Evening star., 1902-09-13
LAST ERUPTION OF PELEE.
Prof. Heilprin Says 1t Was Worse
Than First,

Professor Angelo Heilprin. president OF
the Philadelphia Geographical Society, who
is in Martinique in the interests of the Ma
tional Geographic 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 8,
when ST Pierre was destroyed, and in
cludes the broad area lying between Ma
couba and Carbet, and involves Haute
Tours de Bourbon, Basse Pointe. Morne
Balai and Ajoupa Bouillon, where alone
upward of 300 persons were killed. well
as Morne Rouge. with death list of prob
ably not less than ], 100 persons; Morne
Capot and the heights somewhat this side
of Fonds St. Denis, the blast, however.
leaving the last named placed untouched.
Great cinders fell also over the region OF
Grand Riviere, 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 Bouil-
Ion, where one-half of the town has been
Frustrated, there is no trace of fire of any
kind.
THE destructive blast, instead of con-
fining itself to a section or area as was
the case during the first eruption was dis
tributed radially, crossing the low sum-
NIT of the volcano near the knob of Morne
Jacob and skipping zones between its rays
The danger from Mont Pelee is thus ma
terially 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 precisely like
tn0 In
cases from contact with the terribly swift
and hot blast. which burned and which suf-
focated. The sulphur emitted from the
crater during the recent eruption was COM
paratively Insignificant. although it densely
permeated the ash cloud which fell over
Precheur. The electrical rluminations dur
ing the storm were wonderful, and greatly
surpassed those of July g. There was no
barometric disturbance to indicate a coming
eruption.
During the time 1 was on the volcano
on the afternoon of the eruption Mont
Pelee was In terrible activity, and refuge
from flying bombs had to be sought in a
hole. The great cone could not be seen.
On the way down the mountain the party
was enveloped In ashes and mud, the CEN
ter Of the ash and steam clouds being al
most vertically over us.
THE destruction of the several towns and
localities was Simultaneous, occurring at
9:10 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 ac-
tivity.
1.-The Illumination of the eruption on ST.
Vincent, as seen from here the night of
wednesday, was most terrifying, and on
Thursday morning the ash cloud from the
st. Vincent volcano 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"