The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-05
Result of His Observations While Ex-
plorinE the Volcano from the
Base to the Crater.
WAS NO OVERFLOW OF LAVA
NO CATACLYsM AND NO ToPoGRAPH-
ICAL ALTERATIONS.
Neither Has the Mountain Subsided.
and the Period of Violent Erup-
lions Probably Has Ended.


graphical Society. who is here for the Ma
tional Geographical Society. came into
Fort de France last night from his explora-
ton OF the crater on the summit of Mont
Pelee. Professor Heilprin is we'll and in
good spirits. He has rested from the
fatigues of his last trip and is ready for
more work
The following important points have been
settled by Professor Heilprin: The location
OF the new crater has been accurately de-
termined; II is positively known that there
has been no overflow of molten matter from
the lip of the crater; there has been no
subsistence OF the mountain, and the height
of Mont Pelee is unchanged: the crater
does not contain a cinder cone; there has
been no cataclysm and no Typographical
alteration OF the country. The period OF
violent eruptions has probably ended, al
though the volcano may continue to be
quietly active for long time to come.
Referring to his expedition Prof. Heiiprin
said to-day: IL left Fort de France with
Mr.. Ledbetter the morning of May 2s and
reached Acier al o'clock in the evening OF
the 30th. We visited Vive and Basse Pointe.
The latter place has been entirely destroyed
by the overflow of the local streams. Mud
flowing into the beds OF the rivers there
caused this overflow.
NAV 81 we made our first ascent of the
volcano. We left Acier at half past and
Vive al half past o'clock in the morning:
The party consisted of Mr. Ledbetter and
myself and three colored boys. We were on
mule back. At an altitude OF 700 meters
we began the ascent of the Airete We
passed along its east side. and slightly 10
the north of the mountain We arrived at
the lip of the old crater. the former site OF
Lake Palmiste, at IL o'clock. Here II began
raining. Rain clouds and the clouds from
the volcano developed us and we could
not ten feet.
SAT ON EDGE OF CRATER.
A terrific thunderstorm had begun and
we sat on the edge of the crater for some
time Specializing whether the detonations
we heard were of thunder or from the
volcano. AS we afterwards found the river
Fallaise TO be boiling. the detonations
were probably volcanic. We could not
tell how near we were to the crater as,
either from local attraction or the cleo
trio conditions, our compass refused 10
work It's variation was about 20 degrees
to the eastward, but later we found that
it acted normally. al the lip of the new
crater. The colored boys with were
horribly scared. We finally CROPPED our
way down that awful crater through
electric discharges. At every step we
dislodged the rain-soaked ashes, and were
in danger of being precipitated down the
hideous gorges on either side.
THE extreme top of the volcano is COW
cred with cinders. scoriae, powders and
angular rocks which had been elected from
the crater Further down the mountain
is covered with ashes and mud, and these
are thick on the Arete. On our way down
we saw the river Failaise rushing along
with great velocity and full of steam and
mud. We reached Acer well, but soaked
caked with mud and very much disap-
pointed.
AT .Acier met Mr.. George KEENAN,
and his party, and determined TO attempt
a second ascent the next day, June /. The
ascent made this day with Mr.. KEENAN,
was more trying and difficult than the one
l had previously made with Mr.. Ledbetter.
The day was intensely hot and IL was rain
ing. When we reached the old crater IL was
again enveloped in vapOr. The tempera-
ture of the basin OF Lake Palmiste taken
three inches below the surface was I24 de-
grees Fahrenheit Between riffs i'm the
clouds of vapor we could see the new
crater, of which Mr.. Varian made an excel
lent sketch. Suddenly the vapor cleared
away and we made a dash forward. We
reached the edge of the new crater, and
from where we stood we could have dropped
stones into the white hot mass within The
new crater is q crevasse running north and
south and expanding into a bowl. This
crevasse nearly rifted the mountain. II
runs transversely TO the old crater and
might be called a huge cash. From 1t vol
canic material has been freely erupted.
SUBLIME SPECTACLE.
LAS stood the edge of the crater
sublime spectacle began. / now have
some conception of what is going on inside
the earth and have been a spectator of ma
lures secret interior work We were as
sailed with noise. Far below there was
kissing of steam like that of a thousand
locomotives. as well as violent detonations.
The principal output of the crater while
we were there was steam. The phenomena
was limited and was not essentially differ
ent from those or other volcanoes IN action.
Positive assurance was gained that no
molten matter has flowed over the lip of
the new crater.
Several observations taken with the
aneroid barometer showed that the height
of Mont Pelee has not been changed
agree with Prof Robert T. Hill. the geolo-
gist of the United States government. that
Mont Pelee has erupted no lava and that
there has been no cataclysm or any Sc
rious Typographical alterations. No cinder
cone was visible in the crater; what was
taken for a cone is pile OF elected rocks.
Perhaps the bottom of the new crater may
contain cinder cone but we could see down
only 150 or 200 feet. / believe. however,
that the crater is much deeper than this.
] do not know the exact materials of which
the pile of rocks in the center Of the crater
Is composed but il seems TO be matter
which has been elected from the crevasse.
This pile of rocks has vent. / think
Mont Pelee has freed itself from the in
terror pressure. and that the volcano is
not liable TO further violent eruptions II
is not safe. however. 10 make predictions
about volcanoes.
THE eruption of Mont Pelee OF May s
was unique in that il resulted In the great
est destruction in life and property ever
known by direct agency of a volcano. The
phenomenon of the explosion of flaming gas
is probably new, but careful study Of
observations is necessary before an opinion
can be reached. The electrical phenomena
are also new. They probably did not play
the chief role in the destruction OF 81.
Pierre. but were developed and aided the
other forces. / have specimens which show
the effect OF the bolts OF lightning. The
latter were small and intense and pene-
trated within the houses OF the city For
rapidty of action and for lives lost Mont
Pelee holds the record among volcanoes.
When got back 10 Acier We found
Mr.. Jacaccie and Mr.. Ledbetter. who had
stopped on the Arete and had descended
before us. Early in the morning Of June
Mr. KEENAN, and his party left for Fort
de France. Mr. Ledbetter and | went 10
Morne Rogue 10 study typographical de-
tails. and from there we came back 10 Acier
and Fort de France. / shall now join Mr..
KEENAN, in exploring the lie Precheur re-
/ gion."