Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-23
LAVA ONCE MORE
POURS OUT FROM
MOUNT LASsEN
Eruption of California Volcano
More Violent Than Any of
Former Days; Awe-inSpiring
Sight Presented.

tey sosaNc JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wissl
ltedding, Calf, May 22.-lassen
Peak burst into a new eruption late
today, the greatest and most violent
since the mountain awoke one year
ago, Another food of mud. triple the
size OF yesterdays. swept down the
mountain side with three steaming
streams of lava in its wake. Il cover
ed the countryside like tidal wave.
Thirty-six families. nearly the whole
population OF Hat creek valley. were
reported tonight TO be fleeing for
their lives before the avalanche of
mud and boiling lava.
Fifteen rescue parties in automo-
biles were rushed from here TO cas-
sci and Round Mountain to pick up
the refugee women and children. Men
mounted on horseback, frantcally
rounded up cattle and livestock and
endeavored to drive them to the
highlands to escape the broad tor
rent of mud that submerged every
thing in its path.
Titanic Burst of smoke.
The eruption occurred at 1880 p.
m.-Three almost simultaneous and
titanic bursts of smoke and steam
we're followed by two lesser ones a
tremendous funnol-shaped cloud shot
slSyward to an estimated height Of
seven miles and spread out in pail
almost as wide. The big mountain.
10000 feet high. was dwarfcd to in
significant size.
When the immense volume of
smoke and ashes had lifted about the
crest four blaokened
paths. each half mile wide, were re-
vealed on the western slope. The
visible rivers OF mud and lava were
lost at the timber line.
BY o'clock the people of Hat
creek valley realized that the on
sweeping tides of I.assen's overflow
was rushing upon them and they
a swift exodus.
Ashes FAN 200 Miles Away.
Word was received that a spray Of
volcanic ash had fallen at INLAY,
New, zoo miles from the peak and
that the huge burst of smoke was
seen at Sacramento from the cupola
of the state capital. 175 miles away.
Automobile parties left from cities
100 miles distant to witness the spec
tacle.
Redding was pitched into a frenzy
of excitement Fire bells tolled, people
rushed from homes and buildings.
streets were deserted in the business
section. roofs were crowded and bust
ness was suspended until the activity
of the peak subsidized at p. m.
Definite details Of the destruction
wrought were lacking. only meager
news coming over telephone wires to
x44hf 10
from the mountain. Reports came
over the telephone from Montgom-
ery Greek OF the flight of families
from Hat creek valley and of the en-
ornous size of the mud flow.
Rich Farms Endangered.
Dozens of dwellings and the best
and stock land Of the val
lev Law directly in the channe! of
flow. BY o'clock the flood OF mud
and lava had reached and submerg-
ed the ranch of Wilbur WILCOX us
people had escaped driving their
livestock before them. -Four distinct
streams which poured over the crest
of the peak united and covered Las
sens side, which was covered with a
fresh blanket of snow this morning.
into a blackened, desolate waste. TheI
united streams poured on into HAT
creek valley still choked and litter
ed with the refuse of destruction
wrought by the earlier eruptions.
Charles Opdyke and Fred Larkin'
who set out early today to investigate
in the danger zone. were driven BACK
by the gas-poisoned atmosphere.
They were reported to have narrow
ly escaped being overcome.
A report from the power station az
Cow Creek said that one side OF the
volcano had been blown off ana top
pied into the lake near the base OF
the crater, the water displaced add
ing to the flood
So far the volcanic flow has been
confined to Hat creek valley, and ad-
iacent valleys are considered immune
from danger unless the subterranean
forces hurl rocks and lava over the
natural barriers
Crops Are Destroyed.
Farmers, driven from their homes
in panic yesterday by the flood OF
mud that laid black blanket from
one to three feet deep over an area
of fifteen square miles, returned to-
lay to look oyer the desolated land
scape. They found their crops utter
" destroyed, stock killed and large
damage done to farm equipment
Every bridge for thirty miles down
Hat creek valley was reported gone.
Word from Forest Supervisor w.
]. Rushing that the tide of mud was
rich soil and would act as an excel
lent fertilizer, cheered the farmers.
Further relief to the anxious minds
IF the people in I.assens vicinity was
supplied by the opinion OF experts
hat Lassen Peak was too far from
he sea to permit accumulation OF
steam that would render the menace
Of more violent eruptions acute.
Rushing accounted for the flow OF
mud on the theory that hot lava,
pouring from the crater, had melted
he SHOWS that flank the mountain
slopes and had set in motion a land
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