The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13
Area of Destruction Far Greater Than
that Of May 8, When st. Pierre
Was Overwhelmed.
PHENOMENA WERE THE SAME
VICTIMS OF THE LATEST OUTBURST
BURNED AND sUFFOCATED.
Ashes Fell in Clouds and the Electro
cal IlluminatiOns Were Wonder
ful-Much Uneasiness.

FORT DE FRANCE, Island of Mar
Unique, Sept 6-Prof. Angelo Heilprin,
president of the Philadelphia Geographical
Society, who is in Martinique in the inter-
ests of the National Geographical Society,
has made the following report OF the re-
cent 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 Bour-
don, Basse Pointe, Morne Balai and Ajou-
pa Bouillon, where alone upwards of 800
persons were killed, as well as Morne
Rouge, with a death list OF probably not
less than LOO persons. Morne Capot and
the heights somewhat this side of Fonds
St. Denis. the blast, however, leaving the
last-named place 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 Bouillon,
where one-half of the town has been pros
trated, there is no trace of fire of any kind.
1.-THE destructive blast, instead of confin-
ing itself to section or area, as was the
case during the first eruption, was dis
tributed radially, crossing the low summit
of the volcano near the knob of Morne
Jacob and skipping zones between its rays.
The danger from Mont Pelee is thus ma
in the north of the island is absolutely
safe. The government has judiciously
dered the evacuation of all points reached
by a radius of about eight or ten miles
from the crater.
THE recent phenomena were precisely
like those of May. death resulting in most
cases from contact with the terribly swift
and hot blast, which burned and suffocated
The sulphur emitted from the crater during
the recent eruptions was comparatively in
significant although ii densely permeated
The electrical Examinations during the
storm were wonderful, and greatly sur
passed those of July g. There was no baro-
metric disturbance to indicate a coming
eruption.
During the time was on the volcano
on the afternoon of the eruption Mont
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 erveloped in ashes and mud, the center
of the ash and steam clouds being almost
vertically over us. The destruction of the
several towns and localities was stimuli
taneous, occurring at $40 in the evening.
There is much uneasiness all over the
island of Martinique and this is intensified
by the knowledge that La Souffriere, 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 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"