Northern Christian Advocate – New York

August 25, 1881

VOLCANO

There are reports of a volcanic eruption in Idaho.  August 9th a column of fire and smoke is said to have burst from a mountain summit about 1000 feet above the south fork of the Clearwater, about 20 miles east from Mt. Idaho; the smoke continued to pour forth in great volume and to rise several hundred feet.  A rock of considerable size was also thrown a number of miles from the mountain’s base.  There were in t he region distinct evidences of former volcanic action.

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Daily Gazette – New Jersey

August 18, 1881

A VOLCANO IN IDAHO

A dispatch from Lewiston, Idaho, says that there was a volcanic eruption in the mountain south of the South Fork of the Clearwater, about twenty miles east of Mt. Idaho, on the 9th instant.  The mountain sent forth a column of fire and smoke several hundred feet in height, and a rock, which fell at a distance of several miles from the place of eruption.  The shock was distinctly felt at Mt. Idaho, on the extreme west of the Camas Prairie, and at the mouth of Salmon River, a distance of about 75 miles.

Later news from Camas Prairie says that a column of smoke is coming from the opening, which is distinctly visible from the prairie.  No one as yet has approached the place.  Evidence of volcanic action at some former periods exist in many places in the immediate vicinity.  So far as appears the opening is less than a thousand feet above the bed of the South Fork of the Clearwater, and within three miles of the Milner trail, between Mt. Idaho and Florence.

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The Owyhee Avalanche

September 10, 1881

IDAHO VOLCANO

The Nez Perce News of the 1st instant says:  “Our big brother, Col. F.J. Parker, returned from the inside last night, and says that the supposed volcano is simply a chemical eruption at the head of a ridge of high altitude known as Devil’s back, a divide between the waters of the Salmon and Clearwater rivers.  The trees on the mountain sides are shattered into kindling wood by the force of the explosion, and also set the woods on fire.  The formation in the vicinage of the eruption is quartzite and limestone, and is terribly broken up.  There were two explosions, the last twenty hours after the other, but not so loud.”

 

 

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