Description: From Miller and others (1998): "On May 29, 1939, a series of explosions began that lasted until at least June 26, 1939; a U.S. Coast Guard cutter offshore reported an ash cloud to 6,100 m with 450 m high 'flames.' Ash from the eruption reportedly reached an average depth of 2-5 cm over a 84-km radius; most residents of Perryville, 35 km south of the volcano, were evacuated (Perryville was established in 1912 by relocation of the former residents of the village of Katmai.)"
Various newspaper articles, from May 29 through June 17 chronicle the eruption.
May 30, 1939 (UP): "today * * * Mt. Veniamin spewing hot ashes over nearby native settlements.
"Minor earth tremors throughout the peninsula accompanied the volcanic outbreak.
"The tiny settlement of Chignik reported that ashes had rached a depth of two feet and that the air was so filled that it was twilight most of the long near Summer day. * * * First reports of the eruption, whicih began last week, came from the captain of the lighthouse tender Cedar to the weather bureau here [Juneau]. * * * The captain said a thirty five mile wind was carrying heavy ash from the volcano far out to sea.
"Smoke began to stream from Mt. Veniamin last week and yesterday huge clouds of black smoke and ash billowed forth. * * * Several weeks ago earthquakes of great intensity were reported from the north Pacific regions, possibly in the Gulf of Alaska off the Alaskan peninsula. Experts believed the quakes were a prelude to the volcanic activity of Veniamin."
June 5, 1939 (AP): "A radio message today said Mount Veniaminof, an Alaskan peninsula volcano, was again erupting on a violent scale.
"The message came from Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Johnson, only white residents of Perryville, Alaska, near the volcano.
"Veniaminof's recent nine-day outburst frightened the Indians, so severely that all but one native family fled.
"Johnson's message said: 'Sky cleared this morning. Volcano could be seen plainly. Was belching fire to greater heights than any time during the eruption. More hot ashes falling.'"
June 8, 1939 (UP): "Perryville, Alaska. June 7. Fear and help reached this tiny fishing village in the shadow of smoking Mount Veniaminof simultaneously Wednesday.
"The fear arose from indications the wind was shifting, bringing a threat of deluging the village and its two remaining families, one white and the other native, with hot cinders and stifling fumes from the awakening volcano.
"Ashes blow to sea. So far the prevailing wind has been southerly, blowing the ashes and fumes into the Bering Sea to the north of this Alaska peninsula village. A shift to the northwest would bring the deluge, A.D. Johnson and his wife, village school teachers, feared.
"* * * The Coast Guard cutter Haida was standing off the village, ready to remove the two families if necessary. * * * There were increasing earth shocks Wednesday. Some were so violent they sent dishes crashing to the floor and turned around furniture in the Johnson home."
June 12, 1939 (AP): "A thick black sediment, believed by residents to be volcanic ash from erupting Mount Veniaminof, 1,000 miles away in Alaska, covered this section [Toledo, Oregon] of the Oregon coast at dawn Sunday.
"The ash was tracked into countless homes and sent hundreds of automobiles to wash racks. The mysterious 'dirt' was deposited by fog."
June 15, 1939 (AP): "A new eruption of Mount Veniaminof, mile-and-a-half high Aleutian peninsula volcano, spread volcanic ashes over a wide area of land and sea today.
"The motorship Fern, which gave a position offshore about 35 miles from the mountain, radioed at 11:15 pm last night the volcano was again in violent activity.
"Ash and sand was falling on the ship's decks, the message said, and visibility was cut down to about a mile.
"The volcano has been active since May 23 and A.D. Johnson, radio operator and government school teacher at Perryville, 20 miles to the south, has radioed frequently of its eruption."