The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-04
George Remnants Graphic Account of
the Ascent of the Great Volca-
no Near ST. Pierre.
REACHED EDGE OF CRATER
AND SAW A wHITE-HOT FURNACE
ONLY $50 FEET BELOW.
Tribute to Prof. Heilprin, Who Made
the Trip Alone and Ascended
Again the Next Day.

FORT DE FRANCE, Island of Mar
Unique. June 3. l p. m.-George Kennan,
accompanied by Messrs Jacoaci and
Varian, arrived here at IL o'clock this morn
ing after an absence of twelve days. Prof.
Angelo Heilprn, president of the Philadel
phia Geographical Society, who is in Mar
Unique under the auspices of the National
Geographical Society, and Mr.. Ledbetter
are expected to reach Fort de France to-
night
. Professor Heilprin, Mr.. Kennan and Mr..
varian have ascended Mont Pelee. They
stood on the very edge of the crater and
looked down on the incandescent mass
within. This ascent was made last Sunday.
and it was the second time Professor He'll
prin climbed the mountain. All the ex-
plorers are in perfect health and spirits.
No accident occurred on the trip up the
mountain, although the explorers were ex-
posed to many hardships. In an interview
Mr. Kennan said:
"I must preface all have to say by pay
ing the highest possible tribute to Prof.
Heilprin. He is modest and brave, a su-
perb mountaineer and the nerviest and
pluckiest man l ever knew. Professor He'll
prins first ascent of Mont Pelee last Satur-
day with Mr.. Ledbetter was a most awful
experience, yet he started a second time
undaunted.
Five of us started for the crater of
the volcano last Sunday and three OF us
reached our objective. We crossed Lake
Palmiste, which is now dry and full of
powders and hugh, ragged rocks of ira
chyte, rhyolite and andesite. We then
climbed upon and reached the edge of the
crater. We found it to be a huge chasm,
or crevasse, with perpendicular walls. We
could not see down into the crater more
than one hundred and fifty feet; 1t was
like looking into white hot furnace. The
chasm opens out toward st. Pierre, but the
enormous columns of steam cut OFF the
view in that direction. There were hun
dreds of furmaroles all about us What
was thought to be cone of cinders in the
crater was learned in reality to be huge
pile of gigantic rocks piled up one upon the
other. There were crusts of sulphur every
where, but we saw no ashes or cnders in
or near the crater. The whole, vast bed
of the old crater and of Lake Palmiste is
emitting steam through thousands of ORR
fices.
THE ascent to Lake Palmiste is up
long and sharp incline, covered with ashes
These had been soaked by the rain. and as
we proceeded there were terrifying gorges
full of hot. volcanic debris on each side
of us. Every footstep dislodged ashes, and
our footing most insecure. There were
also clouds of sulphur smoke, through
which the sunlight swept at inter-
walls. The ascent was the most terrifying
experience of my life, yet Prof. Heilprin
the previous day. had sat enveloped in
darkness on the lip of what was once Lake
Palmiste and had descended the horrible
arete in a thunderstorm of volcanic clouds
and almost complete darkness. Mr.. Led
better was with him"
"The itinerary of our party" continues
Mr.. Herman, was as follows: May % we
went TO Vive plantation, the property OF
Herman Clerc. Vive is on the river Capot
into which flows the river Fallaise from the
new crater. Vive is in the new volic area
and our position was very dangerous May
"a we went to Basse Pointe. On the 18th
We went TO st. Pierre and returned to
Basse Pointe by way OF Morne Rouge. Our
party the first to make the trip. We
followed the old road 10 the point where
the volcano tornado had swept across II,
and from there we followed down the track