Evening star., 1923-11-04
Dr.. Fenner Goes
1000 Feet BelO,v
Kutr,lui Rim.
Data on Volcanic
Phenomena Oh.
tanned for Science.

pert OF the geOpnySlcai ldDoTatory oL
the Carnegie Institution here, re-
turned to Washington this week after
a descent into the steaming crater OF
Mount Katmai, on the Alaskan penin-
sula, which a few years ago spouted
forth one of the greatest eruptions
/ known in history.
Dr.. Fenner's descent of about 1,6O0
to penetrate tho mountain. and he
made q number of observations on
volcanic phenomena which will be OF
value to science. He spent the rest
. Of the summer in the famous Valley
of Ten Thousand Smokes, near the
! base Of Katmai, where he continued
observations which have been In
progress for a number of years
In a comparatively few years, he
| found, the valley, which now is one
| of the natural wonders of the world,
| will be a lifeless mass Of cold lava.
1t is one OF the national parks. but
before tourists have a chance to see
| it the fumerols and steam geysers
| VIII have gone forever.
3yOO0-FoOt Precipiee.
Scientists have considered the de-
scent into Katmai impossible. Pre-
vious expeditions have approached
| the crater from the south and have
| looked over the brink down a sheer
precipice for 5000 feet through steam
DR.. Fenner found one spot on the
western side where the slope was
such as to AFFORD foothold. With one
guide he made his way down the
| snow-covered slope. which at one
in the path of falling rock. so that
i the two were in constant danger.
The last eruption blew off the top
or the mountain SO that the crater is
about three miles in diameter at the
start: 1T narrows until it is about
a mile in diameter at the bottom.
From the top previous expeditions
had seen great natural lake which
covered almost the entire floor. DR..
Fenner found this almost dried up
or filled by rocks falling from the
sides.
He found one unique phenomenon
mud geyser erupting at the rate of
one blast a second irregularly. Some
bubbles which explode in midair.
scattering mud. Again it shoots jets
straight in the air. The explosions
are so loud that they can be heard a
mile away.
Floor OF Crater solidihed.
The floor OF the crater has become
solidified since the last eruption, but
Geep up through the mudpots and
fume rolls.
The theory Of the origin of the VAL
ley Of Ten Thousand Smokes ID that
occurred at the same time as the
main eruption, pushing great volumes
of molten lava and gases under the
surface of the valley. These found
their way out through points Of
least resistance as mud pots and Jets
Of steam.
DR.. Fenner tried to determine the
extent Of this subterranean mass, and
the rapid cooling off indicates. he
claims, that 1t is much smaller than
was commonly supposed.
For the first time this summer the
valley was entered by persons be-
sides scientific explorers-a party OF
Alaskan tourists, who remained for
three days. Otherwise the Washing
ton man and his guide were alone.
1t was necessary to take In every
thing needed, since the valley is abb
solutely devoid of vegetation and
animal life is almost unknown. Only
an occasional Alaska bear ventures
into the steam cloud that covers the
land.
No Food for Horses.
DR.. Fenner was obliged to send
nothing for them to live on. Cooking
was done in the steampots. which
acted as fireless cookers. Two months
in all was spent in the valley, which
Is about fifteen miles long by four
miles wide and Is almost Impossible
of access, since 1t lies over the noun
tains from a harborless coast with
out trails Of any kind.
Geophysical laboratory experts, who
were scattered over the world this
summer engaged in the study of land
movements, are drifting back to
Washington. DR.. A. L. Day. director
of the laboratory, has been at Mount
Lassen. California, collecting samples
of lava for analysis this winter.
DR.. F. e. Wright has returned from
a summer spent in studying the great
lava deposits in eastern Oregon. DR..
E. S. Shepherd spent the summer
studying the movements of intrusive
masses in Montana and southern
Utah.
DR.. N. L. Bowen will return soon
from Norway. where he has been en-
gagged in study Of the intrusive earth
masses, which he started In the
highlands OF northern Scotland.
The data gathered will be sys-
tematized here during the winter and
most Of tho scientists will leave for
other explorations next spring.