The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-06-19
Ascent Of Mount Pelee.
GEORGE KEENAN, AND OTHERS INVESTIGATE
THE SITUATION,

Party of Explorers Ascend to the
Crater of the Volcano Amid Great
Hardship and Danger A Huge
Cavern or Crevasse With Perpen-
dicuIar Walls, to Look Into Which
Was Like Peering Into a White.hot
Furnace
The O..tlook. June 7th
The readers Of the outlook have.
naturally, read with interest and per
haps some anxiety daily press dis
patches relating to the safety Of the
O"tlooh's special representative in
Martinique and St. Vincent, Mr.. Geo
KEENAN,. The fact that on Monday
night OF last week there was an expiO-
sion and eruption from Mont Pslse Of
considerable violence raised some
question as to the safety ofthe parties
which were then exploring the North
ern part Of the island. One Of these
parties was led by Mr.. George Kennan.
another by Prof. Robt. +. Hill Hap
PLY, later reports made is certain
that the member. Of both parties
were entirely safe, and both Ia. we
understand iD have now returned to
Fort lie France. Mr. kennan and
those with him went as far as the
village Of Morne Rouge and perhaps
beyond. A late despatch from Fort dc
France states that on their return
trip they found that a bridge across
the road had been carried away by a
torrent OF hot mud, but they were
carried across the obstruction by
negroes who took apart the carriages
or carts in which they were travelling
and conveyed them and the mem Der.
of the party to The other side Of the
river Of mud. This despatch state,
positively that all the members
Of Mr.. kennan's party are well. The
OutiOOk hoyes to be able to give its
readers soon an account from Mr..
Kennan's own pen of the adventures
encountered on this expedition, to-
gether with full statement of the
condition Of the country and of the
need. Of the people in the vicinity Of
the devastated region. An account
~ ti aht oiot', - iSH'i u" iOl VI
Martinique, who was for part of the
time at least with Mr.. Kennan, may
be quoted on account Of its interest
ing narrative as well as forits personal
interest:
MIR. KEENAN, and his party have
been with ne. We got around the
mountain and reached the new crater,
not far from Aloupa-Bouillion. We
discovered that it had broken out at
the very head of the river Falaise,
and about two hundred yards from
the highroad. Our party rode direct
" 10 the edge of the crater. as it was
then quiescent. We saw that a great
slice of the mountain had fallen,
leaving exposed perpendicular cliff.
In this cliff were five huge tunnels,
which were not smoking. The crater
is great, sloping, oval depression,
from which smoke issues. as it does
from the great crater with the eNcep-
ton that there were few ashes in the
smoke. The river Falaise is boiling
hot, and so muddy that one quart Of
water weighed four pounds Volcanic
stones Of the nature Of pumice float
in this water. Mr.. kennan witnessed
the explosion of Monday night, and
was much interested in the phenom-
ena. The explosion was accompanied,
at intervals, by bright light, which
lasted for half an hour at time.
This light was steady, and illumin-
ated the mountain top. Prof. Hill
says he did not see this light. [ left
Mr kennan and his party in good
health and in safety. They seemed
to he in no hurry to come back to
Fort de France
Throughout the week there have
been symptoms OF activity, toget ther
with explosions, from the two craters
OF Mont Pelee; and torrents of mud
have flowed from the openings in the
same general direction taken by the
flood of destruction Of May s. While
these manifestations have been
alarming, they have been far less eN-
tensivs and dangerous than those OF
MAY and May 20, and the cautious
" expressed opinion OF the scientists
that the volcanic action will gradually
decrease appears to be justified. Two
well known American scientists have
made most interesting and perilou'
excursions in and about the volcanic
mountain itself. Prof. Angelo He'll
prin on Saturday last, with three
guides. actually a.cended to the tOI
of the crater on the summit OF Mon
Pelee Even while he was there eX
ploSiOns Of steam and cinder-ladel
vapor took place, and he returned
completely covered with mud ant
ashes. Prof. Heilprin found tha
there were three separate vent
through which steam issued; that il
the center OF the crater is a huge. Gin
der cone, while the opening of tn
crater itself is a crevice five hundred
feet long and hundred and fit,
feet wide. Despite the constan
danger, he took many measurement
and will he able to map out the topO
graphical changes caused by the re
cent eruptions. One interesting Oh
servatiOn showed that the new crate
at the river Falaise acted in precis
unison with the crater at the summit
Prof. Hill while he did not make a
g actual ascent Of the mountain, as b
reached the vicinity at time OF sue
activity that further progress wa
impossible, was nevertheless able
take many photographs and to recor
7 many facts of scientific Significance
He found indisputable evidence {
! what he considers an entirely ne
phenomenon in volcanic histOry-th
explosive oxidation OF the gases afts
!, they left the crater. This, he say
: explains in part the awful cata
II trophe.
Il MR. KENNAN'S ASCENT OF MONT PELEI
Il The Outlook. June 14th.
= We recorded last week the fact tn.
IL -