Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-05
PER|L0US FEAT.
Prof. Angelo Heilprin Has Looked
Down into Crater of
Mont Pelee.
VOLCANO WAS VERY ACTIVE
Several Violent Explosions Of Steam
and Gases While He Was on the
with Mud-Nearly Overcome
by Weight OF the Mud.

Fort de France, Island Of Martinique,
Saturday, May 31.-The National Geograph-
zeal society has scored d great triumph
through Its representative here Prof. An
gelo Eleilprin who, this morning with three
guides, assembled to the top of the crater
on the summit OF Mont Pelee. Professor
Heilprin is also president of the Philadel-
phia Geographical society.
Professor Heilprin had gone to the Plan
tation Nive, which is near the crater in
company with Fernahd Clerc and Mr.. Red
landed proprietors of Martinique. This ex-
petition had been especially organized by
United States Consul Ayme and Professor
Heilprin, and was led by the latter. The
expedition left Fort de France last Thurs
day, May 20 at noon. Friday was spent in
studying the newly formed craters on the
north flank of the mountain. Saturday
morning Professor He!lprin determined to
attempt the ascent to the top of the crater
and with this purpose in view he set out at
8 O'Clock. The volcano was very active,
but amid thousand dangers Professor
Heilprin reached the summit and looke d
down into the huge crater. Here he spent
some time in taking careful observations.
He saw huge cinder cone in the center Of
the crater. The opening of the crater it.
self Is vast crevice SUI feet long and loo
feet wide.
While Professor Heilprin was on the
summit of the volcano, several violent ex-
plosions 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 completey
obscure his vision. One particularly vio-
lent explosion Of mud covered Professor
Heilprin from head to foot with the hid
eous. Vlscid and Semi-soid matter thrown
out. Professor Heilprin still persisted in
his study and observations. however and
Twice more was he showered with mud He
Ia had 49,,
were three separate vents through which
team issued. Full details Of the professor 8
observations cannot be had until he re-
turns to Fort dc France.
professor Heilprln's journey down the side
OF the mountain was fully as perilous as
the. ascent. Mont Pelee seemed TO resent
the intrusion of puny human being into
her most awful precincts. and bel, he'd out
huge volumes or steam, ashes and boiling
hot mud
PROFESSOR Heiprin made the important
discovery that the crater at the head of
the River Fallaise has synchronous erup-
tlons with the crater at the summit of the
Noicaho' ana that 1t elects precisely the
same matter at such times. The river
l'allaise crater and the crater at the sum-
init showed, during Professor IIeiprin' s
VlSlt new phenomenon. Mud was thrown
up in high columns. Heretofore the mud
mas dubbed or boiled out and flowed down.
ward IN huge streams. In the course of
one eruption of the river Fallaise crater
an enormous mass Of intensely hot mud
was elected. This flow reached the rum
distiilery on the Nive plantation and ex-
tinguished all the fires there. This torrent
OF mud may invade the plantation, and as
Vlve Is the centre of one Of the richest dis
tricts of the island it is feared the dam
age there may be great.
Mr. Clerc furnishes the following furth or
details OF Professor Heiprin's ascent The
party proceeded on mules to an altitude
OF IU metres. the ancient line of vegeta-
ton From this point Professor Heilprin
continued on foot, leaving the mule that
mad carried him up the steep hogback TO
the tree line. Upon reaching the site of
Lake Palmste, Professor Heiprin found
1t to be completely dried up He crossed
the bed OF the lake and continued on up
the gently rising slope TO the crater.
Formerly the edge OF the crater was a
high buff or shoulder. This the explorer
found had fallen inward into the great
crater, and he thinks this change probably
occurred at the time of the great explosion
or May 70 This is the first important topo-
graphic alteration In Mont Pelee which has
been Noted and verified.
Irof. Heilprn arrived at the edge of Tho
summit crater at 1870 and remained there
Tor over two hours. When he returned to
Vive he rcsembled a statue Of mud. The
weight of ashes and mud he carried on his
person, the horrible atmosphere he breath
I'd and the fearful difficulties he encount-
cred reduced Professor Heilprin to condi
ton of extreme fatigue. NOTWITHSTANDING
the fact that he assembled Mont Pelee from
the most accessible and easiest side. Prof.
Heilprin may return to Fort De France to-
morrow If he has sufficiently recovered by
that time to travel.
George KEENAN, and his party, which
went to Morne Rouge. found on their re-
turn trip that bridge across the road had
been carried away by a torrent of hot
mud. Negroes managed to get the party
across the obstruction; they took the car
rage TO pieces and carried them and the
members of the party to the other side OF
the river Of mud. which was still hot. All
the members of Mr.. Remnants party are
well.