Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-26

S'@s "4sH CIV y q . sFsV .
United States Expert Explains
Just What Happened at
Mt. PeIee.
No Lava But \ Cyclone Ct Fire
and Sulphurous
Gases.
Scientists Agree That Pelee
Will Speak Again Very
Soon.

WIN IhisuA1 !
Soon.
! Castries, w. l., MAY 26.-F'hst among
] the experts in seismology to explain the
volcanic phenomena attending the
eruptions on the islands of Martinique
and St. Vincent is L. o. Hoyey, assist
ant curator of the American museum OF
natural history, one of a party of sci
entists who left New York on the Unit
ed States auxiliary cruiser Dixie to
study the scientific aspects of the re-
cent cataclysm.
The Nj. E. Luckenbach, dispatch boat
of the New York Herald. yesterday
coasted about the northern shore of
st. Vincent, accompanied by the steam
ship Wier, on board of which were the
scientists as guests of Governor Lew
elyn. La Soufriere was still very ac-
| tive emitting vast volumes of smoke
1 and gas accompanied by terrific
roaring which could be heard for many
miles at sea. The trip WAS cut short by
a heavy rain, which made it impossible
to land.
The Dixie has been unloading relief
stores for the st. Vincent sufferers all
day.
Mir. Hovey in the following statement
tells of the efforts OF the American sci
entists to determine the nature and
causes of the eruptions and the reasons
for their peculiar effect upon the de-
vastated islands.
The party of scientists on board the
Dixie split temporarily upon their ar
rival a Fort de France Robert T. Hill
ana G.. c. Curtis remaining in Marti-
nique to study Mont Pelee and Profess
sor Israel Russell, DR.. Jaggar Mr.
Borchgrevntck and myself proceeding
10 st. Vincent, arriving at kingstown
early on May %.
Collection OF data containing the
eruption of La Soufriere was immedi-
ately begun. The history of the erup
ton is practically that of the disturb
ance of 1851. Earthquakes occurred
here about year ago. and have occur
red at intervals at various places III the
West Indies and adjacent regions eyer
town.. w. Griffiths-several months
ago predicted that La Soufriere would
soon break out.
His prophecy was not needed until
last month, when the activity of the
mountain became so alarming that the
inhabitants on the west or leeward side I
of the countain abandoned their plan |
tations and cabins and took refuge in |
the more secure parts of the island. On I
account of the strength of the trade
winds it was not supposed that the /
eastward side of the mountain would T
suffer very much.
This proved Il painful delusion. Z
causing the loss OF hundreds of lives. A
vast column of volcanic dust, cinders,
blocks eff lava and asphyXiating gases
rose thousands of feet into the air,
spreading in all directions a large por.,
ton OF this, having reached the upper
current, was carried eastward. IhiS,
falling, was again divided, and the Gin
ders and deadly gases were swept BY
the lower winds back upon the east
ward side of the mountain. The
wrecked houses show this. the windows
on the side toward the crater being UNI
affected, while those on the farther side
We're wrecked by the back draught up |,
the mountain.
There was no wind OF the morning
of the great outburst, fact which ia
the devastation of the country +
The hot, asphyxlating gases rolledaout |.
of the crater. and many We're scorched
and suffocated. Hot mud falling from
the cloud above stuck to the flesh of the
victims, causing bad
wounds. Great blocks of stbne We're
thrown out of the eastern side of the
crater, which could be distinctly seen
at a distance of four miles. il
"P. N. Mcdonald remained at his es-
tate near Chateau Belair until o'clock ]
in the afternoon of May Z, when the bis
caused him to flee.
CDR. A. Mathes, a German chemist,
detected sulphuretted hydrogen and j
carbon monoxide among the gases
thrown out ty the volcano. Sulphuret-
ted hydrogen was detected also by W
J. Durrant. 6, Kingstown druggist, who
was driving from Georgetown to j
JAMESTOWN on the day of the great
eruption
Concerning the eruption of Mont Pc
lee Mr. Hovey says: "An increase III
The temperature of the lake in the old ]
crater of Pelee was observed by visit
ng biologists as much as two years
100, while hot springs had long been {
known 10 exist near the western bass {
If the mountain and four miles north :
If ST Pierre The residents of Mar :
Unique, however, all considered the !
lolcaro extinct in spite of the eruption !,
fifty one years ago. =
THE ground around the crater of
oelee was reported in 1901 to consist
If hot mud, showing that the increase
If temperature observed eighteen =
months earlier had continued.
soon after the middle of April this
rear manifestations of renewed ac-
ivity were more pronounced. Ashes !.
began to fall in st. Pierre and heavy :
letonations were heard The houses
# the city shook frequently, suffocat-
ng gases filed the air at intervals, AMI !,
he warming phenomena increased un-
il they became very alarming.
"An examination OF the stones which
ell at Fort de France showed them to j.
,e of variety of lava called horn
,lende and andesite. They We're bits
If the old lava forming a part of the
one There was no pumice shown
o me, but the dust and lapini all
eemed to be composed of comminuted