Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-14
THE PIERRE DISASTER.

When tire first accounts OF the ter
rlble disaster at Martinique reached
the outside world IT was hoped that
the loss OF life and the extent o, tho
calamity had been much eXaggciicd,
az is generally the case with FIRST nc
ports. But the later adyices show
that practically the entire population
of the city Of Pierre was extermndtId,
and that the calamity was the worst m
the history of volcanic eruptions.
It appears that big lake had formed
in the heart Of the old crater, Tue
water was brought to boiling, b. The
sudden rise IN temperature, through vol
canic acton, and the steam formed
caused an explosion by which the TOT
OF the mountain was blown off, ana The
melted contents Of the cauldron were
poured over the surrounding region
AT the same time the land heavcd
and a terrible CONFUSION occurred at
yea. The water first retreated, and
then rose IN huge wave and rolled
in over the land. Molten lava, ashes
and sand fell in showers over the
doomed city and vicinity, and the ies-
truction OF life was terrible, The city
Itself probably had no more than $4,000
inhabitants, but people from the coun-
try had focked into town for safety,
when they perceived that destruction
had come upon them, they ran TO the
sea shore, hoping TO hnd means OF
escape by water. but there they we're
met by the great wave that ensuifed
them. The awful tragedy Of Lisbon IN
the year 1855 was thus repeated,
The eruption did aot come without
signs OF warning on Saturday, the Sid
OF this month, It was reported that
ashes were emitted from the volcano
and the streets Of the city were COW
cred with layer an inch deep rhe
following Tuesday, volcanic lava had
destroyed factory two miles flom
the city. The disastrous outbreak did
not occur until two days later, one
naturally wonders why the people had
not taken these warnings and sought
refuge In the far interior But in all
probability they were too ignorant TO
read the signs OF nature correctly Or
perhaps they were too panicstricken to
take Intelligent action. The nocking
into the city instead Of seeking safely
in the country, would indicate the lat
ter II is to be hoped that many have
taken the natural course OF nish, ana
win yet be heard FROM thereby reduc-
lng the estimated number OF dead.
From a scientific standpoint tic
Martinique disaster Is a most interest
ing subject Of study and undoubt,G,y
some important data concerning
seismic Disturbances win be gathered
on the ground. In Great Britain sucn.
tic societies are forming plans for a.,
investigation Of the causes, chardc lei
and results OF the eruptions Johr
Mine, F. r. $, the English selsmolo
gist, who is now engaged In establish
ing seismic survey OF the world, has
It Is said. been asked 10 take part Il
the work OF the proposed eXped ION
Il is probable that an expedition t
Martinique viii shortly be fitted out
consisting Of yolcanIsts, seismologists
biologists, geographers meteofoloslsts
astronomers and mining engineers. |
is the purpose Of the societies interls
cd to thoroughly explore and redu.e {,
recorded knowledge the physical conti
iions Of the Iesser and Great Anunls
together with the entire eastern coas
OF South America