The Lamar register., 1902-06-11
CLIMB MONT PELEE
KEENAN, REACHES THE CRATER

parina Traveller and His Two Com
panions Look Down on Mass of
Incandescent Lava = Terrifying
Ascent Through Clouds of Sulphur
GUS smoke-FoIlowins the Track of
the Fiery Tornado Strewn With
Dead Bodies. ft LtNf
Forc de France. Martinique, June 8.
George KEENAN,, accompanied by
Messrs. Jaccaci and Varian, arrived at
II O'Clock Tuesday morning, after an
absence of twelve days. Professor
Heilprin, Mr.. Kennan and Mr.. Narian
have ascended Mont Pelee. They stood
on the very edge of the crater and
looked down on the incandescent mass
within.
The ascent was made last Sunday
and 1t was the second time Professor
HeIprin has climbed the mountain.
All the explorers are in perfect health
and good spirits. No accidents occur
red on the trip up the mountain, al
though the explorers were exposed TO
many hardships and dangers. In an
interview Mr.. KEENAN, said:
"Five of us started for the crater OF
the volcano last Sunday, and three OF
us reached our object. We crossed
Lake Palmiste, which is now dry ana
full of boulders and hugh ragged rocks
of trachyte. rhyolite and andesite. We
then climbed on mp and reached the
edge of the crater. We found 1t to
be a huge chasm, or crevasse, with
perpendicular walls. We could not see
down into the crater more than 100
feet; it was like looking into white
hot furnace. The chasm opens out to-
hut lao. ppl
unns of steam cut off the view in that
direction. There were hundreds of
fumaroles all about us. What was
thought TO be n cone of cinders in the
crater was learned in reality to be a
huge pile of gigantic rocks piled up one
upon the other. There We're crusts OF
sulphur everywhere. but we saw no
ashes or cinders in or near the crater.
The whole vast bed of the old crater
and of Lake Palmiste is emitting
steam through thousands of oritices.
''The ascent to Lake PalIniste is up,
n long. sharp incline. covered with
these ashes. These had been soaked
with the rain and as we proceeded
they We're terrifying gOrges full of hot
volcanic debris on each side of us.
Every footstep dislodged ashes and our
footing was most insecure. There We're
also clouds of sulphurous smoke
through which the sunlight swept ut
intervals. The ascent was the most
terrifying experience of my life. yet
Professor Hcilprin. the previous day.
had sat enveloped in darkness on the;
lip of what was once Lake ralmistct
and had descended in thunderstorm
of volcanic clouds and almost complete
darkness.
MAY 24th went to Basse Pointe by
way Of Morne Bouge. Our party was
the first to make this trip We fol-
lowed the old road to the point where
the volcanic tornado had swept it. and
from there We followed down the track
Of the tornado. The spectacle here
was appalling. There We're number.
less bodies on every side.
"On the night of the 26th occurred
the great explosion of the volcano. All
that day Mont Pelee had been vomiting
masses of yellow and colored vapor.s
We now know that this presages n.
serious explosion. We heard fearful
detonations during the 26th. and huge
columns of black smoke. alive with
lightning-like and terrifying flashes.
rose from the crater. One column.
which rose to the height of Il mile and
n half. was lit up like fire from the
fierce reflection of the incandescent5
mass within, the crater. The, popula-'
tion of Vive plantation became panic
stricken ut the eruption and went to.
Aciro, two miles further away. Mr..
Jaccaci and l returned to Nive.
Another enormous explosion occur
red the morning of the 2Sth and Vivel
was declared to be untenabie. We all
abandoned the plantation and taking
furniture, bedding and provisions, went
to Aciro, which from that day was our
base. ..E H
'rhe 30th we tried to ascend to the
orator from this side along the Gale
Basse divide. 'f ~
From the crest of the divide we had
n wonderful view into Fallaise valley,
gorge of terrible volcanic activity. We
were driven back byia severe thunder,
storm and nearly lost each other in the
dense volcanic clouds.
ION the 31st we returned to Acir0
and 6:30 o'clock in the evening Pro
fessori IIeilprin and Mr. Ledbetter
came down from their splendid at
tempt TO reach the rim of the crater.
Professor Heilprin said he and Mr..
Ledbetter had been enveloped in vol
canic clouds and thunderstorm and
that they therefore did not reach the
actual edge OF the crater itself
r. --"Sundny, June LIST. the five members
of our party, Professor Heilprin. Mr..
Ledbettcr, Mr.. Jaccaci. Mr.. Narian and
myself started to make the ascent. Mr..
Iaccaci came down with mountain
fever and Mr.. I.edbetter became ex-
hausted. They did not reach the
crater"