 What could be indicated by the mention in the passage of some newspapers leaving out the question mark regarding "Only Active Volcano in U.S.?
It was still a matter of academic interest when in the late '40s geologists speculated on the relationship between the Kiowa Fault and the Conchas Fault farther south, in New Mexico, and which followed the Pecos as far south as Texas. "Only Active Volcano in U. S.?" demanded the headlines, and some papers even left off the question mark. The idea was not nearly so exciting as a volcano, even a lava-less one, and you couldn't draw a very dramatic picture of it. The dust volcano was on the face of it a more plausible theory. They found themselves on the scene of what was fast becoming the most violent and widespread earthquake North America—probably the world—has ever seen in historic times.
 The newspapers were aiming for dramatic effect by proclaiming it was indeed active
 The newspapers were aiming for dramatic effect by proclaiming it was indeed active  The newspapers misprinted  The newspapers were confirming that there was an ongoing eruption  The newspapers were trying to pass off the dust as smoke from the volcanoes