The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-27
MT. PELEE AGAIN.
The Volcano is Once More in
State of Eruption.
Panic Seizes Inhabitants Of
Fort De France.
DUE TO NEW CRATER.
Prof. Hill, United States Gov
ernment GeOIOgist,
Makes Report on the Destruc-
tiOn of st. Pierre.
EIGHT SQUARE MILES
Are Included in the Area Of
Damage and Destruction.
DUE TO NEW CRATER.
Prof. Hill, United States Gov
ernment GeOIOgist,
Makes Report on the Destruc-
tiOn of st. Pierre.
EIGHT SQUARE MILES
Are Included in the Area Of
Damage and Destruction.

Fort De France. Island of Martinique,
Monday, May rs, p m.-A1ont Pelee is
again in eruption Huge. inlky, black clouds
are rolling over Fort De France in great
masses in which there are peculiarly light
ming flashes. The inhabitants now
docking into the great square of the town.
imminent.
a very heavy surf has been beating on
the shore for the last two hours and an
enormous, greyish-yellOw cloud. at great
height, is dimly visible in the direction of
The night is intensely dark and the
stars are only family visible
Fort de France is in no danger from the
volcano, but there is considerable appre-
should the grayish-yelIow cloud reach
here and ashes and stones begin to fall.
There are no noises from the volcano at
present.
PROF. HILLS REPORT.
Fort de France, Monday, May 26.-
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 of
fessOr Hill chartered a steamer and
carefully examined the coast far
north as Port de Macouba, at the ex-
treme end Of the island, making ire
quent landings After landing at Le
Precheur, five miles north Of St. Pierre,
he walked through an area of active
fQICd11Sln 10 the latter pace anu 4ltLJC
minute examination OF the various
phenomena disclosed.
Professor Hill is the first and only
man who has set foot in the area of
craters, assures and fumarOles and, be-
cause of his high position as scientist
his story is valuable. In addition to his
work of investigation the professor res
cued in his steamer many poor peOp4e
of LIE Precheur who had ventured back
after deserving their homes and found
themselves in awful danger. He re-
ports as follows
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 lie Precheur to the
peak of Mont Pelee, thence curving
around to Carbet. There were three
well marked zones: First, a center OF
annihllatiOn, in which all life, vegetable
and animal was utterly destroyed the
greater northern portion 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 destroy
ing, the trees themselves; third a large.
outer, ncn-destructiVe zone of ashes
wherein some vegetation was injured.
The focus of annlhilatlOn was the new
crater, midway between the sea and the
peak of Mont Pelee, where now exists
new area of active vulcanism, with
4AULIiE0S Ol luHldIOlGS OI immature
volcanoes. The new crater is now
vomiting black, hot mud, which is fall
ing into the sea. Both craters, the old
and new, are active. Mushrooms shaped
steam explosions constantly ascend
from the old crater, while heavy ash
laden clouds float horizontally from the
new crater. The old elects steam, smoke,
mud, pumice and lapilli, but no mol
ten lava.
The salient topography Of the region
is unaltered. The destruction OF st.
Pierre was due to the new crater. The
explosion had great superficial force.
acting in radical directions. as is evil
denced by the dismOunting and carry
ing for yards the guns in the battery on
the hill south of st. Pierre and the col
onial statue of the Virgin in the same
locality and also by the condition Of
the ruined houses in st. Pierre.
According TO the testimony Of some
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. I am now
following the nature of this hill.'
This is the first positive scientific state
ment based on observed facts. Profess
sor Hill has now started on horseback
for the volcano. He viii study the
whole affected area and viii try to get
to both craters He will surely visit
Morne Rouge and the slope of Mont
Pelee. The undertaking is very hazard
Gus as explosions may occur at any
moment, as one did May 20. Professor
Hill knows the risk he takes but says
the only way to discover exactly what
has happened is to 90 to the crater it.
self or as near it as possible. He viii
be gone two days.
Fort de France is nearly deserted. A
new source OF fright is fear that a til
daI 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
de France
ASHES FELL ALL NIGHT.
Roseau, Island of Dominica, B. w T.,
May 27.-During the whole of last night
ashes from the volcano on the Island of
Martinique fell here in greater guam
titles than has been experienced since
the outbreak Of Mont Pelee-
TO AVOID EPIDEMIC.
Paris, May 27.-In order TO avoid a
possible epidemic among the 1000
refugees now at Fort de France, it has
been decided to distribute them among
a number of depots.
Fxtraditiou With Chill.