The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-13
MONT PELEE'S DEADLY BLAST

Prof Heilprin Describes Second
EruptiOn-IncIuded Greater Area
Than when 81. Pierre Was De-
strOyed.
Fort de France, Island of Martinique,
Saturday, Sept. 6.-Prof. Angelo He'll
prin, president of the Philadelphia
Geographical Society, who is in Mar
Unique in the interests of the National
Geographical Society, has made the
following report of the recent eruptions
of Mont Pelee:
THE scene of destruction in the last
eruption of Mont Pelee far surpasses
in extent that of the eruption of May
s, when ST. Pierre was destroyed, and
includes the broad area lying between
Macouba and Carbet and involves
Haute Tours de Bourbon, Basse-Pointe.
Morne Balai and Ajoupa Bouillon,
where alone upwards of 300
persons were killed, as well as Morne
Rouge, with a death list of probably
not less than 1,1o0 persons; Morne Ca
pot and the nights somewhat this side
of Fonds St Denis, the blast. however,
leaving the last named place untouch-
ed. Great cindcrs fell also over the re-
gion of Grand Riyiere and Precheur is
covered deep with ashes. In Carbet the
ashes lie one foot deep and nearly the
same amount covers the ruins OF ST.
Pierre. All of Morne Rouge. with the
exception of about four houses and the
beautiful church has been swept to the
ground and the greater part of the
town has been burned up. At Ajoupa
Bouilon, where one half the town has
been Frustrated, there is no trace of
fire of any kind.
The destructive blast, instead of con-
filming itself to a section or area, as
was the case during the first eruption,
was distributed radically, crossing the
low summit of the volcano near the
knob of Morne Jacob and skipping
zones between it's rays. The danger
from Mont Pelee is thus materially
increased, and perhaps no position in
the north. of the island is absolutely
safe. The government has judiciously
ordered the evacuation of all points
reached by a radius of about eight or
ten miles from the crater.
THE recent phenomena were pre-
cisely like those of May 8, death re-
sulting in most cases from contact
with the terribly swift and hot blast,
which burned and which suffocated
The sulphur emanating from the crater
during the recent eruptions was COM
paratively insignificant, although it
densely permeated the ash cloud which
fell over Precheur. The electrical
Examinations during the storm were
wonderful and greatly surpassed those
of July 8. There was no barometric
disturbance to indicate a coming erup-
ton.
On Volcano During Eruption.
During the time / was on the vol
cano on the afternoon of the eruption,
and refuge from flying bombs had to
be sought in hole. The great cone
could not be seen. On the
| way down the mountain the
| party was enveloped in ashes and mud
| the center of the ash and steam clouds
being almost vertically over us.
1.-THE destruction of the several
| towns and localities were simultane-
Gus, occurring at $40 o'clock in the
! evening.
There is much uneasiness all over
| the island of Martinique, and this
is intensified by the knowledge that
La Soufriere, on the Island of st.
Vincent, is again in full activity.
THE Illumination of the eruption on
St. Vincent as seen from here the
night of Wednesday was most terri
flying, and on Thursday morning the
ash cloud from the st. Vincent vol
cano carried darkness to Fort de
France for a period of nearly six
hours. No details of the casualties on
st. Vincent have as yet been received
here"