The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-19
Hv Leonard Tells How He Sc
cured Photographs.
His PeriIOus Ascent to the
Death Dealing Crater.
A THRILLING STORY.
Describes the Scenes of Ruin
and Devastation.
Also Tells of His Experiences
With La SOufriere.

New York. June bly, Leonard, the
daring young camera artist VINO was
the first to reach Martinique after the
Mont Pelee disaster and who furnished
the State Journal through the Leslie
syndicate with the first authentic snap
shots of St. Pierre and surrounding
places, has returned to New York by the
way Of St. Vincent
When asked to give a brief synopsis
Of his life and dOings Mr.. Leonard sald.
You just wanted those pictures IN a
hurry and I went and got them or
course, there was risk, big risk, but that
was nothing. Yes, it was hot and chOky
and horrible out there, 7 admit Once
/ had to run for my life and barely
escaped the sumOcatIng fumes or Eelee
by throwing myself into boat and
rowing fast AS for that, every step
taken ashore was a risk, with the
ground falling In every yard or TWO
and steam kissing up Hot yes not
as Pelee.
his friends. was born on the banks OF
the Tees, Yorkshire. England, at place
called South Bank, % years ago HIS
father emigrated to New York when
"Hy" was a boy Of 9, and so most Of
his education was acquired In the pup
lie schools Il was too lazy to go to
school" said lily" but I managed TO
scoop in two medals, anyhow. sup
pose the boys who worked hard got
none.
AT the age Of 16 I went to work un-
der George G. White, one of the leading
illustrators Of his time I was a year
with him and then ran away to sea, but
one trip cured me. There was too mucn
work as a sailor boy for my blood. Then
I applied Tor a job in the art depart
ment of the World, and oddly enough,
got it, 7 struck out into the cartoon
field and made very good money. Later
I was engaged for special work by the
Leslie Newspaper Syndicate. Pm still
trying to avoid hard work, however,
and have reached the ripe age Of tWen-
ty-three without suffering from high
pressure life.
Just how I got to Martinique first
would take much telling. I fitted in
from the Barbados The vessel I ar
rived on passed Pelee before dawn and
there were no signs of eruption then.
] went ashore at Fort de France first
and from there proceeded on a small
boat to St Pierre.
When I attempted to land at the
ruined city I was met by a. gendarme
who mOtioned to me. warning me at the
same time that to land was to court
death I laughed and told him that
didn't matter. / had come to take
Photographs. They made no further eff
fort to stay me. My Immediate objec-
tive point was Mont Pelee. If it was
quIescent determined that would be
my opportunity. To the surprise Of eV-
eryone announced my intention of go
ing to the crater 1t seemed to me
that nothing could have been worse
than staying in the city. There were
charred and decOmposing bodies every
where. The place was a charnel and
the smell hideous. In two or three
places were funeral pyres, where the
police were burning the bodies Of the
dead. There We're no paths to tread,
one having to vault from ridge to ridge
at the risk of a broken leg with the first
false step.
Finally I emerged from the city, and
following Instructions, reached Morne
Rouge without a scratch PeIee was
stHl silent. I had been told that the
moment the mountain commenced to
belsh volumes of yellowish smoke I
should be suffocated. This of course was
not encouraging. but I had seen no yell
low smoke vet and consequently did
not fear. Just past Morne Rouge I
came up with a native. I offered him
five dollars to accompany me to the
crater He shook his head and I dou-
bled my offer, also giving him a drink
from my flask. He finally pocketed the