Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1914 — REPORT ON ERUPTION [ARTICLE]

REPORT ON ERUPTION

Geological Survey Expert 6f Mt. Lassen’s Outbreak. Geologist Suggests a Connection Between the Volcanic Disturbance and the World’s Exposition in San Francisco in 1915. Washington.—ln a report just forwarded *o Washington from the field, Geologist J. 3. Diller suggests a connection between the Lassen peak eruption and the San Francisco 1915 exposition. Mr! Diller was ordered to visit the scene of volcanic eruption and his detailed statement was made public by the United States geological survey. The geologist points out that old Vulcan may be preparing an American Vesuvius for the Panama-Pacific exposition. Thd Pacific ocean is girdled by volcanoes, and live ones are common in the Central American countries to which Panama belongs. Mr. Diller reasons thus: “So it is up to Vulcan to prepare a nearby exhibit for the occasion, and he evidently sees his duty and is rejuvenating the energy of Lassen peak as a kind of volcanic moving picture. “Mount Rainier and Mount Shasta, the beautiful cones so much in evidence to the traveler on the Pacific coast north of San Francisco, are now finding an up-to-date rival in Lassen peak, which is plainly in view from the railroad for many miles in thi Sacramento valley between and Red Bluff. Lassen peak is the southern end of the Cascade range, and it stands between the Sierra Nevada on the southeast and the Klamath mountains on the northwest. Its lavas erupted in past ages reach the Sacramento valley on the ope side and on the other form a part of the vast volcanic field, one of the greatest in the world, that stretches far across California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho to the Yellowstone National park. “Of all portions of the Cascade

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 well as Hot Spring valley and the boiling mud lake Tartarus on the southeast have long attracted the attention not only of Californians, but to some extent the tourists, to whom the region is growing more accessible every year. If to these already established attractions be added a frequent occurrence of the recent volcanic plays of Lassen peak the region will take high rank among nature’s wonderlands. “But what 1b the nature of this new activity of Lassen? Is it really volcanic? Will it soon dwindle and become wholly quiescent or on the other hand is It the precursor of a more profound eruption like that of Krakatoa? Ttte excellent photographs that have been takpn of the outburst, especially those of G. F, Milford and the series by B. F. Loomis of Viola, taken from a point six miles northwest of Lassen peak, leaves little doubt in the mind of Stay one familiar with volcanic phenomena that the outburst Is essentiality volcanic. These photographs are strikingly similar to those- taken by Johnston-Lavis showing the progress of an eruption in the Pi pari islands, whose volcanic character 1b well known. “The eruptions of Lasseta peak began May 30 at 5:30 p.. m., with an outburst of steam which, according to forest Supervisor W. J. Rushing, continued about ten minutes. It formed a crater in the snow-covered summit of Lasseh about 25 by 40 feet In extent and covered the encircling snow for a distance of 300 feet with a mantle Of 'dark wet dust Harvey Abbey, a forest ranger, visited the scene and reported the facts.

“On the following day at 8 a. m. t another eruption occurred and on June 8, a week later, the third and much larger outbreak took place. It lasted 30 minutes and the rolling column of dense black smoke rose to the height 2,500 feet. Stones were hurled from the crater and the forest service outlook 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 southward by the wind were observed at Mineral, the forestry station, and the dust was noted five miles beyond. Forest rangers who were in the neighborhood of the summit during the eruption heard the rushing steam and the falling rocks, but report no rumbling or subterranean noißes, earth shocks, electrical phenomena or great heat beyond that of steam. The dust was practically cold when it fell. Considerable volumes of water were ejected, 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 crater Is not quite over the throat of the old, but is a few hundred feet to the northwestward. “In all there have been 11 eruptions up to the date of this report—June 21. The most violent was at 9 a. m., June 14, when several overventuresome persons were injured by falling or rolling stones. The eruption was visible from the Sacramento valley, nearly 40 miles away, and created profound interest