The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-30
GIVES GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF
VISIT To PELEE
WITNESSES AN ERUPTION
Volcanic Eruptions Discovered.
The Lightning Flashes in the
Masses of Smoke ExpIaincd-They
Account for The Great Destructive-
ness OF the Eruptions-Examin
Hon OF the District About the Vol
canO-Other American Explorers
in Great Dunger-PeopIe Terror
Stricken.

Stricken.
Fort de France. Martinique. MAY o..
D. ma tremendous explosion of very
hlack smoke from Mont Pelee at S:45
o'clock this morning accentuated the
fear entertained for the safety of
George kenan, the American author
who with land party. has been ex-
amining the northern part Of the island.
Ihe governor of Martinique. M. L.
Huerre. was at once seen with the OBJ
| iect to arranging for a rescue party to
proceed by land. in connection with tn,
voyage along the coast of the United
States cruiser Cincinnati. should such
| steps appear necessary.
at about 11o'clock this morning
Fernand Cleric. a wealthy landed pro-
Drietor of Martinique. arrived here and
announced that Mr.. Kenan and his
pant were safe on 4 plantation at the
north end Of the island.
Professor Robert T. Hill, United
| States government geologist and head
OF the expedition. sent to Martinique by
the National Geographic Society, who
| left Fort de France Monday on horse
| back for the volcano, returned here
| this morning. He was nearly worn out
| by his trip.
| Professor Hill recites an interesting
| story OF his examination of the district
| through which he passed. He left Fort
| de France at 1 O'CLOCK Monday after
noon He was accompanied by a Mr.
| Cavanaugh, an army officer from the
! British island of Trinidad. and a boy
| named Joe, who was to act as interpre-
| ter. The party set out on horse back
| and took the direct north road for
| Morno Rouge. Between the hamlets OF
Deux Choux and Fonds ST. Denis. the
| party entered upon the outer edge of
| the zone of ashes. Except for occasion
| al patches. all the country to this poini
was green and smiling. Upon reaching
| the Raibaud plantation, one mile south
| west of st. Pierre. the explorers met the
| clear line Of demarcaiion OF the zone
| of flame and destruction, although not
| of annihilation. Monday night was
! spent in a deserted house al Fonds St
| Denis. from which Pl of essor Hill wit
messed and studied tie vol anic eruption
| Of that night. At this point the horses
| became exhausted
Early the next morning Professor Hill
pushed on to Mont Parnasse where sew
| eral people were killed in the eruption
| of May Sth. He encountered no human
| beings, but did meet a number of
| abandoned cattle which tried to follow
| him.
From Mont Parnasse the explorer pro-
ceeded to Morne Rouge, where he sue
] ceeded in getting a number of impor-
| tant photographs. He found that
| close approach to Mont Pelee was i'm
| possible. and, as his actual position was
| dangerous, he started back in south
| srly direction At Champs Flore, Pro-
| LOFT oil
| and he secured the services of native
| guides who led him by wild mountain
! mathis back to Fonds ST. Denis and
Deux.
Tuesday night was spent at the latter
place. From this point Professor Hill
| sent a messenger into Fort de France
| with a request that a carriage be sent
| for him.
Wednesday morning. the professor
| left Deux Coux and walked to within
| fifteen milOmetres Of Fort lie France
| where he borrowed an old horse from
q negro and continued his way mount
| ed. The carriage met him five kilome-
| tres from Fort de France aid brought
| him back TO town, where he arrived at
| II o'clock this morning Professor Hill
! heard the explosion of this morning
while on his way into Fort de France,
| and he says a cloud Of plack smoke. at
a great height, was drifting slowly to
| the southeast.
| Spea king personally of his expedition
to Mont Pelee Professor Hill said:
| My attempt to examine the era ter of
Mont Pelee has been futile. l succeed
| ed, however. in getting very close to
Morne Rouge. Al o'clock Monday
| night I witnessed. RON a point near
the ruins of ST. Pierre a frightful ex-
| plosion from Mont l eiee anu noted the
| accompanying phenomena. While erup-
| tons continue no sane man should at
| tempt to ascend to the crater OF the
| volcano. Following the salvCs of deto-
| nations from the mountain gigantic
| mushroom shaped columns of smoke
and cinders ascended into the clear.
| starlft sky and then spread in a vast
| sheet to the south, and directly over
| my head. Through this sheet, which eX-
| tended a distance OF ten miles from tba
| crater. vivid and awful lightning like
bolts flashed with alarming frequency.
| They followed distinct paths of igni-
! ton. but were different from lightning
| In that the bolts were horizSntal and
| not perpendicular. This Is inoisputa BILE
| evidence Of the explosive oxidation Of
| the gases after they left the crater.
| This is a most important observation
| and explains, in part, the awful catas-
| trophe. This phenome non is entirely
| new in volcanic history.
| '1 took many photographs, but do not
hesitate to acknowledge that was ter
| rif1ed: but was not The only person so
| frightened Two newspaper correspon-
/ dents who were close 10 Morne Rouge
some hours before me became scared.
tan three miles down the mountain and
4 FASTENED into Fort de France
'srhe people on the north end Of the
l island are terrified and are fleeing with
| their cattle and effec6s. srent Tues
| day night In house at Deux Choux
| with crowd Of 200 frightened refugees.