The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-18
he!sIandCo
By Electric
Cloud.
EARTHQUAKES AND
FIRE FOUNTAINS
pelse. stromboli. vesuSius and
Alaskan Volcanoes Are
Also Active.

JAMESTOWN (St. Vincent), Septem-
Der Am appalling phenomenon was
witnessed last night. 1t lasted from
8 D. IN. until S o'clock this morning. A
dreadful eruption of the Soufriere vol
cano enveloped this whole island in an
electric cloud and smoke. At IL O'Clock
this morning the atmosphere is still un-
settled, but the eruption is apparently
subsiding. The sun is obscured and op
pressive heat prevails The sea is
slightly agitated. No sand has fallen
here The northern centers are de-.
serted.
officials have been sent from here by
boat to visit the northern parishes, and,
If possible, to report on the destruction
of property and loss of life.
The destruction of the Carib country
is presumably complete. The eruption
yesterday was longer in duration and
more violent than even the first out
burst of May 7th. With a recollection
of the fate of st. Pierre and the last
disaster here, the people converged on
Kingstown and ran to and fro seeking
shelter from the electric cloud spread
inc over the hills toward the town,
while shocks of earthquake, though not
severe, increased the panic.
At 2 O'Clock in the morning rapid ex-
plosions were mingled with continu-
GUS, terrible roar; intense darkness
changed into a constantly glimmering
armament, ilIumined by forked light
ming. balls of fire ascending from the
crater and bursting into meteor-like
showers. Such an awe-inspiring scene
the widest flights of fancy could not
have imagined. This lasted until ?
o'clock in the morning.
TIE rumor that tidal wave was eX-
pected caused increased agitation and
hundreds of people fed to the hills.
Superheated clouds rose to an immense
height and rain clouds below sent down
showers.
At a. m. silver clouds were issuing
from the crater and throughout the day
they moved slowly northward. The
heat was terrible and there were lndlca-
tions of further outbreak OF the vol
cano Last night there were unInlS-
taxable signs of Mont Pelee being IN
eruption simultaneously with the Sou
friere.
Authentic reports received here from
various sources confirm the statements
that the eruption of Mont Pelee dur
most terrific experienced. The cap
tain of the French transatlantic
steamer Salvador, which has arrived
here. furnished the following:
Il left Fort ae France at o'clock in
the afternoon of August 3Oth. on
passing St Pierre at o'clock at night
Mont Pelee was in violent eruption.
At 4 a. M. August 31st, on approaching
the islands of Les Saintes, volcanic
ashes began to fall. 1 arrived OH
Ponte-a-Pitre Guadeloupe, at a. m''
but was unable to enter the harbor un-
til'11 o'clock, everything being obscurea
by falling ashes"
PARIS, September 9--A caoleSfaiil
from Governor Lemaire of Martinique
says that measures have been taken 10
insure the evacuation of the northern
part Of the island.
A RIVER OF FIRE.
JAMESTOWN (St VincenD, Septem-
Der 6-The sights in the Windward DIS
trict of this island resulting from the
eruption of Soufriere on September so
are very interesting. The Rapaccd
river is a stream of fire a quarter OF d
mile wide The river bed is contlnu-
ously throwing up columns and dense
clouds of steam, mud and pebbles Inc
land has spread farther southward ana
is changing considerably the appear
ance of the district. Probably tins Is
caused by the ejecta that flowed down
the slopes, filling the sea about th=
coast.
The port officer of Chateau Belaire'