Mrs Larsen pictured here told me the tale of her family when
they experienced the Katmai eruption of 1912. This volcano is just
across the Sheilikof Straights about 100 miles distant so they were among the first to
experience this mighty eruption. It was twice as powerful as Krakatoa and 10
times the blast of Mt. Saint Helens.
The whole sky became dark and started raining down ash. Her
and her siblings and a hired hand that was staying at their place
joined hands and made their way to shelter.
Kodiak Island and Afognak
to the north were covered in several feet of ash. It made breathing and
seeing terribly difficult. Eventually they were rescued by a navy or
coast guard vessel. If I remember right they had to walk to Port Lions through the ash led by their hired hand.
To this day if you lift the moss in the forest you will find a thick
layer of ash underneath. I wish that I could remember the story better
because she and a few others living on the west side of
Kokiak were the closest eyewitnesses to one of the greatest volcanic
explosions recorded in human history.
She told me about it some time ago (1980's) as we sat around eating
some smoked salmon she had made. She was a tough lady living out there
in Uganik Bay on her own. She had a spark and zest for life. I wish that I had paid
closer attention and wrote down her story then as it was a fascinating
piece of history that should have been preserved. Larsen bay on Kodiak
was named for her father or grandfather.
Alaska
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