The Topeka state journal., 1902-06-02
REACHES THE CRATER.
Prof. Heilprin Scores Triumph
For Geographical Society.

Fort de France. Island of Martinique,
Saturday, June 2-The National Geo
graphical society has scored great
triumph through its representative here,
Professor Angelo Heilprin, who. this
morning, with three guides, aseended to
the tCp CT the crater on the summit OF
Mont Pelee. Professor Heilprin is also
president Of the Philadelphia Geograph-
ieal society.
Professor Heilprin had gone to the
Plantation Nive, which is near the era
ter, in company with Fernand Clerc
and Mr. Reid, landed proprietors of
Martinique. This expedition had been
especially organized by United States
Consul Ayme and Professor Heiprin,
and was led by the latter.
The expedition left Fort de France
last Thursday, May %, at noon. Friday
was spent in studying the newly formed
craters on the north flank Of the noun
tain Saturday morning Professor He'll
prin determined to attempt the ascent
to the top of the crater, and with this
purpose in view he set out at ; O'CLOCK.
The volcano was very active, but amid
a thousand dangers Professor Heilprin
reached the summit and looked down
into the huge crater. He says he spent
some time in taking careful observa-
tions. He saw a huge cinder cone in
the center of the crater The opening
Of the crater itself is a vast crevice 500
feet long and $50 feet wide.
While Professor Heilprin was on the
summit of the volcano. several violent
explosions of steam and cinder laden
vapor took place and again and again
his life was in danger. Ashes fell about
him IN such quantities at times as to
completely obscure his vision. One par
ticularly violent explosion of mud COW
cred the professor from head to foot
with the hideous, viscid and semi-soli1
matter. He still persisted in his study
and Observa tions, however and twice
more was ShOWered with mud. He
there were three separate vents through
which steam issued. Full details of the
professors observations cannot be had
until he returns to Fort de France
Professor Heilprin's journey down the
side of the mountain was fully as peril =
GUS as the ascent Mont Pelee seemed to
resent the intrusion of q puny human
being into her most AWFUL precincts. and
belched cut huge volumes of steam.
ashes and boiling hot mud.
The professor made the important dis
cOvery that the crater at the head of
the river Fallaise has synchronous erup
tions with the crater at the summit Of
the volcano, and that it elects precisely
the same matter at such times. The riv-
er F'allaise crater and the crater at the
summit showed during Professor He'll
prins visit q new phenomenon. Mud was
thrown up in high columns Heretofore
the mud has bubbled or boiled out and
! flowed downward IN huge streams. IN
the course of one eruption of the river
Fauaise crater an enormous mass OF
| intensely hot mud was elected. This
I flow reached the rum diStillery on TIE
| Yive plantation and extinguished all the
| fires there. This torrent of mud may
/ invade the entire plantation and. as
4 Vive is the center of one of the richest
districts of the island. it is feared the
/ damage may be great.
Mr.. Clerc furnishes the following de-
tails Of Professor Heilprin's ascent. The
party proceeded on mules to an alti-
/ tude Os 700 metres, the ancient line Oi
vegetation. From this point Professor
Heilprin continued on foot, leaving this
| mule that had carried him up the steer
hog back to the tree line. Upon reach
/ ing the site of Lake Palmiste the pro
! fessor found it completely dried up. HI
/ crossed the bed Of the lake and con
tinued on up the gently rising slope Il
the crater. Formerly the edge of thi
crater was a high bluff or shoulde
This, the explorer found, had fallen in-'
the great crater, and he thinks thi
change probably occurred at the time o
the great explosion of May 20. This i
the first important tOpograph altera
tion in Mont Pelee which has beei
noted and verified.
Professor Heilprin. arrived at the edg
Of the summit crater at half past ! an
remained there for over two hours
When he returned to the Vive he re
sembled statue of mud. The weight O
ashes and mud ne carried on his per
son, the horrible atmosphere he breath
ed, and the fearful difficulties he en-
countered reduced him to a eonditio
of extreme fatigue, nOtWithstandin
that he ascended Mont Pelee from tn
most accessible and easiest side. Pro
fessor Heilprin may return to Fort d
France tomorrow if he has sufficient
recovered by that time to do so.
George kennan and his party Wh
went to Morne Rouge, found on the
return that q bridge across the road ha
been carried away by a torrent Of hC
{ mud. Negroes managed to get the part
carriages to pieces and carried thel
and the members of the party to "
l other side Of the river of mud, whic
was still hot. All the members of M
t Kennan's party are well.