The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-29
PROF. N.lL All
 ,s,aNI PELEE |NstryaiiOns of American GcOlOgist. WORN OUT BY THE TRIP } Impossible to Approach the volcano's Crater. George Kennan, the American Author Said to Bs safs--city of Fort
 de France is Now Nearly
 Entirely Deserted
WORN OUT BY THE TRIP

Fort de France. Island Of Martinique, May s, p. m.-A tremendous explosion of very black smoke from Mont Pelee at quarter before 9 o'clock this morn ing accentuatcd the fear entertained for the safety of George Kennan. the Ameri- can author who. with land party. has been examining the northern part of the island. s, ~
 The Governor of Martinique. M LHu- erre, was at once seen with the object of arranging rescue party to proceed by land in connection with the voyage along the coast of the United States cruiser Cincinnati, should such steps appear nec- essary. ~.
 At about Il o'clock this morning Fcrdi- nand Clcro,- wealthy land proprietor of Martinique. arrived here and announc- ed that Mr. kennan and his party were safe on plantation at the north of the island.
 Professor Robert, T. Hill, United States government geologist :. and head of the expedition sent to Martinique by the Na- tioral Geographical Society. who iett Fort de france Monday on horseoack for the volcano, returned here this morn ing. He was completely worn out by the trip. Professor Hili left Fort de France at o'clock Monday afternoon. He was ac- companied by a Mir. Cavanaugh, an array officer from the British Island of Trini- dad, and a boy named Joe, who was to act as interpreter. The party set out on | horseback and took the direct road for Morne Rouge. Between the hamiets or Deux Choux and Ponds St. Denis. the party entered upon the outer edge of the zone of ashes. Except for occasional ! patehes all the country to this point was green and smiling. Upon reaching the ! Raibaud plantation. one mile southwest l of St Pierre. the explorers met the clear l line of demase4tfdsfSpfs&be zone of hame and destruction, although not of annihi- iation. Monday night was spent in de- serted house at Ponds St. Denis. from i which Professor Eiill witnessed and | studied the volcano eruption Of that night At this point the horses of the party became exhausted. Early the next morning Professor Hill rushed on to Mont Parnasse. where sev- eral persons were killed in the eruption of May 8. From Mont Parnasse the ex- pIorer proceeded to Morne Rouge. where he succeeded in getting a number of i'm portant photographs. He found that Il close approach to Mont Peice was im- possible and. as his actual position was dangerous, he started back. In a south erly direction At Champs Fibre Profcs- sor Hilrs horse gave out completely and he secured the services of native guides who led him by wild mountain paths back to Ponds St. Denis and Deux Choux Tuesday night was spent at the latter place. Professor tIill reached Fort de France at Ii o'clock this morning by walking ridipg borrowed horse and riding In q carriage at different stages of the Journey. 1 Professor Hiil heard the explosion of this morning while on his way into Fort de France and he says cloud of black smoke at great height was drifting slowly to the southeast.
 Speaking personally of his expedition to Mont Pelee, Professor IIill said: My attempt to examine the crater of. Mont Pelee has been futile. I succeeded how ever. in getting very close 10 Morne Rouge. At o'clock Monday night I | witnessed. ITOIl al punt ItdT tut EutHS Ol St Pierre. frightful explosion from Mont Peiee and noted the accompanying phenomena While these eruptions con- tinue no sane man should attempt to as- cend to the crate of the volcano. Follow ing the detonations of the mountain gi- gantic mushroom-shaped columns of smoke and cinders ascended into the clear starIit sky and then spread in vast black sheet to the south and directly over my head.
 "Through this sheet. which extended d distance of ten miles from the crater. vivid and awful lightning-like bolts flashed with alarming frequency. They followed distinct paths of ignition but were different from lightning in that the bolts were horizontal and not per pendicular. This is indisputabic evidence of the explosive oxidation of the gases after they left the crater. This is most important observation and explains in part the awful catastrophe. This phenom- enoan is entirely new in volcanic history.
 "I took many photogrs phs, but do not hcsitate to acknowledge that l was ter rIfed. But 1 was not the only person 20 frightened. Two ncwsT arer corrcspond- erta who were close 10 Morne Rouge g, me hours before me became scared, ran three miles down the mountain and has tel ed into Port de France The people on the north end of the island are terrified and are fleeing with their cattle and ef- fects I spent Tuesday night in a house at Deux choux with 8 crowd of aoo fright ened refugees.
 Nearly all the phenomenon Of these volcanic outbreaks are new to science, and many of them have not yet been eN- plained. The volcano is still intensely ac- tive, and I cannot make any prediction as to what it will do.'
 The story related by Fernsnd Clerc is slso quite interesting Mir. Clerc says;
 Mfr. Kennan and bis party have been with us. We got around the mountain and reached the rew crater not far from Ajoupa Bouillion. We discovered that 1t had broken out at the very head of the river Falaise and abe ut POO yards from the high road. Our party rode directly to the edge of the crater and 1t was then qulescent. We saw that great slice of the mountatn had fallen. lesving exposed a perpendicular clif. In this clin were five hugh tunnels which were not smok- ing. The crater is great sloping oval depression. from which smoke issues, as it docs from the great crater. with the