The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-06-06
FEAR NEW
DISASTER
a..
Fort dc France Is
In State of
Panic.

lnkN NNANh NNNNHAN NN' Imp
de France In great masses. In which
there are peculiar lightning flashes.
The inhabitants are now nocking into
the great square Of the town. II the
demonstration Increases panic is I'm
minent.
A very heavy surf has krcn beating
on the shore for the laff Two hours,
and an enormous. grayish-yclloW cloud
at "A great height is dimly visible IN
the direction Of Mont Pelee. The night
Is Intensely dark and the stars are
only family visible.
Fort de France IL In no danger from
the volcano, but there is considerable
apprehension Of panic In the night
tire, should the greyish-yellow cloud
reach here and ashes and stones begin
TO fall There are no noises from the
volcano at present.
SCIENTIFIC .INVEsTIGATION.
FORT DE FRANCE. Monday. May
2s.-Professor Robert T. Hill, United
states Government geologist and head
of the expedition sent by the National
Geographical Society, has just come in
from a daring and prolonged investi-
cation OF the volcanic activity in Mar
Unique Professor Hill chartered a
steamer and carefully examined the
coast as far north as Port de Macouba,
at the extreme end of the island, max
ing frequent landings. After landing
at lie Precheur, five miles north of st.
Pierre, he walked through an area OF
active vulcanism, TO the latter place,
and made a minute examination OF the
various phenomena disclosed.
Professor Hin is the first and only
man who has set foot in the area Of
Craters. assures and fumaroles and, be-
cause OF his high position as n scientist,
his story is valuable. In addition to
his work of investigation the professor
rescued in his steamer many poor peo-
pie of lie Precheur who had ventured
back after deserving their homes and
found themselves in awful danger. He
reports as follows: The zone of the
catastrophe in Martinique forms an
elongated oval, containing on land
about eight square mile. OF destruction.
This oval is partly over the sea. The
land part IL bounded by lines running
from lie Precheur TO the peak of Mont
Pelec, thence curving around To- Carbet.
There were three well marked zones:
First, a CENTER of humiliation, in which
all life, vegetable and animal was ut
terly destroyed The greater northern
part OF St. Pierre was in this zone.
Second, q zone of singeing, blistering
flame, which also was fatal to all life
killing all men and animals, burning
the leaves on the trees and scorching
but not utterly, destroying, the trees
themselves. Third, "A large outer non
destructive zone of ashes wherein some
f,,f, -
annIhilation was the new crater, mid
way between the sea and the peak OF
Mont Pelee. where now exists now
area OF active vulcanism with hundreds
OF miniature volcanoes. The new era
ter is now vomiting black. hot mud.
which is falling into the sea. Both
craters, the old and new, are active.
Mushroom shaped steam explosions
constantly ascend from the old crater
while heavy ash-laden clouds float hori-
Zontally from the new crater The old
elects steam, smoke, mud, pumice and
lapilli, but no molten lava.
The salient topography of the region
is unaltered. The destruction of st.
Pierre was due to the new crater. The
explosion had greater superficial force.
acting in radial directions, as is evil
denced by the dismounting and carry
ing for yards the guns in the battery
on the hill south of st. Pierre, and the
colossal statue OF the Virgin in the
same locality and also by the condi-
ton of the ruined houses in St Pierre
According to the testimony Of some
persons there was an accompanying
name. Others think the incandescent
cinders and the force of their election
were sufficient to cause the destruction
rms must be investigated | am now
following the nature of this hill"
This is the first positive scientific
statement based on observed facts.
Professor Hin has now started on
horseback for the volcano. He will
study the whole affected area and will
try to get to both craters. He will
surely visit Morne Rouge and the slope
of Mont Pelee. The undertaking is very
hazardous as explosions may occur at
any moment as one did May 90 Pro-
lessor Hill knows the risk he takes. but
says the only way to discover exactly
what has happened is to go to the era
ter itself or as near it as possible. He
VIII be gone two days
Fort de France is nearly deserted A
new source Of fright is in that a tidal
wave may come. A wave eight feet
hlsh would certainly destroy Fort de
France and probably cause enormous
loss OF life.
The weather is lowering and rainy
The south winds carry the smoke and
ashes from the volcano away from Fort
de France.
ASHES FALL IN DOMINICA.
ROSEAU. Island Of Dominica, B. W
l., May 27.-During the whole OF las,
night ashes from the volcano on the
Island OF Martinique fell here in greater
quantity than has been experienced
since the outbreak OF Mont Pelee.
EPIDEMIC FEARED.
PARIS. May 27.-In order to avoid q
possible epidemic among the 1000 refu.
gees now at Fort de France, IL has beer
decided to distribute them among q
number OF depots.
Bills Signed.