doctortoldhimhewas“adamnfool”tobeworkingup
there at his age.
“Damnit!”Trumanshotback.“I’meightyyearsoldand
ateighty,Ihavetherighttomakeupmymindanddo
what I want to do.”
As eruption threatened, the authorities told everyone
living in thevicinity to clear out. But Truman wasn’t
goinganywhere.Formorethantwomonths,thevolcano
smoldered.Authoritiesextendedtheevacuationzoneto
ten miles around the mountain. Truman stubbornly
remained. He didn’t believe the scientists, with their
uncertainandsometimesconflictingreports.Heworried
his lodge would be looted and vandalized, as another
lodgeonSpiritLakewas.Andregardless,thishomewas
his life.
“Ifthisplaceisgonnago,Iwanttogowithit,”hesaid.
“’CauseifIlostit,itwouldkillmeinaweekanyway.”
He attracted reporters with his straight-talking,
curmudgeonly way, holding forth with a green John
Deerecapon hisheadand atall glassofbourbonand
Cokeinhishand.Thelocalpolicethoughtaboutarresting
himforhisowngoodbutdecidednotto,givenhisage
andthebadpublicitythey’dhavetoendure.Theyoffered
tobring himouteverychancetheygot. Hesteadfastly
refused.Hetoldafriend,“IfIdietomorrow,I’vehada
damngoodlife.I’vedoneeverythingIcoulddo,andI’ve
done everything I ever wanted to do.”
Theblastcameat8:40a.m.onMay18,1980,withthe
force ofan atomicbomb. The entire lake disappeared
underthemassivelavaflow,buryingTrumanandhiscats