New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-16

from study Of such facts as Mr.. KEENAN, was
able to assemble, and from a comparison with
descriptions of other volcanic explosions, nota-
bly, that of the japanese volcano Bandai-sa9, in
1888 and that of Tarawera in 1856, he
cludes that the discharge which destroyed st.
Pierre and its thirty thousand people il less
than three minutes had it's origin at or NJ Gr TIE
summit, and not from the lower crater where
the disturbance began; that the blast was COM
posed of steam and lava dust disntegrated 10y
exploding steam, and had practically no iniar-
mable or asphyXiating gases in it; that the ia
habitants of St. Pierre and the men killed in
the roadstead came to their death by meaos OF
the overpOwering heat of the Onrushing steam
and the still hotter dust particles carried in it,
or, after being stunned We're burned to death
by the fires started in inhammable objects by
the volcanic dust.
The growth of dread of the devastating vol
in the minds of the visiting Observers
makes an interesting record. They arrived on
the scene with apparently little other emotion
than lively interest and curiosity. On one oc-
casion. when Mr.. KEENAN, and his party were
driving toward the smoking Pelee. from which
the natives were fleeing in panic struck Silence.
carrying their chattels and their little children.
woman exclaimed Look at the poor
fortunates-going toward the mountain This
was the attitude of the native negro. The Guilt
waited residents, like Mr.. Clerc, who accompanied
the party. showed great courage. But Their
more personal relation to the catastrophe eX-
posed them to greater strain. Mr.. Clerc insist
ed retreating from low lying, unprotected
spots when an eruption beginning; and
once while they prowling among the I'M
recognizable dead of the country villas in the
Roxelane Valley, The broke down in fit #
sobbing and walked away from the party until
he could regain his self-control" The visitors
caught some of this nervousness before they
were done with their work. After this day
among the dead, Mr. KEENAN, spent a most I'M
easy night. The second night after Pelee broke
into an eruption and the party left Vive for Il
safer spot, but returned later in the night in
their scientific enthusiasm and would not be
rescued by their distracted host The next day
Pelee still violent. Mr. Remnants fellow
naturalist, overcome with the work of the night
lay i'll abed and left him to brood over the yell
low mud clouds and black showers of falling
dust He describes his growing anxiety in this
manner:
Before noon had become so wrought up by
anxiety and nervous strain that my lmaSlna-
ton began TO run away with me- and sudden
~ felt vague but overwhelming premohltuh
Of some impending catastrophe. Going to MI
Jaccacrs bedside l said TO him: IF you feel
able to get up | wish you would come and look
at this volcano" He walked feebly to the side
window in the upper story of the house gaZtd
fxdly at the volcano for fully n minute, and
then said: 1t looks Nesuvius must have
looked five minutes before the destruction of
POmpe II you want to get out of this. I'm
ready to go"
I've been wanting to get out OF this" said
for the last four hours. The thing is getting
on my nerves. If you and Narian are able To
ride I'm in favor of leaving here at once"
haI. 4
council. and started for Acier, leaving
Nive TO its fate
The book is a record OF perhaps the most APP
palling disaster. directly referable to a vol
| cano. that has been observed in historic times.
The tone is unassuming. Conditions seen are
set down openmindedly and plainly, and the
testimony taken from witnesses is carefully
analysed. The Illustrations are adequate but
better map might well be desired