Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-07

Geographical society, who Is here fOr'
the National Geographical society, has
returned from his explora tions Of the
crater on the summit of Mt. Pelee. The
following important points have been
settled by Professor tIeIlprin:
The location of the new crater has
been accurately determined; It Is posi-
lively known that there has been no
overflow of molten matter from the lip
of the crater; there has been no sub
sidence of the mountain and the height
Of Mt. Pelee Is unchanged; the crater
does not contain cinder cone; there
has been no cataclysm and no tOpO-
graphical alteration Of the country. The
period of violent eruptiOns has probably
ended, although the volcano may con-
tinue to be quietly active for long
time to come.
Referring to his expedition. Professor
Heilprin. after detailing the perils OF
the ascent Of Mt. Pelee on May 81. gave
the following story of the second as
cent. with George Kennan. on June /:
"The ascent made with MIR. Kennan
was more trying and difficult than
the one I had previously made with
Mr.. Leadbetter. The day was in
tensely hot and it was raining. When
we reached the old crater 1t was again
enveloped in vapOr. The tempera-
ture of the basin of Lake Palmiste,
taken three inches below the surface.
was 124 degrees fahrenheit. Between
lifts In the clouds Of vapor we could
see the new crater. Sud,lenlythe vapor
cleared away and we made dash for
ward. We reached the edge of the new
crater, and from whare we stood We
could have dropped stones into the
white-hOt mass within. The new crater
is n crevasse running north and south.
and expanding into bowl. This
crevasse nearly rifted the mountain: it
runs transversely to the old crater and
might be called huge cash. From 1t
volcanic material has been freely
erupted.
"As We stood on the edge of the crater
a sublime spectacle began. Inow have
some conception of what is going OH
inside the earth, and have been spec
tator Of natures secret interior work.
We were assalled with noise: far below
there was kissing Of steam like
thousand locomotives, as well as vio-
lent detOnations.
"The principle output Of the crater.
while we were there. was steam. The
phenomena We're limited and were not
essentially different from those Of other
volcanoes in action. Positive a*sur-
ance was gained that no molten matter
has flowed over the lip of the new
crater. Several observations taken
with the anerOid barometer showed that
the height of Mt. Pelee had not been
changed. / agree with Professor Hill
that Mt. Pelee has erupted no lava, and
that there has been no cataclysm nor
No cinder cone was visible in the crater:
what was taken for cone Is pile of
elected rocks. Perhaps the bottom Of
the new crater may contain -cinder
cone, but we could see down only about
$50 to 200 feet. believe, however,
sHot tHV SA"tSi NCty uteUtT
than this. do not know the exact ma
terials of which the pile Of rocks in the
centre Of the crater Is composed, but It
seems to be matter which has been
elected from the crevassc. think Mt.
Pelee has freed itself from the interior
pressure and the volcano is not liable
to further violent eruption. 1t is not
safe, however. to mike predictions
about volcanoes I. -"
"The eruption of Mt. Pelee Of MAY
was unique in that 1t resulted In the
greatest destruction Of life and prop
erty ever known by direct agency of n
volcano. The phenomenon Of the OK
plOsiOn of flaming gases Is probably
new, but careful study of observations
Is necessary before an opinion can he
reached. The electrical phenomena
are also new. They probably did not
play the chief role In the destruction OF
st. Pierre, but were developed by and
aided the other forces. l have speci-
mems which show the effect of the bolts
Of lightning. The latter were small
and intense and penetrated within the
houses Of the city. For rapidity of ac-
ton and for lives destroyed. Mt. Pelcc
holds the record among volcanoes