- 6 - 
1946 
Jan. 17 - contd. 
passed the flow of October, 1944, and continues to flow, covering the fields 
of Kuirambosta. Tor three days the vapor column has been toward the north- 
east; today at six in the afternoon it changed toward the southwest. 
18 At 6 and 7 A. M. sti’ong noises in the crater, with white simple vapors toward 
the northwest. During the day the noises are softer and the few vapors 
emitted by the crater are changed to clouds and drift to the north and northeast. 
19 Seldom do we have such a clear day; the vapor is a white smoke, like a mist, 
rising without force, as it has been for these last days. The noises do not 
cease. Although there are times when they lessen, yet they never cease. 
The lava that begins 30-40 meters southwest of the base of the cone continues 
advancing about 50 meters per day. The front has the advantage of the 
1 / 
barranca, that previously descended from Quitzocho and passed between San 
y 
Quitzocho: a parcel of land, bordering Cuitziro, the farm in which the 
volcano originated. 
Juan and Paricutin. Today Srs. E. Ordonez and William E. Wrather, Directors 
of the Mexican and American Geological Institutes visited us, accompanied by 
other engineers. 
20 The above mentioned gentlemen, except Sr. Ordonez climbed to the crater. 
St. Wrather and his daughter now know not only the outside but also the 
inside of the volcano. There they saw how the vapors are produced, how 
one hears the noise and how the strong ones deafen, also the gases that 
trouble one and attack the chest until one cannot breathe. These latter 
issue from the cracks formed by the slumping of the walls. These fissures 
are numerous about the circular crater. Sr. Ordonez, whose age prevented 
him ascending the crater was, however, able to reach the vicinity of the 
lava vents. 
