The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-29
HILL is SAFE.
The Professor Makes His Way
to Fort de France.
Acknowledges That He Was
Badly Frightened Himself.
KEENAN, HEARD FROM.
He Penetrated to the Edge of
Mont Peele Crater.
KEENAN, HEARD FROM.
Latest Eruption Sent Smoke
Three Miles High.

Three Miles High.
Fort de France. Island of Martinique.
May "a tren endous explosion OF
very black smoke from Mont Pelee at
a quarter before 9 o'clock accumulated
the fear entertained for the safety of
George KEENAN,, the American author,
who with a land party, has been exam
lining the northern part of the island.
The governor of Martinique was at
once consulted with the object Of ar
ranging for q rescue party to proceed
by land in connection with the voyage
along the coast of the United States
cruiser Cincinnati, should such steps
appear necessary. At about IL o'clock
proprietor of Martinique, arrived here
and announced that Mr.. KEENAN, and his
party were safe on a plantation at the
north end of the island.
Prof. Robert T. Hill, United States
geolOgist and head of the expedition
sent to Martinique by the National
Geographical society, who left Fort de
France Monday on hOrseba for the
volcano, has returned here. He was
completely worn out by his trip
Prof. Hill relates 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 inter-
and took the direct north road for
Morne Rouge. Between the hamlets of
DOux Choux and Ponds St. Denis, the
party entered upon the outer edge Of
the zone of ashes.
But for exceptional patches all the
country to this point was green and
smiling. Upon reaching the Raibaud
plantation, one mile southwest of St.
Pierre the explorer met the clear line
Of demarcation of the zone of flame
and destruction although not of ami
hilation Monday night was spent in
a deserted house at Fonds St. Denis,
from which Prof. Hill witnessed and
studied the volcanic eruntion of that
night. At this point the horses of the
party became exhausted.
Early the next morning Prof. Hill
pushed on to Mont Parnasse. where
several people were killed in the erup-
ton of May 8. He encountered no hui
man beings, but he nd meet q number
of abandoned cattle which tried to fol-
low him. From Mont Parnasse the eX-
plOrer proceeded to MOrne Rouge, where
he succeeded in getting a number of
important photographs. He found that
a close approach to Mont Pelee was i'm
possible and as his actual position was
dangerous he started back in a south
erly direction. At Champe FlOre Prof.
Hills horse gave out completely and
he secured the services of native guides,
who led him by wild mountain paths
to FOnds st. Denis and DeuxchOux.
Tuesday night was spent at the latter
place From this point Prof Hill sent a
messenger into Fort de France, with a
request that a carriage be sent for
! him. Wednesday morning the profess
sor left Deuxchoux and walked to with
in fifteen kilometers of Fort de France.
| where he borrowed an old horse from a
negro and continued his way The
| carriage n ct him five kilOmeters from
Fort de France and brought him back
to town. Prof. Hill heard the explosion
/ of Wednesday morning while on his
II, L7t,~o7, nd 17nc
| cloud Of black smoke at great
height was drifting slowly to the south
east
Speaking personally of his expedition
4 to Mont Pelee, Prof Hill said:
my attempt to examine the crater of
/ Mont Pelee has been futile. I succeeded
however, in getting very close to Morne
! Rouge. At o'clock Monday night
witnessed from a point near the ruins
of st. Pierre a frightful explosion from
Mont Pelee. and noted the accompany
| ing phenomena. While these eruptionS
continue no sane man should attempt to
ascend to the crater of the volcano. Fol-
lowing the SalvOS of detOna lions from
the mountain gigantic mushrooms ha p
ed columns of smoke and cinders as
cended into the clear, starlight sky and
/ then spread in a vast black sheet to the
1 south and directly over my
head. Through this sheet which
extended a distance of ten miles from
the crater, vivid and awful lightning
like bolts flashed with alarming fire.
| quency They followed a distinct path
of ignition, but were different from
lightning, in that the bolts were horf-
zontal and not perpendicular This is
indisputable evidence Of the explosive
| oxidation of the gases after they left
the crater. This is a most importan;
observation, and explains in part the
awful catastrophe. This phenomenon is
entirely unknown in volcanic history.
Il took many photographs but do not
| hesitate to acknowledge that I was ter
| riied, but I was not the only person SC
frig htened. Two newspaper cores
pondents who were close to N1orne ROugs
some hours before we became scared
ran three miles down the mountain and
! FASTENED into Fort de France.
1.-The people on the north end of the
island are terrified and are fleeing with
their cattle and effects. I spent Tues
/ day night in a house at Deuxchoux with
| a crowd of 200 frightened refugees.
Nearly all the phenomena of these
volcanic outbreaks are new to science
/ and manY of them have not vet beer
explained. The volcano is still intense
ly active and I can not make any pre-
dictions as to what it will do"
The story related by Fernando ClerC
is also interesting. Mr.. Clerc says:
Mr.. KEENAN, and his party have beer
| with US. We got around the mountain anC