The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-24
NEW CRATER FORMED
IN FIERY MONT PELEE
Below the Old One, and Volcanic
Matter Pouring Out.
NO REAL LAVA WAS EMITTED
All the Scientists Agree That the Out
throw Was OF Mud. Steam, Gas
and Fragments of the
Old Crater.
NO REAL LAVA WAS EMITTED
nv Associated press.

s3sr -HE7
FORT DE FRANCE, MARTINIQUE,
Thursday, May 2o.-At 5 o'clock this at
1ernoon the sky was clear and the popu-
lation was calm; but despite this favor
able change in the situation, many fam
lilies left Fort de France by the French
steamers Versailles and the Vile de
Tanges for the island of Trinidad and
for Cayenne. French Guiana. This, with
the 200 persons who have gone to the
Island of Guadaloupe, and many others
who have sought refuge at St Lucia and
other islands, has lcssened .ne popula-
ton considerably. Besides these some
1900 people have left for the southern
PARTS of the Island Of Martinique, where
5000 refugees have now assembled.
This desertion of Fort de France has re-
suited in the disorsanization of many
trades. a number of bakers have been
compelled to close their stores, owing to
the fact that their employees arc among
those who have fed.
MONT PELEE ASSURING.
The Trench cruiser Tage, having Ad-
n,iral Servari on board, arrived here
this evening She reported that Mont
Pelee now presents a more reassuring
aspect The clouds Of smoke leaving the
crater 1ningle with the clouds in the sky,
and do not have the threatening aspect
whic, they formerly presented. A new
crater has formed in the vicinity OF
Ajoupa Bouillon.
The United States steamer Potomac
made her usual trip to ST. Pierre to-day
with another party Of scientists. she
found the conditions there unchanged
from Yesterday The top of the noun
tain was clearly visible for a consider
able time Captain Mclean. of the
United States cruiser Cincinnati, who has
carefully obserbed Mont Pelee. agrees
with other experts in reporting that
new crater has been formed below the
old one In the new crater there is
great cinder cone, moro than hundred
feet high, from which steam and vol
canic matter is constantly pouring.
MAY BE MORE VIOLENT.
IT ls now the unanimous opinion of the
scientists that this is an explosive vol
tanic no real lava or moEa rock ma
terial having been emitted, only mud.
steam, gases and fragments of the old
crater beds. The scientists compare the
mountains outthrow to the steam OF a
boiler In which the pressure rises to
bursting point. and they think 1t possible
that a more violent outbreak may occur.
The scientists remark that the explosions
have occurred progressively at, longer
intervals and that they have also been
progressively more violent. mus there
has been three light eruptons OF ashes.
On May 9TH there was an overflow OF
mud. which caused the destruction of the
JTsine Guerin: on May Sth there was
the outburst which destroyed st. Pierre
and on May Goth or after an interval OF
twelve days. the last tremendous out
burst occurred. A new period OF rest IS
now OF, and one of two things may nap
pen. The pressure may be confined Tor
e still longer period, and then explode
with still greater violence. spreading de-
struciion over a vast area. and the ma
tain may remain quiesent for ~
half century.