300 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



eruption to casual observers at a distance. With the intense sunsliine 

 ol" a -Inly cla}^ at that elevation and with the drv air marked differences 

 in teiui)erature occurred between sunlight and shadow and between wet 

 and dry areas. Under these circumstances strong whirlwinds developed 

 at intervals which sent the dust high into the air in columns strongly 

 reseml)ling steam jets. In fact, the writer when within two miles of 

 the peak on July 25 for a time mistook them for new steam vents, all 

 the more ]-eadily since they were situated along the line of reported ex- 

 tensions of the crater. Actual inspection of the area showed the real 

 character of the columns and also that no new vents had been formed 

 in that locality. Probably several of the iiicdiTcct reports of eruptions 

 and of new craters came from the same railure to distinguish wind- 

 formed dust clouds from steam explosions. 



During the month of August there were but eight eru[)tious, fewer 

 than either of the preceding months, and seven of the eight, all quite 

 severe occurred August 19-23, inclusive, two of them throwing ash 

 columns to a height of over 10,000 feet. The record for September 

 shows seventeen eruptions, the largest number for any of the six months 

 covered by the tabular list. During the month there was a continuous 

 enlaro-ement of the vent within the basin of the old crater and there 

 were also new vents o})ened (see Fig. 4) on the outer slopes of the main 

 cone. These vents are clearly identified from photographs taken by 

 Mr. Jack Eobertson of Oakland as being in line with the main axis of 

 the first opening. Mr. Robertson had an interesting experience. He 

 was at Drakesl)ad on the evening of September 19 when he heard a 

 "tremendous explosion"' during the night. The next morning he 

 climbed the mountain and had the good fortune to watch at clo-e range 

 the eruption beginning at 11:30 A.:\r. (eruption no. 4:6) without re- 

 ceiving any serious injury. The crater was belching smoke at short 

 intervals every few minutes and while he Avas quite near, steam and 

 ashes poured out from its entire length. The ashes were so hot that 

 they burned his feet as he walked over them. He reports having heard 

 the roar and rumble of the explosions, but was not conscious of any 

 apparent quaking of the ground. 



The most marked changes in the new crater since the middle of 

 June occurred during the month of September. The inner vent is re- 

 ported to have grown to 900 feet in length and photographs taken eaily 

 in October show that the area of tlr^ opening had become fully ti\e 

 times its area at the end of June. The severity of the September 

 eruptions is also attested by the fact the lookout house (Fig. 5 

 and 0) was completely demolished on the twenty-ninth, no part of 

 tlie walls being left standing. During the same eruption the forest 

 lookout on Turner Mountain distinctly saw luminous bodies thrown 

 out wliicli appeared to liim to be red-liot stones. This report is con- 



