in active
and violent eruption
Prof. See More Comforting.
Prof T. ]. j. See observer at Mare
Island navy yard. a scientist of inter-
national reputation. was more comfort
ing Il hardly think the activity of
I.assen will become SO great as to pro-
duce eruptions of lava he said. 1T
is likely to maintain a feeble and COM
paratively harmless activity. Lassen is
200 miles from the ocean. which is too
tar inland TO become source of much
real danger.
The really dangerous volcanoes depend
on the leakage of the oceans, and the
formation of vast Accommodations of steam
beneath their roots. No volcano is now
active over i25 miles from the ocean, and
as the study of the earth shows they all
die out inland. the chances of any real
danger appear TO me to be small
Jess f. Wright and J. II. Reagan of
Redding. who early today reached point
within three-quarterS of a mile of the
main crater said they We're enveloped in
sulphurous fumes and saved themselves
from suffocation by lying on their faces
and digging into the ground.
Lumberman Fatally Injured.
So far as could be learned early today
tiN tAstIeI VI MAY w. StdTlcu d.
an enlarged assure, is the most active.
From it yesterday rose the great black
cloud like a burning oil we'll, observers
said, which attracted many persons with
in a radius of fifty miles. 1t lured Lance
Graham, a lumberman and seven COM
panions up the slope until they were al
most overcome by the noxious vapors.
The eight threw themselves into snow
banks, while hot ashes and rocks fell
among them One rock cut off Gra-
hams arm and tore open his breast. Re
lay parties tried to bring him down the
mountain in a blanket litter. Repeatedly
he as reported dead. but the latest word
said he still was alive. though fatally
injured.
Anxiety also was felt concerning w. j.
Rushing. United States forest supervisor,
who has been active in viewing the dis
turbanceS.