Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-08
WHY VOLCANOES BLOW OUT
Professor Kemp of Columbia Discusses the
Heat and Energy of tie Earth.
TREMENDOUS PRESSURE IN THE INTERIOR
Causes which Brought About st.
Pierre's Destruction and Laid
waste Much OF the Island
of st. vincent.

The recent volcanic outbreaks in the
West Indies have aroused great interest In
this particular form through which the In
terror heat and energy Of the earth mani
fest themselves, and have raised questions
OF a scientific nature in the minds Of a
great many who had not previously given
them much attention. These questions are
not only attractive, but direct Investigation
Of them involves some elements Of danger
and they are, withal, a bit uncanny.
All that we know in a general way about
volcanoes and their attendant earthquakes
has been accumulated by patient observa-
ton Of both active and extinct cones and
by Interpretation Of the observations In &C
cordance with sound principles. Geology
In this particular does US all great service
because il brings to our aid In connection
with the outbreaks in the Lesser Antilles
the results Of much careful work in all
quarters of the globe. lasting through cen
turtles and performed by many observers.
II, then, we briefly state the order Of events
In the West Indies we may afterward see
how well they conform to a few general
principles, which have been established in
this manner.
Mount Pelee, in Martinique, and La Sou
frlere, in st. Vincent, have been recognized
as old craters since their discovery, but Il
is a long time, ninety years in fact, since
the latter was active. A a k even accu-
INFLATED in one Of the %craters. Gradually
In the early part Of May there were symp-
toms Of r~eviving activity. Earthquake
shocks were felt in their neighborhood,
clouds Of steam and other gases started UP
from the old vents and showers of dust and
stone were blown into the air, because the
vapors burst forth with explosive violence.
AS the days passed the violence increased
and soon an explosion OF special efficiency
in Mount Pelee tapped of a food Of molten
rock which coursed in a destructive tide
down the mountain. A day or two after
ward a furious outburst cast the hot dust
and clouds OF lava over st. Pierre and ut
terly destroyed it.
On St. Vincent, at this writing. dust and
larger fragments and gases have been the
main emissions and have caused the prin-
cipal loss OF life and damage. 1t is re-
ported hat the bottom OF the sea has sunk
several fsthoms near Georgetown and that
thus a considerable dislocation Of the crust
is indicated.
islands Raised From seas Depths.
All the Lesser Antilles from Saba through
the Grenadines and Grenada are of vol.
canic region and they hail from the depths
of the sea. We have no means Of knowing
their exact structure, but from our fuller
knowledge Of Vesuvius, as shown in the
accompanying diagram, we can draw q
pretty close inference.
Vesuvius rests upon the following de.
scribed foundation, as has been shown by
deep borings in Naples and by the noun.
tain ridge OF st. Angelo farther southeast
The lowest stratum is limestone of un.
determined thickness. The volcano occa,
~sionally casts out blocks Of 1t borne alofi
from below.
Next above this is $50 feet Of sandstone