Great Sitkin reported activity

Event Name : Great Sitkin 1953/5

Start:	May 11, 1953	Observed
Stop:	May 14, 1953	Observed

"Smoke":
Steam:

Eruption Type:	Not an eruption.
Duration:	4 days

Description: From MacDonald (1953): "[O]n May 11, 1953, the Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Pioneer observed a spectacular column of steam rising an estimated 5,000 feet above Great Sitkin volcano, in the Aleutian Island. The steam column lasted about an hour. An earthquake felt at Adak on May 12, with an intensity of 5 on the modified Mercalli scale, had its epicenter on a line passing through Great Sitkin. On the afternoon of May 14 a steam cloud was seen to rise about 4,000 feet above the crater rim of Great Sitkin, and during the evening another earthquake occurred, slightly less severe than that of May 12, with its epicenter on the same line. Both quakes apparently were more severe on Great Sitkin than on Adak. When next observed, on May 19, the steaming of Great Sitkin Volcano was much diminished but still greater than normal. Subsequent observations on May 23, June 5, and June 7 showed only weak emission of steam. No ash eruption was observed during the period from May 11 to June 7, nor did the form of the basalt dome in the crater of Great Sitkin change appreciably."

Simkin and Siebert (1994) call this eruption a discredited eruption due to the fact that apparently no ash was emitted.

In addition, R.W. Laughead (military observer) reported a "thick steam column with some smoke grey in color" on 29 July 1953.