The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-26
SHEET OF FLAME.
Scientists Describe Action of
Mont Pelee.
People We're First Asphyxiated
by Poisonous Gases.
WORSE THAN POMPEII.
EruptiOns Are Likely to Con-
tinue Some Time.
Belief Expressed That Fort De
France is Out Of Danger.

New York, May 26.-E. 0. Hovey, as
sistant curator of the American Mu-
scum of Natural History, who went TO
Martinique on the cruiser Dixie to ex-
anime the volcanic phenomena, cables
the Herald from Castries. st. Lucia;
st Pierre can only be compared to
Pompeii. The devastation and desOla-
ton are even worse.
1T is evident that a tornado of suffo-
eating gas wrecked the buildings, as
phyxiated the people, fire then conplet-
ing the ruin. This accOrdS with the
statement which has been made that as
phyxiation Of the inhabitants preceded
the burning of the city the gas being
sulphureted hydrogen, ignited by the
lightning or the fires in the city The
same tornado drove the ships in the
roadstead to the bottom of the sea or
burned them before they could escape.
This come the nearer to being a sheet
of flame than anything heretofore re-
ported from any volcano
Mud was formed in two WayS-by thu
mixture in the atmosphere Of dust and
condensed steam, and by cloudbursts on
the upper dust-covered slopes of the
cone washing down vast quantities OF
fine, light dust
mo flow Of lava has apparently at
tended the eruption as yet, the purely
explosive eruptions thus far apparently
bringing no molten material to the sur
face. There is no change in the coast
line from Fort de France to st. Pierre
THE great emission of suffOcating gas
and the typical cloudburst erosion,
with the resulting streams of mud, ara
among the new features which Pelee
has added to the scientific knowledge
of volcanoes"
CORWINE ARRIVES.
Fort de France, Island of Martinique
Sunday, May %, p m.-The United
States cruiser Cincinnati arrived here
from st. Lucia yesterday. The steamer
Luckenbach arrived this morning and
left at once for Porto Rico The steamer
E1r7r7t le1l q ~.
this morning with $50 tons of supplies
from the chamber Of commerce of New
York and other citizens. Among her
passengers are w. H. Corwine, who was
specially named by President Roosevelt
as secretary of the various bodies in
the United States contributing for the
relief of the sufferers; Prof. Angelo
Hellprin and other scientists. Mr.. Cor
wine and Captain Scott, brother of Chief
Scott OF the ROraima, were presented to
GOV. LHuerre and the French dele
gates today. The steamer Topaz has
been placed at the disposal of Mr. Cor
wine to visit St Vincent. Her cargo
viii be discharged Monday.
Prof. Robert T. Hill, the eminent geo.
Ioglst, with his party. has chartered
steamer and is carefully studying the
volcano from the sea- Geo Kennan
with land party. is examining the
northern part of the island.
Mont Pelee was fairly quiet yester-
day, although there was a big eruption
of ashes which covered the extreme
north of the island. The new crater is
active.
Mr.. Corwine has Investigated the
method employed in the distribution Of
supplies and has informed Governor
L Huerre that he considers it excellent
1t is expected official notifications will
be issued that sufficient supplies have
been received.
Most of the refugees who have come
into Fort de France have deserted the
town for points further south. as terror
still prevails and Fort de France is be
heved to be doomed. All business is
suspended, as the amount of supplies
received has killed sales.
The French delegates, Admiral Servan
and the citizens, are unanimous in ex-
pressiOns Of gratitude for the genuine
friendship of the American people, which
has been manifested by the swiftness
with which great quantities of supplies
have been furnished and forwarded and
the character of the delegates in charge
of them.
Fort de France looks deserted. Nearly
1000 persons have gone to the islands of
GuadelOupe, Dominica and St Lucia
and as many more are trying to get
away. The simple object of all minds is
to escape from the island.
The scientists are divided in opinion,
as to whether or not more vioent eruD-
lions are to be expected. A majority
think volcanic energy will be displayed
for a long time, but that no further loss
places left to be destroyed and Fort de
France, they say, is absolutely safe
from any possible outburst of Mont
Pelee.
Admiral Seavern today called on
United States Consul Ayme to express
tc him his high appreciation of what the
United States has done for the victims
of the disaster.
For two days heavy rains have fallen.
| CREW DESERTED THE DAUNT
LESS.
New York, May 26.-The sloop Daunt-
! less which, under command of Captain
| Lake, carried supplies provided by the
| government of this island for the suffer
| ers in Martinique, has returned here
/ says a Herald dispatch from ST. Kits,
! B. w. I.
The crew of the Dauntless became
/ frightened on the voyage, refused to go
on and deserted the sloop at Dominica
/ This delayed the relief expedition but
] the Dauntless obtained a new crew at
Dominica and finally went on to her
destination.
! On the passage southwark, Captain
/ Lake says, Mont Pelee was seen blay-
ing grandly at intervals Of about a
/ quarter Of an hour. It's eruptions were
| accompanied by awful sounds, resembl-
| ing deep thunder. Pebbles and volcanic
! debris rained constantly upon the deck
! of the Dauntless-
] When the Dauntless passed St. Pierre
on the voyage northward, the city s