The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11
NEW ASPECTS OF MONT PELEE
Remarkable Changes in tho Appearane,
OF the Famous Volcano.

Remarkable Changes in tho Appearance
OF tho Famous Volcano.
Geologists and geological commissioners
sent by the governments or by societies OF
the United States. England, Franco and
Germany have given much study to Mont
Pelee and La Soufriere since tho erup-
tons began In May, 1902 These scion
tihc men have recently been writing Of tho
changes that have taken place In these
volcanoes since the first eruption.
+, 0. Hovey OF the geological department
at the American Museum of Natural History.
who has recently returned from his second
visit to the volcanoes. says in tho American
journal OF Science that tho most striking
change at either volcano since the frst
great eruption Is the complete alteration
OF the skyline OF Mont Pelee.
A part OF the old crater Of Mont PelAe
has been filed up. This crater at the top
of the mountain was half mile in diameter
and from 1000 to 1000 feet deep. At its
bottom lay the small lake, Etang SEQ.
After the three great eruptions OF May,
1902, it was observed that conc OF volcanic
debris had been forming in the crater near
this lake. When the cone was first OBJ
served 1t was not more than 200 or 800 feet
high.
In July last ysar protubeTanos re-
sembling a sharks fin was observed above
the southwestern part Of the new cone.
This spine or tooth, as well as the cone
from which It rises. has grown wonderfully
The spine has varied much in size and form
from time to time. Occasionally 1t loses
several, or even many, feet OF Its top. but
the loss Is always recovered within short
time.
Mr.. Hovey took a photograph Of the pro-
lection on March rs last. The conc on which
1t stands rises considerably above tho rim
OF the crater and is at least I ,450 feet above
the crater floor. The spine Ia projected
above the summit Of the cone and It's apex,
and, at the time the photograph was taken,
was liza feet above the crater rim
The cone with the spine Is not central
within the old crater. The cone has been
built up to the northwest Of the crater
centre and the spine rises from the north
eastern segment Of the cone. The result
Is that the northwestern part Of the crater
has been completely filed up 30 that the
slope of the new cone on the west and north
west Is nearly continuous with the exterior
OF the old crater rim.
The cone has been built up OF fragments
OF ejecta, including lava. On the other
hand the spine or tooth consists OF rock
which seems to have been pushed up bodily
into it's present position and to be kept
there probably by friction against the
sides Of the neck and by the expansive
forces underneath.
The spine is assured In every direction
and parts OF it are continually falling. The
fact that it is SO assured seems to show
that the rock Is largely pumiceous In texture.
There is as yet no central opening in the
top Of the new cone to correspond with
the general idea of a crater.
II IL believed there was true crater
at its top when the cone WAS first formed
but the growth of the spine destroyed II.
Steam issues with vigor from all parts Of
the cone, but not from the spine.
Next to the new cone and spine the most
striking change in the appearance OF Mont
Pelee IL due to the filing up Of the gorge
Of the Riviere Blanche with rocks, dust and
volcanic ash which were poured out Of the
crater during the numerous eruptions:
through which swept the explosive vol
capic blasts that destroyed ST. Pierre.
The lower part Of the gorge has been
entirely obliterated and its upper portion
IL almost filed by outpourings from the
volcano. A photograph Of part OF the
gorge shows II now on level with the sur
rounding plateau, It's surface covered with
boulders, small or large. that have been
hurled out Of the crater.