The Van Buren press., 1902-05-31
The Disaster In the West Indies, and
Its Explanation.
From the Scientific American.

Its Explanation.
From the Scientific American,
Now that we have in measure recov-
cred from the first shock Of the West
Indian disaster, our attention Is turned
from the appalling accounts Of human
destruction to the interesting details OF
the volcanic phenomenon. 1t is a gen
eral rule that the intensity of an erup-
ton is proportional to the volcano s
auiescent period. For years the people
Of Martinique had lived In perfect safety
under the shelter of Mont Pelee and
they had lost all fear of danger. First
warnings OF impending danger began on
May Sd, when the volcano threw out
dense clouds of smoke. During the
next night these clouds reflected the
glowing mass in the crater and rum
bling noises were heard Hot ashes
covered the city Of st. Pierre on the
4th; and at noon of the 5th stream of
boiling mud suddenly rushed down the
mountain side to the sea. The speed of
this flow far exceeded that of an express
train; for 1t is said that the distance of
FIVE miles was covered in three minutes.
This sudden rush caused the sea to re-
cede some 800 feet and return in tidal
wave of considerable, though not ser
ious, proportions Gable communication
with Martinique was interrupted in the
afternoon of May 9th, and the next
news filled the world with horror. An
entire city of 2S, 900 inhabitants had
been literally wiped out of existence.
From the wild and exaggerated stories
of the few survivors we gather the fol-
lowing details: Thursday, the Sth, at
1850 A. NJ. there was a sudden, deafening
explosion, and Immediately the air was
filled with hot sulphurous gases, which
withered everything they touched. 1t
Is said that the whole top of the mount
ain was blown off and fell in hot dust
and shattered rock on the city, while
mud and lava poured out Of the opening
thus made. An eye witness at Morne
Rouge, a town Al miles away, which
was not destroyed, states that there
were seven luminous points on the side
of the mountain just before the volcano
burst, and that the explosion was fol
lowed by ten minutes of absolute dark.
ness, simultaneously with this explo-
sion tidal wave tore the vessels in the
harbor from their anchorages and
wrecked them on the beach. The Rod
dam which had full pressure of
steam on, was the only vessel to escape
total destruction, and she worked her
way flaming from the harbor, amid
shower Of molten matter, In the city
almost the entire population was imme.
diately suifocated by the hot, poisonous
gases. This Is proved from the fact that
almost all the dead were found face
with their hands covering
their mouths. II Is supposed that the
destruction was the work of but few
seconds. The short duration Of this in
tense heat is shown by the fact delicate
fabrics were found uninjured among the
badly charred victims. The terrific
force Of the explosion tore up huge trees
by their roots and laid them fiat; heavy
blocks of stone were scattered about F.;
stone buildings were entirely destroyed,
Debris covers the city for depth Of l2
feet. According 10 the present estimates
the loss Of life was almost equal to that
resulting from the tidal wave which
followed the eruption at Krakatoa when
36 900 people persisted.
Az yet few facts are obtainable Of the
eruption Of Mt, Soufriere, st. Vincent,
which occurred on the 9th Of May. \
large loss Of life is reported and dust
from the volcano spread over the Bar
BADGES islands, 70 miles TO the east.
This eruption had probably u sympa.
thetic connection with that Of Mont
Pelee. The Typographical changes oc-
casioned by these two volcanoes cannot
be accurately given at present, because
of the lack of exact scientific data. II
is reported, however, that Mont Pelee,
which was previously 4 ,b2S feet high
has now considerably less elevation
Rivers that were obstructed have over
flowed their banks, causing floods
and land slides, Important submarine
changes have also taken place, for In
graphing for the broken cable oil St.
Pierre, the cable ship "Poyer Quer.
tier reports that she found the sea
bottom 4 900 feet below the surface Of
the water, where formerly the depth
was but thousand feet. These changes
may result In disaster to shipping until
properly recorded by photographic sur
vey.
Volcanic eruptions are generally at
tributed TO tho expansion Of moisture In
the heated subterranean rocks. The
original theory that the earth Is a liquid
mass, covered by u thin crust of solid
matter Is now entirely discarded by
scientists Such conditions would eer.
ionsly interfere with the rotation of the
ear;h and the stability of the crust. We
know the effect Of the moon s and sun 8
attraction on the thin skin Of ocean that
covers the surface Of our globe. TidaI
waves are continually sweeping around
the earth In u direction contrary to the
earth n rotation In comparison with
this we can easily see what a tremen.
dous drag TO the rotation Of the earth
would result were the entire earth u
liquid mass, covered by a mere shell OF
solid matter. Scientists tell us that the
wave produced would be so powerful AZ
TO make even u solid steel crust Of 800
miles OF thickness yield like India rub
Der TO its deformiag Influences, Tn,