Leuser has volcano named after him

Congers resident aims to document hunt for diamonds on Indonesian volcano.

It may be hard to fathom, but Ted Leuser is basing his life's ambition on a cartoon from Ripley's Believe It or Not.

The drawing indicates that the Leuser Volcano in Sumatra, Indonesia, at one time erupted diamonds.

When the 64-year-old Congers resident got the clipping from his grandfather nearly 50 years ago, he was excited to see that the volcano had his last name attached to it.

"I was astounded to see my name, Leuser, for the first time in print," he said.

Leuser, formerly a self-employed businessman in the graphic arts industry, said he's convinced the volcano was discovered by an ancestor of his. More important, he believes diamonds are hidden in the lava bed.

Leuser said he sold his store so he could devote all of his time to his quest.

He said he has hardly any proof that any of it is true - he hasn't even been to Indonesia - but he's hoping the vision of himself as a diamond hunter traveling through Sumatra with a team of geologists is enough to attract a few investors and an executive producer for a documentary and reality TV show.
"How many people have you ever known in your life that have a volcano named after them?" he said, with the eager pitch and upraised eyebrow of a salesman.

By AMISHA PADNANI
THE JOURNAL NEWS

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