Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-05-22
A Great Volcanic Eruption.

An eye witness to the awful vol
canic eruption in the West Indies last
week tells the following thrilling
story of the events on the island OF
St. Vincent:
Mount soufriere, though not 50
active as it was last week, is still so
threatening as to terrify the inhabi-
tants. Smoke and flames continue to
belch from the crater, over which
there is an incessant play Of light
ming out from a column mounting so
far up into the sky that the eye can
not reach its crest.
By the eruption of 1912 a river,
which had existed ever since the dis
covery of the island, was dried up.
Down its channel there now flows
iwift stream of molten lava, which
glistens like liquid silver, and flows
into the sea. As the water and the
lava meet a great cloud OF steam
arises and the Kissing can be heard
for miles.
After the eruption Of 1872 the old
crater closed and water filled it and
formed a beautiful blue lake. For
many days previous to the present
eruption Soufriere labored inwardly
in a manner such as was new to the
present generation. Then on May 5
the crater lake became greatly dis
turbed. 1t began to boil and bubble
like a great caldron. Steam arose
from it in immense clouds.
The rumbling beneath the noun.
tain redoubled in force, and at 2
o'clock that afternoon Soufriere trem-
bled as if in throes. Then came
series of earthquakes that shook the
entire island.
That night sulphuric flames played
about the summit Of the volcano,
giving it a weird and terrible appear
ance. Steam continues to rise IN
clouds and the thunders of the skies
were joined by those which came from
Soufriere.
During Wednesday, May 7, the
phenomenon continued, giving those
who lived in the near vicinity of the
volcano ample time to make their
escape. All seemed to have been
hypnotized, and of the thousands
who were there only few hundred
went away.
The atmosphere finally became SO
laden with sulphuric gas that life was
made almost impossible. 1t is be-
lieved that many of those nearest to
Soufriere were sufocated by gas be-
fore they were touched by the burn
ing lava.
At last came the climax. Soufriere
suddenly opened, sending six separate
streams of lava pouring and boiling
down its sides. Death was every
where in its most terrible form
Lightning came from the sky, killing
many who had escaped the molten
streams overpouring into the valleys.
For this great tragedy the settings
are wonderful. Soufriere literally
rocked in its agony. From its sum-
NIT majestic column ofsmoke reached
skyward. The craters were vomiting
incandescent matter which gave forth
prismatic lights as it rolled away to-
ward the sea. Great waves of fire
hedged about the mountain top.
Such thunder as has seldom been
heard by man cracked and rolled
through the heavens. From the earth
came tremendous detonations. These
Joined with the thunder, all merging
in an incessant roar that added to the
panic of the fleeing inhabitants.
This lasted through the night OF
May Z, and the day and night follow
ing. On the following morning a
huge column, so black that it had the
appearance Of ebony, arose to an esti-
mated height of eight miles from the
top Of the volcano.
The Carib Indians had made that
part Of the island lying at the base Of
the Soufriere their country. The en-
tire district was a smoking, incinerat-
ed ruin. Ashes were everywhere, In
no place being less than two feet deep.
Every Indian had disappeared. Not
a sprig of green was to be seen on the
island. Live stock had died. Houses
had vanished. Rivers were dry and