Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-05-27
STRANGE PHENOMENA
The Antics Of the Volcano Mont
Pelee Unknown to Science.
ARE STILL UNS0LVED
PoIsonous Gases Issued from the Crater
Killed Every Thing and Lightning
Currents Caused Fires at 81.
Pierre That Destroyed II.

HeN York. May 2s.-o. Z Hovey, as
siaiant curator Of the American Muse.
um OF Natural history. who went 70
Martinique on the cruiser Dixie to ex-
anime the volcanic phenomena. cables
from Ca1trles. ST. Lucia. that 81. Pierre
can only be compared 10 Pompeii. and
the devastation aud desolatiou are
even wDrse.
lie says Il Is evident a tornado Of
suifocatlng gas wrecked the buildings
asphyxiated the people and nre then
completing the ruin.
This accords with the statement
which has been made that asphyxia-
ton of inhabitants preceded the burn
Ing Of the city and that the gas being
sulphurottod hydrogen. ignited BY
lightning or fires In city
The same tornado drove the ships
in roadstead to the bottom Of the sea
or burned them before they could IS.
I cape. This comes nearer 10 being a
sheet OF flame than anything hereto
fore reported from any volcanic. says
Mr.. Hovey. He says mud was formed
IN two ways. by the mixture In the
atmosphere of dust and condensed
steam and BY the cloud bursts on up
per dust covered the slopes OF cone,
washing down vast quantities Of fine
light dust. No fow Of lava has ap-
parently attended eruption as yet.
lie says great emission OF sufiocating
gas and typical cloudburst explosion
which resulting In streams OF mu6. ars
among new features which Mont Pc.
lee has added 10 the scientific knowl.
edge Of volcanoes.
Prof Robert r. Hln. the eminent
gcologist with BIS party. has charter
ed a steamer and is carenhly studying
the volcano from the sea. George Ken.
nan. with a laui party. is examining
the northern pa, OF the island
Mont Pelee was fairly quiet Sun
day. although there was a big erup-
tion OF ashes. which covered the eH-
treme north % the island The new
crater Is active.
The scientists are divided In opin-
ion AZ 90 whether or not new and more
violent outbursts gre 20 be expected.
A majority 81 them think volcanic en-
ergy will be- displayed FOR a long time.
but that no further loss OF life will
occur. as there are no large places left
to be destroyed. and Fort de France
they say. u absolutely safe from any
possible outburst Of Mont Pelee.
Admiral Seryan Sunday called upon
the United States Consul Ayme 20 ex-
press to him his high appreciation of
what the United States has done for
the victims OF the disaster.
Most of the refugees who have come
into Fort De France have deserted the
town Tor points further south. as ter
ror still Possesses all souls. and Fort
De France Is believed 10 be doomed
All business is suspended. as the
amount OF supplies received has killed
sales.
The French delegates. Admiral Ser
van and the citizens are unanimous In
expressions OF gratitude for the genu-
inc friendship OF the American people.
which has been manifested by the
swiftness with which great quantities
OF supplies have been furnished and
forwarded and the character OF the
delegates In charge OF them.
Fort de France looks deserted. Near
ly 1000 persons have gone to the Is
lands of Guadeloupe. Dominica and 81.
Lucia. and as many more are trying 10
get away. The simple object OF all
minds Is 10 escape from the island.
For two days heavy rains have fall
len.
The sloop Dauntless which. under
command o. Capt Lake. carried sup
plies proviGed by the government OF |
this Island. 20 :A.s sufferers IN Mar
;iHsage. has returned from st. Kits.
b. WI.
The crew of ths Dsantlcss became
frightened on the voyage. refused 10
90 on. and deserted the sloop az Dom |
mica. This delayed the relief expe.
dition. but the Dauntless obtained O
new crew az Dominica and finally went |
on 10 her destination.
On the passage sOuthward. Capt |
Lake SAYS. Mont Pelee was seen blaz |
ing grandiy az intervals OF about Q |
quarter OF an hour. It's eruptions werJ |
accompanied by awful sounds. resem
bling deep thunder. Pebbles and vol
canlc debris rained constantly upon n,
deck OF the Dauntless.
When the Dauntless passed 81. /
Pierre on ,ne voyage northward ths
city's ruins were burning hercely. but /
the volcano was quiescent.
santa Fe to Ettend.