July 26, 1856 Eruption of Shishaldin

1856, July 26. There was a volcanic eruption in Unimak Pass. It is described by Captain Neville, of the whaler Alice Fraser. Crossing Unimak Pass on his ship with six other whalers, he observed an enormous mass of dense black smoke from a volcanic eruption on the adjacent islands. The ships were becalmed, leaving them exposed to the danger of the eruption. After twelve hours, a light breeze enabled the ships to begin moving away in the pitch blackness. Sailing west and north of the eastern shore they were near the northern base of the volcano when a prolonged dull rumble was heard and an underwater eruption began almost under the flotilla. The water churned and began to rise stormily in the form of disorganized waves. Then it rushed up, as if ejected from an enormous spring, forming a dazzling column of water of colossal height. A shaft of fire and smoke rose from the depths, with peals of thunder. Volcanic ejecta, the size of walnuts to cannon balls, landed on the ships. This phase ended quickly and water rushed into the abyss forming a colossal whirlpool. The ships escaped. The volcano was Mount Shihsaldin. As this is a report taken from American sources the date is Gregorian. None of the effects describe organized wave action, and this is probably not a tsunami report. Validity 1 (Reference #239).

1856, July 26. There was a violent eruption in Unimak Pass, apparently near 54 deg 35 min N., 165 deg W. It is described by Neville, the captain of the whaler "Alice Fraser." This event is mentioned very briefly in a number of publications (Reference #414).