Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-10-23
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.
The Possible Influences of the Phases of
the Moon,

The Possible Influences of the Phases of
the Moon.
Washington, Oct. 16 Prof Robert
7. Hill, one of tho members Of Wash
ington's colony of scientists, who made
an investigation in the Island of
Martinique soon after the first erup
tion of Mount Pelee, has prepared an
interesting article on the probable in
1uence of the moon on volcanic ac-
tivity. Prof. Hill says:
.'If we should enter the field of
speculation it woula not be difficult to
conceive that the moon may influence
the periods of eruption in an inter
mittent volcano. 1t is not discordant
with any of(the great modern theories
of yulcanism to believe that tho moon 8
attraction should influence the times
of eruption. The influence Of the
! moon IS attraction upon the tides and
| the maximum tide produced at the
| times OF perigee are generally accepted
by scientific men, although disputed
| by SOME.
sit is well-known fact that when
| the tide rises and falls on the seaeoast
/ many million tons Of water are brought
| alternately nearer and farther from the
land.
George III oward Darwin, in his ad-
| mirable book OH The Tides, has in
yestigated these displacements and
| made calculations Of the actual fitting
of the eoast-line by the rising tide.
''Since tho force which produces the
tides also warps the earth's crust. it is
by no means impossible or improbable
that volcanic activity which is attrib-
4 uted to changes of pressure on the
earth's crust may not be seriously
affected by these forces.
1.-THE relation Of the recent West
Indian eruntIons to the moon is OF
especial interest because Of certain re-
markable condolences which are a;
least worthy of investigation, and un-
fortunately, no accurate. systematic OBJ.
servations have been made upon the
present eruptions in the West Indies,
and American scientific men and insti-
tutions financially able TO conduct such
! observations seem singularly apathetit
in making them.
"Nothwithstanding the limited data
, at hand, there have been several coinci
dences between the phases Of the moon
and the West Indian volcanic eruption,
which Justify serious reflection. Som,
of these condolences are as follows
"On May 7th, 1902, the day of thu
outbreak in st. Vincent and the on,
: Immediately preceding the destruction
, of st. Pierre there was a new moon.
On May 21st. just following the secont
i great outbreak. there was a full moon.
] On October 10th, approximating tn
present outbreak, there was also a full
! moon. The relations of the phases o
3 the moon at date of the other outbreak
! are not at hand. No serious student
! however, would positively state tina
! the phases of the moon were in any wa
! connected with the volcanic disturb
( ances, although shortly after new an
b full moon high water is higher and lol
t water lower.
ION april 25th, when the cloud O
smoke tirst became conspicuousl
noticeable from Mount Pelee, the moo
a was in apogee, or at its greatest dis
! tance from the earth. The eruption
i continued in intensity as the moo
L approached the earth, the great catas
Il tTophe occurring on May 9Th, just 81
y hours after tine moon had reache
II perigee, or its closest point to th
a earth. On June 9th tine moon wa
n again in perigee, but the writer ha
a not at hand the data to say whether Q
It not any serious eruptions occurred q
r this time.
e Neither have any data concernin
! the perigee OF July Sd. On August 28t
e the moon was again in perigee, and,
/ ] remember correctly, on August BOT
n there was another great eruption
4 both Martinique and st. Vincent, n
ii sulting il the death of some 20
il persons upon the former island.