The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07
DIXIE COMES BACK
Scientists Speak Of the Conditions
at Mont Pelee.
DANGER OF A TIDAL WAVE
The Peril That overhangs Fort-de-
France-Value of the ....s.
s..-..s r. Seismograph. -

New York, June '7.--Captain Barry Of
the cruiser Dixie just returned from bear
ing supplies to the volcano victims in
the West Indies, said regarding conditions
In the islands,: 't.-t'-' .-..' =!
; Conditions are not as bad on Martin
fque as on st. Vincent, because on Mar
Unique, the people are fairly we'll sup
piled with everything and there Is no dan
ger in future eruptions. Only a small
area of twenty square miles has been de-
vast ated, but on St. Vincent the =destruc-
tion extends over a third of the island.
Plantations orchards and everything have
been ruined and the means Of subsistence
has been taken away from the people and
thousands have been left in need of some
kind of support
OF the scientific results of the Dixie's
expedition Professor I. c. Russell, of the
University of Michigan. said:
1.-THE overheated rock bursting against
the water near the base of the mountain
caused superheated steam and burst the
mountain. OPEN
Professor Hill, who investigated the
outbreak for the government, said:
Months will be required for the final
scientific decisions We have had an
eminently satisfactory trip. The rocks
and volcanic matter which we have COL
ilected must be cut into sections and an
ialyzed before we can give extended opin-
ions for publication -'f
Professor Hill advocates the estab-
I1ishrent, of scient i1c observatories in the
iCaribbean district for the detection of
the immlnence Of volcanic eruptions so
that human life may be saved-a scien-
tif1c institution easily and economically
founded and maintained
az think Pelee will smoke and remain
active for MONTHS said Professor Rus
sell. ut probably will be case of Vesu-
v1us again. l hardly think Pelee will
ismoulder and blow up in one gigantic ex-
Iplosion. | believe it will quiet down and
gradually die away. new lake will
form In the crater, tropical verdure will
grow where there is now nothing but
black gray ashes.
'The people will build new villages and
Towns at it's foot and again hold their
holiday picnics on it's side; and Pelee will
Iremain quiet probably for fifty or sixty
years. There should be at least seismo-
graph in every volcano-an instrument
which records the tremors Of the earth 80
ct was operated by the Chinese CEN
turtles ago. The instrument would give
the populace ample warning The siesmo-
graph at Vesuvius for thirty five years
has done satisfactory and valuable work
There. is absolutely no occasion for such
tremendous loss of life as occurred at
st. Pierre. "
II do not think Fort de France is in
much danger from the volcano, but l do
think she is in danger from a tidal wave
| in volcanic districts these tidal waves
are of frequent occurrence. They are
caused by sudden upheaval of the sea
bottom. ~ - .~-.-s-r H. ~ s. : ),
I. In case of such an upheaval Fort de-
France would surely be wiped out
"As safety position from tidal waves.
Morne Rouge is finely situated as it Is
| built on high ridge. 1t is about the only
town in the volcanic belt 50 situated "