Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-08-14

range Lassen peak still retains the
largest remnant of its once vigorous
volcanic energy. Morgan and Suppan
hot springs and Bumpass hell on the
south as we'll as Hot Spring valley and
the boiling mud lake Tartarus on the
southeast have long attracted the at
tention not only of Californians, but to
some extent the tourists. to whom the
region is growing more accessible
every year. If to these already es-
tablished attractions be added fire.
quent occurrence of the recent vol
canic plays of Lassen peak the region
will take high rank among natures
wonderlands.
But what is the nature of this new
activity of Lassen? Is 1t really vol
canic? Will 1t soon dwindle and be-
come wholly quiescent or on the other
hand is it the precursor of q more pro-
found eruption like that of Krakatoa?
The excellent photographs that have
been taken of the outburst. especially
those of G. F. Milford and the series
by B. F. LOOMS of Viola, taken from
a point six miles northwest of Lassen
peak. leaves little doubt in the mind
of any one familiar with volcanic phe-
nomena that the outburst is essential
ly volcanic. These photographs are
strikingly similar to those taken by
Johnston-Lavis showing the progress
of an eruption in the Pipari islands,
whose volcanic character is we'll
known.
THE eruptions of Lassen peak be-
gan May 30 at $3.50 p. m. with an out
burst of steam which, according to
Forest Supervisor w. J. Rushing. con-
tinued about ten minutes. 1t formed
a crater in the snow-covered summit
of Lassen about rs by 40 feet in extent
and covered the encircling snow for a
distance of 800 feet with a mantle OF
dark wet dust Harvey Abbey. forest
ranger, visited the scene and reported
the facts.
"On the following day at s a. m. an
other eruption occurred and on June 8.
a week later, the third and much
larger outbreak took place. 1t lasted
30 minutes and the rolling column OF
dense black smoke rose to the height
$500 feet. Stones were hurled from
the crater and the forest service out
look house. a quarter Of mile away
on the tip-top of Lassen peak. was
broken by some Of them. Blocks and
smaller fragments accumulated about
the crater to a depth of several feet
The dust and sulphurous gases carried
southwark by the wind were observed
at Mineral, the forestry station. and
the dust was noted five miles beyond
Forest rangers who were in the neigh
borhood of the summit during the erup-
ton heard the rushing steam and the
falling rocks. but report no rumbling
or subterranean noises. earth shocks.
electrical phenomena or great heat be-
yond that of steam. The dust was
practically cold when 1t fell. Consid-
cradle volumes of water were elected.
probably wholly in the form OF steam
The water condensing from this steam
washed a gully in the snow to the
adjacent lakelet, which occupies what
prior to this latest eruption had long
been regarded as the youngest crater
OF the Lassen volcano. The new era
ter is not quite over the throat Of the
old. but Is a few hundred feet to the
northwestward.
In all there have been IL eruptions
up to the date of this report-June FL.
The most violent was at 9 a. m. June
IA, when several overventuresome per-
sons were injured by falling or rolling
stones. The eruption was visible from
the Sacramento valley, nearly 40 miles
away, and created profound interest