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    How many people perished in the unexpected eruption of Mount Edgecumbe, Alaska in 1974?

    Question #110540. Asked by BRY2K. (Nov 06 09 7:54 PM)


    queproblema

    		Not a soul.

    A practical joker burned some tires in the crater.
    http://www.sitka.com/Porky/porky.htm

    The last real eruption was about 4000 years ago.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Edgecumbe_%28Alaska%29

    Nov 06 09, 8:05 PM
    BRY2K

    		I was secretly hoping that you'd answer this one, QP.

    Right on! I wonder if people in Alaska still talk about this prank?


    Nov 06 09, 8:07 PM
    queproblema

    		Only on April 1, the day Porky chose to fool the public.

    Down about half this page:
    http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/newsreader/story/744128.html

    Today they'd probably arrest him.

    Nov 06 09, 8:15 PM
    BRY2K

    		Thanks, QP. Wow this prankster did a heck of a lot of planning indeed. I like this excerpt from an account of the prank:

    "Although Porky had remembered to notify both the FAA and the Sitka Police (he was a member of the police commission), he somehow forgot to notify the Coast Guard. While Mt. Edgecumbe was busy spewing out its black smoke, the Coast Guard Commander called for a chopper to investigate and sent a whale boat over to check things out. The chopper pilot radioed back to the commander that all he saw was a bunch of smoldering tires and a big April Fool sign in the snow."

    http://www.olypen.com/sitkacds/porky.htm

    You're completely right, the guy would be arrested in a heartbeat if he'd tried that today. Wow, what a neat story! It gives me great ideas for April Fool's Day 2010.

    m

    Nov 06 09, 8:20 PM

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