The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-04
Says Ascent Was Most Terrify- ing Experience of His Life. Passed TerrifyingGorgeS Full of Hot Volcanic Debris.
Reached Edge of Crater Which Was Huge Chasm With Per- pendicuIar WaIIs-Could See Down Only 150 Feet.

Washington, June 3.-Presdent Roosevelt has found a competent man to undergo the dangers of another eruption of Mont PeIee. He Is John F. Jewel of Galena, H., who will be nominated tomorrow to succeed Con suI Prentiss at St. Pierre.
 Fort de France, Island of Martinique, June 3,-Q p. m.)-George Kennan, ac- companied by Messrs. Jacoaci and Varian arrived here al il 0 clock this morning after an absence of twelve days Pro- lessor 1eilprin, prt rts'den; of the Phil adelphla Geographical Society, who is in Martinique under the auspices of the Ma tional Geographical Society, and MT. Ledbetter are expected to reach Fort de France tonight.
 Professor Heilprin, MT. Kennan and Mir Varian have ascended Mont Pelee. They stood on the very edge of the crater and looked down on the incandes- cent mass within. This ascent was made last Sunday and was the second time Professor Heilprin climbed the moun- tain. All the explorers are m perfect health and spirits. No accidents occur red the trip up the mountain, al- though the explorers wei, exposed to many hardships. In an interview with the correspondent of The -socinted Press MT. Kennan said:
 "I must preface all have to say by paying the highest possible tribute to Prof Heilprin. He Is modest and brave, a superb mountaineer and the nerviest and pluckiest man I eyer knew. Profess sor Heilprin's first ascent Of Mont Peiee last Saturday with MT. Ledbetter was most awful experience. yet he started a second time undaunted.
 Describes the Ascent.
 Five of us started for the crater of the volcano last Sunday, and three or us reached our objective point We crossed Lake Palmiste, which is now dry and full of boulders and huge, ragged rocks of trachyte rhyolite and andescite. We then climbed on up and reached the edge of the crater We found 1t 70 be 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 towards St Pierre, but the enormous columns or steam cut off the view in that direction There were hundreds of funaroles all about us. What was thought to be a 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 everywhere, but we saw no ashes or cinders in or near the crater. The whole vast bed of the old crater and of Lake Palmiste Is emitting steam through thousands of orifices.
 "The ascent to Lake Palmiste is up along a 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 was most insecure. There were also clouds of sulphurous smoke, through which the sunlight swept at intervals. The ascent was the most terrifying experience of my life, yet Pro- lessor Heilprin the previous day had sat enveloped in darkness in what was once Lake Palmiste, and had descended in a thunderstorm of volcanic clouds and al- most complete darkness Mir. Ledbetter was with him."
 Itinerary of the Party.
 "The itinerary of our party" continues MT. Kennan, was as follows:
 May B we went to Vive plantation the property of Herman Clerc. Vive Is on the river Capote, into which flows the river Falalise from the new crater. Vive is in the new volcanic area and our position was very dangerous. May "A we went to Basse Pointe. On the 25th we went to St. Pierre and returned to Basse Pointe by way of Morne Rouge. Our par ty was the first to make this trip. We followed the old road to the point where the volcanic tornado had swept across 1t. and from there we followed down the track of the tornado The spectacle here wss truly appalling. There were num- berless bodies on every side.
 "On the night of the 18th occurred the great explosion of the volcano. All that day Mont Pelee had been vomiting masses of yellow, mud-colored vapor. We now know that this presages a serious |. xplosion. We heard fearful detonations during the 24th and huge columns of black smoke, alive with lightning like and ter r;fying flashes, rose from the crater. One column, which rose to a height of a mile and a half, was lit up like fire from the aeric reflection of the incandescent mass within the crater. The population of Vive plantation became panic stricken at the eruption and went to Acier. two miles further away. MT. Jacobi and returned to Vive.
 "The day had been one of terrifying ex- periences and inconceivable grandeur.
 Our party rested on the 27th. MT. Va. risn and Mir. Jacoaci were not well and was very shaky. The ash-laden water caused US digestive troubles.
 A Second Explosion.
 Another enormous explosion occurred the nor ming of the 18th and vive was de- els red to be untenable. We all abandoned the plantation, and taking furniture, bed ding and provisions we went to Acier which from that day was our base.
 '"rhe 18th we spent at Morne Rouge questior ing every eyewitness of the ca- testrophe of May 8. The s0th we tried to ascend the crater from this side. along the Gale Basse divide. From the crest of the divide we mad a wonderful view into