226 NA T URE-STUD Y RE VIE W [17 :5— May, 1920 



On May 22, 191 5, there suddenly came a gigantic eruption 

 which seemed to tear the mountain asunder in its intensity and 

 madness. Great volumes of vapor and smoke and ash were hurled 

 into the air to a height of approximately 30,000 feet. Above the 

 mountain a white cloud of vapor had been hovering. Soon a 

 small black cloud of what seemed to be smoke appeared on the 

 summit, and rose slowly until it reached the cloud where it seemed 

 to hesitate for a few minutes, then shot suddenly upward as if 

 hurled from a cannon, This great mass of greyish brown smoke 

 surged up and down continuously while huge forms, darker than 

 the rest were bulging out in different directions assuming strange 

 shapes. This mass loomed above the peak for awhile, then 

 suddenly broke and spread out over the heavens where for several 

 hours, the sky was overhung with this great dark cloud. When 

 it had cleared away the mountain had changed her white robe for 

 one of black, and stood like a huge charred pyramid where but a 

 few hours before she gleamed white in the sunlight. At the time 

 of this eruption the old crater was filled and a new fissure opened up 

 on the northwest slope some distance lower down the mountain 

 side. Near this are several smaller fissures which are constantly 

 emitting vapor. 



Standing near the crater is a forest lookout station through 

 which rocks, weighing about 200 pounds, have been hurled. 

 After the first eruption visitors found two of these rocks on the 

 floor, one having entered by way of the roof, breaking the bed, 

 and another had been hurled through the side. The "look-out 

 man" had deserted the cabin leaving bedding, furniture and cook- 

 ing utensils, all of which had been carried to the summit on his 

 back. Many large rocks had been hurled into the snow and could 

 be seen in the bottom of holes which evidently had been melted 

 when the hot rocks fell. 



There are many stories of reputed eruptions, within the past 

 year, one of these within the early part of this year, but these 

 reports are not verified by people living in the vicinity of the 

 volcano. It is stated by reliable persons living within twenty 

 miles of the mountain that there has been no eruption since the 

 summer of 191 7. 



