Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-28
Massive Black Clouds and lightning
Flashes Add TO Fright.
PRovERBIAL GRAYIsH-YELLoW IN SKY
Heavy Surf Beats Against Shore for Period
Of Several Hours,
PoPULAct ON VERGE OF A PANIC
RObert II. Hill, United States Geolo-
Eist, Makes Daring Investigation
of the Volcano Activity
,si in Martinique.

I'll In Martinique
FORT DE FRANCE, island OF Martinique,
Monday, May 26.-9 p. m.-Mount Pelee is
again In eruption. Huge, inky- black clouds
are rolling over Fort de France In great
masses. in which there are peculiar light
ming flashes. The inhabitants are now flock
ing into the great square Of the town. II
the demonstration Increases a panic is i'm
minent
= a very heavy surf has been beating on
the shore for the last two hours and an
enormous. grayish-yellow cloud. at a great
height. is dimly visible in the direction Of
Mount Pelee.
The night is intensely dark and the stars
are only family visible.
Fort de France lie In no danger from the
volcano, but there is considerable appre-
hension Of a panic in the night should the
grayish yellow cloud reach here and ashes
and stones begin to fall.
There are no noises from the volcano at
present.
Hazardous visit to Crater.
Robert T. HlIl. United States geologist and
head Of the expedition sent by the National
Geographical society. has just come in from
y ana pTOlOuBeQ lnVebllkhtlOu OF the
volcanic activity in Martinique. Prof. Hill
chartered a steamer and carefully exam
ined the coast as far north as Port de Ma
couba, at the extreme end OF the island,
making frequent landings. After land
ing at lie Precheur, Ave miles north of St.
Pierre. he walked through an area of
active volcanism to the latter place and
made a minute examination Of the various
phenomena that was disclosed.
Prof. Hill Is the FIRST and only man who
has set foot in the area Of cratcrs and
assures, and. because Of his high position
as q scientist. his story is valuable. In
addition to his work OF Investigation, the
professor rescued in his steamer many
poor people Of lie Precneur who had ven
tured back after desertlng their homes and
found themselves in awful danger.
Zone of the Catastrophe.
He reports as follows:
The zone OF the catastrophe In Martin
ique forms an elongated oval containing
stretion on sahS THIS oHs % psrty e over or the the
sea. The land part Is bounded by lines
running from lie Precheur 70 the peak OF
carbet. There were three well marked
zones:
which ali vegetable and animal life was
utterly destroyed. The larger part of st
Pierre was IN this zone.
Second-A zone OF singeing, blsterine
name, which also was fatal 10 all life
killing all men and animals, burning tbs
utterly destroying. the trees themselves.
Third-A large, outer, non-destructivt
zone OF ashes. wherein some vegetation
The focus of annihilation was the new
crater, midway between. the sea and the
new area OF active volcanism, with a new
Mount Pelee, which now consists Of hun
crater is now vomiting black, hot mud
which Is falling into the sea. Botf
Sratsrs. .he old and new. are active
stantly ascend from the old crater, Will,
heavy, ash-laden clouds fioat horizontally
steam, smoke. mud, pumice and lapiilo
but no molten lava.
The salient sopogrsphy Of the region Il
was due 70 the new crater: The explosion
had great sn yerficial force. acing 81
prounting and carrying for yards the gum
in the battery on the hill south OF 81
he Virgin in the same locality, and alsC
by the condition Of the ruined houses ir
First Positive scientinc Statement.
This is the frst positive scientific state
msnt. based on observed facts Prof Hi
has now started on horseback for the vol
eano. He will study the whole affecte,
area and will try to get to both eraters
He will surely visit Morne Rouge and tn
slope of Mount Pelee. The undertaking q
%'-y haIardous. as explosions may occur a
any mement. as one did May 20. Prof
Hill knows the risk he tskes but says tn
only way TO discover exactly what has hap
pened IL to go to the crater itself. or a
near II as possible. He will be gone tw,
days.
Fort de France Is nearly deserted.
new source of fright - fear that a tida
wave may come. wave eight feet higl
would certainly destroy Fort de Franc
and probably cause enormous loss Of life.
The weather is warm and rainy. Tn
south winds carry the smoke and ashe
rom the volcano away from Fort d
france.
RosEAU. Island Of DominicA. B. W. I
May 27.-During the whole OF last nigh
ashes from the volcano on the island G
Martinique fell here in greater quantit
than has been experienced since the out
break OF Mount Pelee.
PARIS, May 97.--In order to avoid . pos
sible epidemic among the 1000 refugee
now at Fort de France Il has been decide
to distribute them among . number OF n
islands.
To COIOniEe ST. vinceat People.
KINGSTON. Jamaela. May 27.-The plant
ers here. including the United Fruit CON
pany. an American concern, are wArml
supporting the proposal to bring hundred
OF the sufferers from the volcanic out
break on the island Of 81. Vincent to wor
on estates here aud also 20 settle them o
the crown lands. The government
Jamaica is being asked 10 make an offer
transport people from st. Vincent
Jamaica.
Wrecked By Paris Mob.
NEW YORK, May IA Paris dispatS