ERUPTION OF TAAL VOLCANO. 65 



There is no evidence that lava ever flowed from Taal Volcano. 

 The crater walls, the island, and the whole surrounding country are 

 composed of bedded volcanic tuff and agglomerates. Volcano Island 

 contains a number of small extinct craters or cinder cones and it is 

 generally conceded that volcanic activity formerly covered the whole 

 area of the present lake, either as a single great crater or more pro- 

 bably, perhaps, as a large number of smaller craters. For a concise 

 discussion of Taal Volcano, its geology and historic eruptions, the 

 reader is referred to the work of Dr. George I. Adams.^ 



THE ERUPTION. 



Narrative. — The first intimation of the approach of the recent eruption was 

 obtained from the increased size of the cloud of steam which always hangs over 

 the active crater, and also from mild earthquakes. People as far away as 

 Batangas (about 30 kilometers distant) began to be alarmed by these conditions 

 on Friday, January 27. The earthquakes increased rapidly in violence and 

 number and on the following day the immense white cloud quite plainly visible 

 from Batangas was frequently blackened by the ejection of mud. The cloud 

 rose in explosive outbursts, which were often immediately preceded by a perceptible 

 earthquake shock. 



A noticeable amount of mud ' had already fallen on the slopes of the volcano 

 .when Mr. Martin reached the island on Sunday morning, January 29. At about 

 3.30 Sunday afternoon large cracks opened in the earth near the towns of Lemery 

 and Taal. Probably also the small fissure at Talisay appeared at this time. 

 There were fewer earthquakes recorded on Sunday than on the previous day, 

 although severe shocks accompanied the appearance of the earth fissures. Ap- 

 parently, the activity of the volcano was slightly lessened on Sunday afternoon. 



A number of people were on the lake shore on Sunday night and had 

 an unobstructed view of the eruption. Prom the experience of several 

 of these eyewitnesses, the following main points are presented. 



The activity began to increase again about dark with violent outbursts from 

 the volcano and sharp earthquakes. About 11 o'clock in the evening a very 

 severe earthquake was followed closely by the ejection of a massive black cloud 

 from the volcano. From this time on, it appears, the cloud above the volcano 

 was very frequently crossed and streaked with lightning, and often showed flashes 

 or sheets of light. Some people saw incandescent bodies rising out of the crater 

 and falling in graceful curves to the earth. At 1 o'clock in the morning, another 

 outburst occurred, probaby more violent than the one at 11 o'clock, but similar 

 to it. At 2.20 o'clock in the morning, without any severe earthquake, but 

 accompanied by a loud noise, resembling an explosion, the culminating outburst 

 of the eruption took place. The great black cloud shot up higher than before 

 and finally spread out at the top like an "umbrella," or a "giant cauliflower." 

 The lightning became much more intense, there was much explosive noise and 

 at some places, such as Talisay and San Nicolas, a strong wind came from the 

 volcano. At Banadero there was little wind, but mud began to fall. Very soon 



' Geological Reconnaissance of Southwestern Luzon. This Journal, Sec. A 

 (1910), 5, 57. 



' Fine sand or "ash'_,' which, where dry, was light gray in color. 



