Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-03
WHAT VOLCANO SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW
BY PROF ROBERT HILL Member of the Dixie Expedition Martinique

thetic volcanic outbreaks at widely
distant points, but he can no more eN
PLAIN this mysterious coincidence than
can the youngest born child in its era.
die. Weak in mis- knowledge of tho
birth of volcanoes, deficient In surfi
chent data concerning their habits and
action, it is utterly impossible for him
to prognosticate with certainty their
future behavior.
The object of every scientific man
who recently visited Martinique and
81. Vincent was to collect data where.
by he could derive some knowledge IT
the laws of the phenomena, and yet
they were obliged to depend for their
information largely upon the testimo.
ny of eye.witnesses who had never
seen a scientific book. These volca.
noes presented many phenomena hith.
erto unobserved and 1t will require
months of careful study and deduction
before the cause of the outbreak can
be stated with any degree of certainty
This being the case, how can one pre-.
dict what their future will be?
1t has been published in the papers
that vast tidal waves were to be ex.
pected; that some of the islands were
in danger OF presenting more serious
outbreaks than Pelee; that the pres.
ent eruptions may be forerunners of
approaching cataclysms which would
annihilate the island. The writer must
confess that he cannot see one ground
for such prophecies and that in the
history of these islands which have
been built up to their present great
heights by the election of debris such
as accompanied the present explosion
there Is nothing to create sucn fears.
The vents of Pelee and st. Vincent are
the same which were opened before
Columbus came and from which time
and again similar eruptions to those
of the present have come. The wounds
ere open and BEAUTIFULLY suppurating;
why, then, should we predict that the
patient will die?
While these facts are true, let not
the work of the true scientific man be
forgotten or held up to ridicule. Ev-
cry fact properly observed and record.
knowledge which constitutes what we
call civilization. and the man who, ny
devoting his life to the collection and
! Interpretation of these data-often 1T
the sacrifice Of the humanities of life,
through narrow specialization - de.
serves only the greatest assistance,
sympathy and support, even though
his specially is some subject 50 small
! and Obtuse that none but himself can
comprehend 1t.
= = - :. - :. - =
reached the goal. Yet experience in
/ the Republic whose inception we cela
brate and grandeur we applaud teaches
that even the strife is necessary de-
tail of development. The common aim
is to move forward. The lines marked
out widely diverge at the outset but as
times passes they will certainly take
their course in middle ground free
from prejudice, where integrity of pur.
pose and liberal views are given fal,
recognition. 1t required a Hamilton
and Jefferson to establish firmly the
foundations of national integrity. Even
Davis served purpose in interpreting
the scope of our liberties, though he led
to an arbtrament OF arms.
Citizens of Hawaii have no occasion
for pessimistic views in their contem,
plation of what American independence
means in Hawaii. We may be slow III
arriving at the ideals which fellow
citizens of the Mainland have prepared
and extended for OUT use, but the even.
tual result Is not to be questioned
What the principles propounded OF
July Ith, 1916 have done for a nations
progress, will H. worked out on similal
lines for this Territory. Hawaii is z
minute part of the national scheme
but true Americanism exercises II.
benefcient Influence in the smallest
hamlet.