Evening star., 1948-09-11
u. 5. Army Troopship
Loads Last FiIipinos
Fleeing Volcano Gas
By the Assoeioted Press

MA1NALh. SCpG' 42.-NAOot Va eAiS
1000 Filipinos still on the volcanic
isle of Camaguin were being loaded
on a United States Army troopship
today in the ominous shadow of
erupting Mount Hibokhibok.
The mile-high volcano still blew
out dangerous but not deadly gases,
and geologists saw possibility of a
new and violent eruption, but for
the moment at least the situation
appeared in hand. 1' 80, .la
A second big Army transport, the
Is ,0Oo-ton Gen. Morton, was rush
ing to the island to help evacuate
refugees. 1t is due to arrive to-
morrow.
No Docks, Available. I II
The 17,s12-ton Army transport
Gen. William Weigel had picked up
some 5000 refugees at the east coast
port of Binoni and the south coast
port of Sagay and removed them to
Mindanao
Capt. Walter Williams of the Gen.
Weigel said about $4,000 of the
islanders had been accounted for
in seven reception centers.
Island authorities reported that
the two transports and other smaller
craft should have the island cleared
of inhabitants by Tuesday.
The Gen. Weigel was slowed in its
task by having to work in open
roadsteads because no docks were
available.
Navy Sends Dehydrated Food.
Dehydrated food was flown to the
hungry islanders by an American
Navy flying boat which took of from
Manila, $50 miles away.
Arturo Alcaraz, government vol
cano expert, who ordered the gen.
eral evacuation when acidic ash be-
gan raining down late Thursday
radioed that the volcano still was
blowing dangerous gases.
He said these were not deadly.
However, the radio station at Ma
hinog, the islands last link with the
outside world, appealed for gas
masks so it's operators could stay on
to the last.
1t had been hoped the Gen. Weigel
could take on all refugees. But Fill
pino Red Cross disaster relief ofh-
cials increased their estimate Of the
number still on the island from A.
900 to 10000.
That will necessitate additional
ships. The Philippine naval patrol
Communicated all available small
craft in the area to help bring OH
the islanders.
Cleared to Avert Panic.
The patrol advised Manila that
even after the burning ashes fell
the islanders still wanted to stay on,
but forced evacuation was declared
to avert any panic If the volcanoes
violence increased.
Alfredo Cruz, a Filipino on Cami-
guin, in a message to Manila gave
for the first time some Of the details
of the events of Thursday and
Friday.
Last Thursday night, he reported,
Hibokhibok, which has shown signs
of subsiding after nine days OF
action, suddenly erupted acidic ash.
The ash settled over the island,
burning the skin and inflaming the
eyes, noses and throats of those
who had stayed behind.
Along with the ashes came the
gases. The smell of sulphuric acid
hung over the island.
Then with a thunderous roar
came a gigantic landslide. There
were repeated landslides through the
night into Friday morning.
AT daylight, geologists found the
slides had plugged up the new
crater On the east slope which had
been letting the pent-up gases
escape.
Sometime during the night a new
crater had opened on the west side
but biologists still feared gases were
jamming up inside. They warned
y ma jor eruption might come at any
time