The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1902-06-07
TO MONT PELEE,S CRATER.
ferflous Ascent Made hy FRET Anseis
HeIlrrin. Of the National uco-
graphical society.

tive here. Prof. Angelo hellpth,
who. Yesterday morning, with three
guides. aseended 10 the top OF the
crater on the summit of Mont Pelee.
Prof neilprin Is also president OF the
Philadelphia Geographical society.
Prof. ueilprn had gone to the
plantation Nlve. which il near the
crater. In company with Fernand
Clere aud Mr. Reid, landed pro-
prietors Of Martinique. This cSpedi.
tion had been especially organized by
United States Consul Ayme and Prof,
neilprin, and was led by the latter.
The expedition left Fort de France
Thursday. Mas 90, at noon. Friday
was spent in studying the newly
formed craters on the north flank OF
of the mountain. Saturday morning
Prof. Heilprin. determined TO attempt
the ascent In the top of the crater,
and with this purpose in view, he set
| ont at five o'clock.
The volcano was very active. but.
amid thousand dangers. Prof. He'll
prin reached the summit and looked
| down into the huge crater. Here no
spent some time in taking careful oh
| sersatlons. lie saw huge cinder
cone in the center of the crater Tho
opening of the crater itself is u vast
cre.iee 500 feet long and 80 feet
wide.
While Prof lIeilprin was on the
summit Of the volcano several violent
/ explosions OF steam and cinder-laden
yapor took place. aud again and again
his life wns in danger. Ashes fell
about him In such quantities at times
ns TO completely obscure his vision.
One particularly violent explosion Of
mud covered the professor from head
to foot with the hidcous, viscid ani
semi-solid matter. He still persisted
! in his study and observations, how
ever. and twice more was showered
with mud. lie learned as has been
suspected, that there were three
separate vents through which steam
issued. Full details Of the professors
observations can not be had until he
returns 10 Fort de France.
Prof. Heilprin's journey down the
side of the mountain was fully as
perilous as the ascent. Mont Pelee
seemed 10 resent the intrusion of
puny human being into her most nw-
full precincts aud belchcd out huge
volumes of steam, ashes and boiling
hot mud.
The professor made the important
discovery thnt the crater at the head
of the River Fallaise has synchronous
eruptions with the crater at the SUM
init of the volcano. and that il elects
precisely the same matter at such
times. The River Fallaise crater and
the crater at the summit showed dur
ing Prof. lIeilprin's visit a new
phenomenon. Mud was thrown mp
In high columns. Heretofore The mud
has bnbbled or boiled ont and flowed
downward in huge streams. In the
course of one eruption of the River
fallaise crater an enormous mass of
intensely hot mud was elected. This
flow reached the rum distllery on the
Niye plantation, and extinguished all
the fires there. This torrent Of mud
may invade the entire plantation and.
as Niye Is the center OF one Of the
richest districts Of the island. IL is
feared the damage may be great.
Mr. Clerc furnishes the following
further details of Prof. Heilprin's ns-
cent. The party proceeded on mules
to an altitude of 700 meters. the an
cient line of vegetation. From this
point Prof Ileilprin continued on
foot, leaving the mule that had car
ried kim mp the steep hog back To the
tree line.
Upon reaching the site Of Lake Pal
mste the professor found II com
pletely dried up lie crossed the bed
Of the lake and continued up on the
gently-rising slope to the crater.
Formerly the edge ~ the crater was
n high bluff. or shoulder This, the
explorer found. had fallen into the
! great crater and he thinks this
change probably occurred at the time
OF the great explosion Of May 20.
This Is the first important topograph.
&c alteration in Mont Pelee which has
been noted and verified
Prof. Heilprin arrived at the edge
OF the summit crater at half-past one
and remained there for over two
hours. When he returned TO yiye h,
/
weight of ashes and mud he carried
, on his person. the horrible at
mosphere he breathed and the fear
ful difficulties he encountered re
duced him to "A condition Of extrem
fatigue. notwithstanding the fac
that be ascended Mont Pelee fron
the most accessible and easiest side
Prof. Heilprin may return to For
E de France to-day. II he has sufficient
4 ly recovered by that time TO do so.
e George KEENAN,, and his party, wh
r went 10 Morne Rouge. found on theI
return trip that a bridge across tn
+ road had been carried away by toi
e rent Of hot mud. Negroes manage
e to get the party across the obstru
/ ton. They took the carriages I
L pieces and carried them and I'll
e members Of the party TO the 9th,
e side Of the river of mud, which W.
"A still hot. All the members Of VI
Kennan's party are well.
Grand Gift to Methodlsm.
4 Denver. Col, June f-Henry Col