Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-27
PROF HILL IS BACK
He Made a Careful Examination
 of the Volcanic Trouble.
SCIENTIST OF HIGH STANDING

The Only Man Whot Has Set Foot in
 the Area of Craters-He Assisted in
 Rescuing Many People During His
 Trip-Fort de France Almost De
 serted They. Fear a Tidal Wave
 Now.
 Fort de France, Monday, May 26.- Prof Robert T. Hill, United States gov ernment geologist and head of the ex- petition sent by the National Geograph- ical society. has just come in from daring and prolonged investigation Of the volcanic activity in. Martinique. Prof Hill chartered steamer and care fully examined the coast as far north as Port de Macouba, at the extreme end Of the island, making frequent landings. After landing at Le Prech- eur, five miles north of St Pierre, he walked through an area of active vol canisIn to the latter place and made q minute examination of the various phenomena disclosed.
 Prof Hill is the first and only man who has set foot in the area of craters, Assures and fumaroles and, because of his high position as scientist, his story is valuable. In addition to his work of investigation the professor rescued in his steamer many poor peo- pie of Le Precheur who had ventured back after deserting their homes and found themselves in awful danger. He reports as follows:
 ''The zone of the catastrophe in Mar unique forms an elongated oval NNn- taining on land about eight square miles of destruction. This oval is part ly over the sea. The land part is bounded by lines running from Le Precheur to the peak of Mont Pelee, thence curving around to Carbet. There were three we'll marked zones. First center of annihilation. in which all life, vegetable and animal, was utterly destroyed; the greater northern part of St Pierre was in this gene. Second, a zone of singeing, blistering flame, which also was fatal to all life. killing all men and animals, burning the leaves on the trees and scorching, but not ut terly destroying the trees themselves. Third, large. outer, non-destructive zone of ashes wherein some vegetation was injured. The focus of annihila- ton was the new crater midway be- tween the sea and the peak of Mont Pelee, where now exists new area of active yulcanism, with hundreds of funaroles or miniature volcanoes. The new crater is now vomiting black, hot mud, which is falling into the sea. Both craters, the old and the new, are active. Mushroom shaped steam ex- plosions constantly ascend from the old crater, while heavy ash-laden clouds noat horizontally from the new crater The old ejects steam, smoke, mud, pumice and lapilli. but no molten lava.
 The salient topography of the re- zion is unaltered. The destruction of St Pierre was due to the new crater The explosion had great superficial force, acting in radial directions. as is evidenced by the dismounting and car rying for yards the guns in the battery on the hill south of St Pierre and the colonial statue of. the Virgin in the same locality and also by the condition of the ruined houses in St Pierre.
 According to the testimony of some persons there was an accompanying flame. Others think the incandescent cinders and the force of their election were sufficient to cause the destruction. This must be investigated. I am now following the nature of this hill.''
 This is the first positive scientific statement based on observation facts. Prof Hill has now started on horse back for the volcano. He will studv the whole affected area and will try to get to both craters. He will surely visit Morne Rouge and the slope of Mont Pelee. The undertaking is very hazardous, as explosions may occur at any moment. as one did May 20 Prof Hill knows the risk he takes. but says the only way to discover exactly what has happened is to go to the crater itself or as near it as possible. He will be gone two days.
 Fort de France is nearly deserted A new source of fright is fear thai . tidal wave may come A wave eight feet high would certainly destroy Forf de France and probably cause enor- nous loss of life.
 The weather is lowering and rainy The south winds carry the smoke and ashes from the volcano away from Fort de France.
 Fort de France, Monday, 9 D. m The volcano is again in eruption and huge black clouds are rolling over Fort de France. A panic is feared.