New-York tribune., 1902-05-10
EARTHQUAKE PREDICTED.
THE MARTINIQUE DISASTER NO SUR
PRISE TO WASHINGTON SCIENTISTS.
tnr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDrSE. ]

Washington. May 9-Research into scientific
works and records develops that It was long
ago foreshadowed that there would be an earth
quake in the Lesser Antilles about this time.
The prophecy was made soon after the earth
quake which devastat ted parts of the West Indies
In 1851, II being said by scientists then that
the volcanoes on those Islands, though quies-
cent would be likely TO upturn the earth in that
region in about fifty years. While this intelli-
gence was widely known. the modern "sharps"
were inclined TO disregard It's potency In a large
measure, believing that the volcanoes Of the
Antilles were nearly extinct AT the same time,
the government experts IN Washington ex-
pressed no surprise this morning when the news
published that St Pierre had been de-
stroyed 10y earthquake. attributlng the cause,
however. to overlooking. which is widely DIFF
ferent from the process Of volcanic explosion
Since the days when the belief was
held that big catfish lived under the earth
whose chief function was to swallow whole
sale the inhabitants of sections Of the globe s,-
perstition with respect to seismic disturbances
has been reduced TO more reasonable the
ories. the important two being that earth
quakes the result OF spasmodlc accel-
Grafton OF the secular folding of rocks ana
masses having their centrum AT the mouths Of
large rivers. where prodigious quantities of silt
are deposited. and to volcanic explosions. The
former cause produces the more disastrous
earthquake, is further reaching I'm its effect and
therefore Is regarded as of more scientific i'm
portance. According to this theory. regions
water basins at the foot Of long sloping
territory peculiarly susceptible to subter-
ranean explosions. in view of the natural over
load Of sediment which is continually being
dumped therein There are few lands more ex-
posed to the danger OF this natural evil than the
West India Islands including Martinique az the
surrounding waters are the dumping ground for
the sediment washed down the Mississippi and
Ohio Rivers. together with other bodies of water
flowing into the Gulf from other directions
Other places known to geologists as susceptible
to earthquakes from this cause are the lands
the mouth Of the Pc. where other rivers
empty great deposits Of silt; the Bay of Bengal .
which is the receptacle for the washings of the
Ganges and other rivers the Yellow Sea- into
which deposits are made from the Yanktse
River. and the mouth of the Amazon Perhaps
the territory near the Mississippi River and the
Yellow Sea Is most liable to earthquake from
overlooking. To illustrate the geological i'm
portance OF overlooking. 1t is estimated by SCI
entists that II freight cars coupled I'm a line
sixty miles long from Cumberland Nd to
Washington. were kept hauling continually for
year II would not be possible to unload at
Washington half much silt the Potomac
observations il Is learned that large majority
Of earthquakes results Of this cause. while
only a few are caused by volcanic explosion
OF course, is able to tell at this mo-
ment the exact cause of the earthquake at Mar
Unique. But experts here think that il
probably from overlooking, and this opinion was
expressed by Professor w. J. McCiee this after
noon. From trustworthy geographical desCrip-
tiOns of Martinique II Is CLEANED that the island
is rocky and volcanic. containing five or six eX-
tinct Craters Heretofore earthquakes there
have been exceedingly disastrous. OF three
mountains in the interior the highest is Mount
Pelee. which is 4.43S feet above the sea. BY
recognized authorities, the island has been pro-
nounced susceptible to earthquakes the last
serious one occurring in 1851 a result of the
eruption of Mount Peee. At one time there
was an earthquake in one of the Antillean
group, when all of the inhabitants of n town
except one man were killed He was swallowed
by the EARTH but lived in the chasm which held
him until another upturning OF the earth opened
the inclosure and let him out again He lived
to he an old man. monument was raised to
his memory. bearing epltaph telling of the
phenomenon, and his character has a place in
books on the West Indies
The entire archipea go between Northern and
Southern Asia, like the archipelago of Eastern
Asia, Ia n cistinctively volcanic region. being a
continuous link Of volcanic manipulation Yet
most volcanoes in these islands are extinct or
have been quescent during the historical period
FUTURE ARMY OEEICERs