Alexandria Gazette

AN AMERICAN VOLCANO,-At 9 o'clock yesterday morning any person observing Mount Hood could have noticed with the naked eye a changing cloud of smoke that hung upon the south side of the mountain, far above the snow line and climbing almost to the summit. On observing this carefully with a glass it was plainly to be seen that the smoke changed its form and movement constantly, apparently pouring out of the south side of the mountain from half to one quarter of a mile below the summit. Those who have ascended the mountain know of an old crater on the south west side, some distance below the summit. They have to cross this locality to make the ascent, and always find sulphurous fumes issuing from the crevices and the rocks heated by internal fires.

There is no doubt that Mount Hood at times sends forth eruptions of smoke, though such manifestations are not of frequent occurrence, or at least are not often reported. We have lived within view of the mountain for nearly thirty years, and have only once before, about fifteen years ago, seen unmistakable emission of smoke, which lasted about an hour. and came from the same part of the mountain that we observed it yesterday, and each time the fact of being smoke was not to be doubted. Fifteen years ago the phenomenon occurred upon a winter day. when the sky was blue, without a speck of cloud to mock it. and the smoke streamed northward from the mountain in a dense black cloud. We have seen the time when excitement was created, some years ago, by the rumor that Mount Hood was smoking. A crowd gathered on a high roof, and observed it with glasses, but the phenomenon was caused by atmospheric condition that drew the mists and fogs from the lower gorges and made them wreath around the summit. The difference between this light colored enveloping mist, arising from the base of the mountain, and the black, sulphurous appearance of smoke pouring directly out of the side of it, from among the snows, was evident to any practical eye. Yesterday morning the sky was clear, with a slight haze and a few light, fleecy clouds, hanging above the Cascade range at intervals, but the whole base and summit of Mount Hood were clear of them, while the unmistakable wreath of sulphur smoke hung just below the very summit. remaining there for over two hours, contorted by the movement of the winds. Towards noon fleecy clouds enveloped the mountain, and for awhile the difference between cloud and smoke was distinctly visible. but afterwards the outlines of the snowy peak were obscured, and when they were plain again, at 2 o'clock p. m., there was no smoke to be seen.-Portland Oregonian.