The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-19

now certainly Is the new fragmentsl conc
which has been built up during the present
period of activity, and the top Of which is
now not less than 5000 feet above the sea
HIGHEST POINT
OF OLD CRATER
The former height OF Morne Lacroix, the
highest point Of the old crater and OF the
mountain. was usually given at 4.4S feet.
while the elevation Of most of the crater
rim was not more than 1000 feet.
Next to the new cone the feature which
most attracts the attention of one who was
familiar with the appearance OF the srup-
lions is the filling of the gorge of the Riv-
iere Blanche with material which has been
poured out Of the crater by the numerous
eruptions.
This was the gorge leading out OF the
great cash which determined the direction
Of the explosion which overwhelmed :he
doomed city Of St. Pierre on May S and
succeeding days.
Now the lower portion OF the gorge has
been obliterated and the upper and deeper
portion. near the crater. almost filed with
calcined rocks and dust and ashes. which
giisten white, in strong contrast with the
surrounding cliffs and slopes.
The present series of eruptions began n
April, 1902. from several openings in the
great crater. the principal of which was
just west Of fEtang Sec. at an altitude Of
about :, 40 feet above the sea
A cone began forming at once about the
opening, or series of openings. which has
been growing ever since, though with inter-
ruptions, due TO the great eruptiOns and
other causes. and Is gradually filling up the
great crater.
In the latter part OF June this cone had
reached al altitude OF about 1900 feet above
the sea; that is. its own height was about
l.6O0 feet.
At that time IT had an irregular, serrated
top. surrounding a bowl-shaped depression
or crater.
1t was growing rapidly. and early in July
the photographs show for the first time the
remarkable spine. or tooth. the upward
growth of which has more than kept pace
with that OF the rest of the cone. until now
it has changed the sky line of the mountain
and forms its most striking feature.
As has been stated. the apex is about 5000
feet above the sea, indicating a height of
loo for the new cone, but this altitude
varies strangely from time TO time.
Other changes in the outline also serve to
emphasize the fact that the volcano still is
in a state of activity.
SIDES OF NEW CONE
SLOPE STEEPLY.
The great spine rises above the northwest
LII NN0AN = - zig OAL aAA1 It's Jazz IL
surrounded by a valley which is bounded by
a strongly serrated ridge or series of ridges.
Outside Of this again the sides of the new
cone slope away steeply TO join the old
mountain.
On the northwestern side the slope OF the
new cone is, OF seems to be. continuous
with the outer slope of the old crater rim.
but on the other sides there still is a rather
shallow valley or gorge between the new
cone and the inner walls OF the old crater.
except where the great cash allows the new
| cone to slope continuously into the gorge OF
the Riviere Blanche.
The nature Of the new cone ana the great
spine is open TO debate, perhaps.
The main mass Of the cone is made Up OF
| loose material. ash" brought UP from be-
low by the ascensiye forces acting in she
volcano.
cTOiX is the head. hold. 1 believe. that the
spine consists OF masses which have been
elected in a sufficiently pasty condition TO
stick together when they came to earth
again. Thus far l have not been able to get
near enough to the spine in clear weather
TO form any personal opinion as to its con-
stitution.
The vapors issue from every part OF the
new cone and NJ. Lacroix holds that there
is no permanent central or nearly central
conduit through the cone.
The line of the cash and the gorge Of the
Riviere Blanche still is the favorite direc-
ton of discharge of the volcano. and al
though there have been no important erup-
lions since August %. many clouds of steam
have gone down that valley. driving or fol-
lowing the great blocks of ancient lava
which have traversed IL.
Enormous masses OF rock. some of them
forty feet across. lie scattered about along
the middle attitudes of the Seche Blanche
nlAteau. thrown there probably b. the erup-
ton of August %.
Some of these were broken into many
fragments through striking on other rocks,
others landed in ashes and were not even
cracked.
BREAD CRUST BOMBS
MORE NUMEROUS.
Especially on the eastern side Of the
mountain the bread crust bombs are