46 The American Naturalist. [January, 
General Notes. 
GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS. 
The Ascent of Mount St. Helens.—The following abstract 
of an account of the ascent of Mount St. Helens by Mr Fred. G. Plum- 
mer, prefaced by a brief history of its recent eruptions, appeared in 
the December number of Scientific American : 
“St. Helens has shown considerable activity in recent times. In 
August, 1831, there was an uncommonly dark day, which was thought 
to have been caused by an eruption of a voleano. The whole day was 
nearly as dark as night, except for a slight red, lurid appearance, 
which was perceptable until near night. Lighted candles were neces- 
sary during the day. The atmosphere was filled with very light 
ashes, like the white ashes of wood. The day was perfectly calm. 
There were no earthquakes or rumblings. After the ash clouds had 
cleared away it was seen that the pure white snow upon St. Helens 
was browned by the fall of ashes. It is also said that lava flows took 
place at that time.” 
“In October, 1842, St. Helens was discovered all at once to be cov- 
ered with a dense cloud of smoke, which continued to enlarge and 
move off in dense masses to the east, filling the heavens in that direc- 
tion. When the first volume of smoke had cleared away it could be 
seen distinctly from various parts of the country that an eruption had 
taken place on the north side of St. Helens, a little below the summit, 
and from the smoke that continued to rise from the crater it was pro- 
nounced a voleano in active operation. When the explosion took 
place the wind was morthwest, and on the same day, extending from 
thirty to fifty miles to the southwest, there fell showers of dust or ashes, ` 
which covered the ground in some places so as to admit of its being 
gathered in quantities.” 
“On November 23, 1843, St. Helens scattered ashes over the Dalles 
of the Columbia River, fifty miles away, and burned continuously un- 
til February 16,1844. Dense masses of smoke rose from the craters 
in immense columns, and in the evenings the fires ‘ lit up the mountain 
side with a flood of soft yet brilliant radiance, ” 
“Having determined to investigate the most active volcano of 
Washington, we left Tacoma by the midnight train, August 10, 1893, 
Jp 
