Evening star., 1914-04-13
Prediction Made by Scientist
Regarding Sakura-iima
Volcano in Japan.
ERUPTION IN JANUARY
CAUSE OF DEVASTATION
American Volcanologist, by Request.
Makes Examination of Mount
Unzen, Near Nagasaki.
TOXIC. March 81 -

TOXIC. March - 1914
The Sakura-jima volcano. whose erup-
ton in January caused great devasta
ton, is likely to show still further activ-
ity according to DR.. Thomas A. JagGar.
professor Of geology at the Massachn
setts Institute OF Technology and director
of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
DR.. Jaggar, who has just ascended
Sakura-jima, made the following state
ment to the Associated Press concernins
his observations:
Owing to the closure OF the eastern
passage around the island. the average
tide level in kagoshima bay has risen
two feet. In the short space OF 1."p'
years remarkable changes may take
place in the topography of the Gulf OF
Kagoshima- To preserve the symmetry
of its vo'canic cone. Sakura-jinla is ike
~ to erupt once OF twice on the northern
side in the future, and il the lava elected
were to equal the amount thrown out THIS
year II might easily cut Off the northern
part of the gulf, thus forming a lake,
Then the water level would rise ahu
| finally this water would become fresh, SO
that a large lagoon may possibly oe
| formed and the present villages on ths
northern shores may in time De SUP
merged. just as the temples of Phila we're
1
| of the Assuan dam in Egypt.
Ascend During Ash Shower.
I'VE climbed two-thirds of the way to
the summit in an ash shower. Lava WAS
still flowing, though less copiously. ana
the average height of the bed was w
| feet. phenomenon difficult to explain
was the presence Of round pits four iee'
deep and ten feet wide on the western
side In devastated areas am not WI.
ing to accept the Japanese hypo!hesls
that they were caused @ py i,sh,I,ne " .he ;mnact
of falling stones or to the explosion OF
hot Substances buried by their iaii IN INC
moist earth.
| The new island: which reeehIy spfIns tas
up near the Bonin group on Japan, mas
been visited by party from the steamer
Chefoo, who describe 1t as mass =.
lava covered with pumice stone ana wni.e
ash The Chefoo locates the is,ano -
latitude north "a degrees II minutes ana
| longitude 141 degrees and . minutes men
| the steamer approached. the Is ana az. 7.
peared pure white. with blackisn cuu
rising about 200 feet tor a .;,n Iaai1s aa.,l VI
ing pumice. The land party fouho ~
exceedingly dangerous to row near .ne
cliffs, as they were constantly oreaAns NE
away a ndfaIling into the sea to .oln tne ne
a ready great mass OF pumice. Also. on
account Of the very soft nature OF the
surface no attempt was made to journey
inland. s .o ~.
The main crater was located TO iie ,ne
southwest, being a quarter or mils
| wide 1t emitted enormous clouds
black smoke, obscuring the SUM- Al
| nioht there was a red glow and oc-
| casionaI tongues of flames. On the
eastern side a small crater. which as
charged poisonous fumes. made an APP
| proach impossible. The water ABOUT
| was warm. ,., e..
| whole island will gradually ciin on
until only the solid central mass OF laFe
remains.
Natives Fear Mount Unzen.
| Prof. Frank A. Perret, the American
yolcanologist, who recently arrived from
Italy to study volcanic phenomena III
Japan, received an urgent request upon
arrival to examine the volcano on Mount
Unzen, near Nagasaki. The residents
| of the district had heard many rumblings
| and were in great fear that the noun
| tain was about to erupt like Sakura-
lima. Prof Perret found mo cause for
alarm but the emission of hot gases
| indicated that revival OF volcanic &C
| tivity in some part of the peninsula
| was always a possibility. He found
| the hot spring district in a normal con
| dition. with little or no hydrochloric
| acid. the presence of which would indi-
| cate greater activity. Experiments with
an electric microphone for hearing sub
| terranean sounds showed normal condi-
| tfons and less internal rumbling than
! ot tho we'll known "Solfatara," near