The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-28
VISITED MONT PELEE.
Government Geologist Makes Report
on the Disturbance.
(By Associated Press

FORT DE FRANCE, Monday, May p.
Professor Robert T. Hill, United States
Government Geologist and head of the
expedition sent by the National Geo
graphical Society has just come in from
a daring and prolonged investigation or
the volcanic activity In Martinique. Fro
lessor Hill chartered steamer and care
fully examined the coast as far North
as Port De Macouba, at that extreme
end of the island making frequent land
ings After landing at La Precheur,
five miles north Of St. Pierre, he walked
through an area of active vulcanism to
the latter place and made minute eX-
animation of the various phenomena
disclosed.
Professor Hill is the first and only
man who has set foot in the area of
craters, assures and fumarols and be-
cause of his high position as scientist
his story is valuable. In addition to his
work of investigation the Professor res
of LePrecheur, who had ventured back
after deserving their homes and found
themselves in awful danger He re-
ports as follows:
THREE ZONES.
The zone of the catastrophe in Mar
Unique forms an elongated oval, con-
tanning on land about eight square miles
of destruction. This oval is partly over
the sea, the land part is bounded by
lines running from LePrecheur to the
peak of Mont Pelee,. thence curvins
around to Carbet. There were three well
marked zones: First center OF ami
hilation in which all life, vegetable and
animal was utterly destroyed, the great
er part Of ST. Pierre was in this zone;
second a zone of singing, blistering
flame, which also was fatal to all life.
killing all men and animals. burning the
leaves on the trees and ScOrching but
not utterly destroying the trees them
selves; third, large, outer, monde
structive zone Of ashes wherein some
vegetation was injured. The focus of
humiliation was the new crater midway
between the sea and the peak of Mount
Pedee, where now exists new area of
active vulcanisn with hundreds of flu
marbles or miniature volcanoes. The
new crater is now vomiting black. not
mud which is falling into the sea. Both
craters the old and new, are active.
Mushroom sha ped steam explosions con-
stantly ascend from the old crater while
heavy ash-laden clouds float horizont-
ally from the new crater. The old elects
steam, smoke, mud. pumlce and lapilli,
but no molten lava.
NEW CRATER.
1.-THE salient topography of the region
is unaltered. The destruction Of st.
Pierre was due to the new crater. The
explosion had superficial force, acting
in radial directions as Is evidenced by
the dismounting and carrying for yards
of the guns in the battery on the hill
south Of ST. Pierre and the statue of
the Virgin in the same locality and also
by the condition of the ruined houses
in ST. Pierre.
RI the testimony of Sorna
persons there was an accompanying
flame; others think the incandescent
cinders and the force of their election
were sufficient to cause the destruction.
This must be Investigated. am now
following the nature of this hill
This is the first positive scientific
statement based on observed facts. Pro-
fessor Hill has now started on horseback
for the volcano. He will study the whole
affected area and will try to get to both
craters. He will surely visit Moreno
Rouge and the slope of Mont Pelee. The
undertaking is very hazardous. as ex-
plosions may occur at any moment, as
one did on May GOTH Professor Hill
knows the risk he takes, but says the
only way to discover exactly what has
happened is to go to the crater itself, or
as near it as possible. He will be gone
two days.
Fort de France IS nearly deserted. A
new source Of fright is fear that a tidal
wave may, come. A wave eight feet high
would certainly destroy Fort de France
and probably cause enormous loss Of
life. The weather is lowering and rainy.
The south winds carry the smoke and
ashes from the volcano away from Fort
s de France.