Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-05-29
SCIENTISTS FLEE
FROM PELEE'S FIRE
Thrilling Escape of Geolo-
lists and Reporters.
DESERTED BY THEIR GUIDES
White Enroute to Mont Pelee to Make
Investigations Eruption OcUrs and
In Panic They Fled Many Miles BE.
fore Reaching Place of Safety

New York, May 2S.-Mont Pelee
from which there was another violent
eruption on Monday, was quiet again
Tuesday night, according to a Herald
dispatch from Fort de France. But.
the dispatch adds, the inhabitants OF
the island are in a terrified state.
The volcano is puzzling all the sci
entists, some of whom say the noun.
tain has thus far made only begin.
ming
Morne Rouge was saved from de,
struction last night only by miracle,
says priest who was there.
Two correspondents, believing the
volcano had for time at least sub.
sided, planned an expedition to the
mountain for the purpose of securing
photographs. Several natives were
employed as guides
After a wearying march which took
most of Monday, Morne Rouge was
reached about half-past Z o'clock in
the evening. The correspondents were
welcomed by a kindly disposed priest,
who gave such information as was in
his possession. He insisted upon a
pause being made for refreshments,
and In his humble home food was pre-.
pared. 1t was this generous courtesy
of the priest that saved the expedi.
tion from destruction. The original
plan was that the visit should ba
made to the crater as soon as possible
,;n1r H.
de France to avoid all danger
While the evening meal was being
prepared the priest pointed out the
work Of ruin that had been accom-.
plished. He said he had refused to
leave his post, though he was not at
all certain Morne Rouge would not be
swept from existence as was ST.
Pierre. 1t was while he was talking
that the explosion came
From their homes the inhabitants OF
the. valley ran in a panic. Some did
not wait to see what was happening,
but hurried over the mountains in the
direction of Fort de France. Scores
went into the church and fell upon
their knees, but by far the greater
number ran without daring to look be.
hind.
The display of lightning was terrific
and awe-inspiring,
When the start was made on the re.
turn trip to Fort de France the guides
and servants were gone. The GORE.
spondents had to find their way across
the hill as best they could Behind
Mont Pelee continued to belch fire,
ashes, smoke and mud The detona.
tions were of sufficient strength to
make the ground tremble. 1t seemed
to the weary travellers as if the noun.
tain tops swayed above their heads.
To add to the horror of the situation
they encountered every now and then
a fer-de-lance, deadliest of all snakes.
Scattered speciments of these ser.
pents, of which thousands have been
killed by the eruptions, were seen
amid the glare from the volcano and
the flashes of lightning gliding over
the rocks and hurrying away, as ii
they, too, had learned that their noun.
tain home was no longer a safe place.
On all sides were natives praying
and cursing in turn. Many, exhausted,
fell by the way and were unable to
continue.
From Morne Rouge to Fort de
France by the devious path travelled
was almost 40 miles. That distance
was covered before dawn Tuesday
morning
Later arrivals reported that Morne
Rouge had not been destroyed. as the
force of the explosion was exerted in
the direction of the sea.
Robert T. Hill, of the United States
geological survey. who left here for
Mont Pelee Monday afternoon, has not
yet returned. nor has he been heard
from He planned to try the crater
from Morne Rouge