The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-04
| PELEE ALARMS A CONSUL.
Volcano May Become Alaotker, T1ra-
katOa, Says Louis III. Ay1ne.


katoa, Says Louis H. Ay1ne.
sslIont Pelee may assume the Kraka-
too type Of volcano. and in that case
there may be another great disaster in
the West Indies, said Louis Fl. Aymes
who returned to Chicago the other day
after a fishing excursion in Minnesota.
says the Chicago Evening Post Mr..
AyIne is United States consul at Quad
aioupe
Mr.. Ayme held in his hand a press
dispatch from st. Thomas stating that
news had come from the island of Do
minica that prolonged noises in quick
succession were heard there from the
south recently and that the Indication
is that Pelee IS again in state Of VIC.
lent eruption.
While Consul Ayme does not wish to
be understood as an alarlnist, the
news, coupled with his intimate knowl-
edge Of the situation on Martinique,
causes him TO feel grave apprehen-
gions as to what the still active vol
can0 may do III the near future.
What Consul Ayme fears most is
that tidal wave may follow contin-
ued eruptions, and a tidal wave, II
should be remembered, is likely to az
feet not only Martinique, but the entire
chain Of islands.
''Krakatoa is the name Of volcano
In South America which blew the top
of the mountain off several years ago."
said Consul Ayme In explanation of
his statement 1.-The report was heard
2,40O miles away. 1t began to erupt In
February and continued to mutter for
months after. I think 1t was in Au-
gust that tho climax came. This may
prove to be the case In Martinique
Mont Pelee may blow the top off the
mountain, and then there will be seri
GUS trouble. It was the eruption OF
May which destroyed St Pierre, but
that explosion was not 80 severe as the
one Of June g and the explosion OF
June 6 was not so severe as some
which have followed.
Sup to June 6 there had been four or
ave separate craters on the sides Of
the mountains near the base. Their
mechanism was old-that is to say,
they were old craters which had been
filed up and then burst out again.
June 6 new crater was formed near
the one which destroyed the city. My
information points to another new era
ter and indicates that Pelee's activity
is increasing instead Of diminishing.
IF the vent Is not sufficient. vol
cano will blow its head off," declared
the consul. "In the case Of Mont Pc
lee, which extends under the sea, the
result would be tremors Of earth and
water which might cause terrible
disaster. At least 100000 people would
be affected by tidal wave flooding
the adjacent islands. Fort de France
and all ether cities on the leeward side
OF the island Of Martinique would be
destroyed. A rise Of three feet In the
tide would food Fort de France, and
z fifteen foot rise would completely
wipe it out Of existence.
1.-THE islands Of the. West Indies arr
so situated that tidal wave which at
fected one would affect all the others
and If Martinique went under the same
fate would await St Thomas, Domin-
lea, Antigua and the rest Of them.
There is comparatively nothing now on
Martinique to suffer from either vol
cano or tidal wave, but the ether is
lands are quite thickly populated, and
It Is to be hoped that Pelee will not
complete its work by hurting the sen
over the remainder Of the group"