The courier., 1902-06-28

- eO-'~
to define the volcano as were the geol-
ogists and astronomers of the days of
Darwin. "vulcanity" is as much a
stupendous mystery to the students
and observers now hurrying to the
scene of the unparalleled disaster at
Martinique as was the new coined
word Of heather origin to the Latin
survivors who gazed in awe upon the
ruins of Pompeii. Similar were the
conditions: similar the ignorance of
the spectator.
Among the first and best equipped of
special students to leave for st. Pierre
was DR.. E. o. Hovey. curator Of the
department Of geology in the Ameri-
can museum Of natural history. I
found him rushing to make ready for
his departure the next day on the gov
ernment relief ship Dixie.
There was only time for him to
speak In a general way of the previous
investigations Of leading geologists.
He was mindful mostly Of the large
opportunit yopening to him for per-
sonal observation, but he outlined GER
tain salient results Of the studies of
such men as Dana, Russell, Judd, Bon
ney and Hill, the last named having
prepared a monograph on volcanic
conditions in the West Indies. From
DIR. Hovey's suggestions and other
sources this sketch of the known facts
about volcanoes has been carefully
compiled.
The number of great habitual vol
canic vents upon the globe is estimat-
ed at between 800 and $50. There is
only one on the whole continent of
Europe, Vesuvius, though elsewhere In
the Mediterranean there are six
stromboli and vuicano in the Lipari
islands, Etna in Sicily; Graham's
island, a submarine volcano of the
Sicilian coast. and Santorius and Nisy-
ros In the Aegean sea- The African
continent Il known to contain ten
active volcanoes, four on the west and
six on the east coast, and there are
about ten others on neighboring is
lands. In Asia there are twenty-four
active volcanoes, but no less than
twelve Of these are situated on the
peninsula Of Kamchatka. There are
no volcanoes in Australia.
The American continent contains
more than the countries of the old
world-twenty in North American, Is
In Coufro1 Auor;co ora <hs~<x, .o,,o.,
in South America. Thus, taken alto
gether. there are about III volcanoes
on the great continents and nearly
twice as many on the islands scattered
over the several oceans. These vol
canoes usually assume in their distri-
button a linear arrangement, and near
ly all Of theme have been thrown up
along three well marked bands and the
branches proceeding from them.
The whole eastern coast Of both the
Americas was thought to be entirely
free from volcanoes of anything like
recent date. and. just as Prof Judd a
few years ago complacently asserted,
''as a matter Of fact the actual amount
Of damage to life and property which
is effected by volcanic eruptions is
small" so Prof. Bonney declared that
the whole western border of the At
lantic is destitute of volcanic activity.
were it not for the long island chain
Of the Lesser Antilles which separates
that ocean from the Caribbean sea-"
r. T. Hill made a special study of
the conditions in the Windward islands.
It has been well known that many of
the West Indian islands are Of lime
stone. chiefly coralline; that same
gontain crystalline rocks. while Others