The San Francisco call., 1903-01-25

NFE most interesting and thorough
work. both from popular and SCI
entifc standpoint, that has been
published TO date Of the Mont Pelee
disaster Of last May, when over 25,-
DlJ souls went to their deaths in almost
4 single instant is Mont Pelee and the
Tragedy Of Martinique" by Angelo He'll
prin, president Of the Geographical So
ciety Of Philadelphia, vice president OF
the American Alpine Club. fellow Of the
Royal Geographical Society Of London
late professor Of geology at the Academy
d Natural Sciences Of Philadelphia, etc.
As Professor Heilprln states in his intro
dUction. IL may be that at some later date
the present conclusions deduced from the
phenomena associated with the Pelee
eruptions must be modified; but his his
tory as II now stands covers the subject
most carefully and fully through all those
Crighful periods Of 1902, from the early
Jays Of April 10 the end Of the year, and
IL is hardly likely that any material
changes viii have TO be made
Professor Heilprin made two visits TO
Martinique, in the latter part OF May and
seain in August He took in the situation
fully. not only from the standpoint Of the
general observer, but also as the man OF
science, and his various deductions IN con-
neCtion with the phenomena OF eruptions
ll-ar he personally Witnessed form tno
small part IN the interest and value Of
great eruption Of May 20 that more fully
completed the destruction Of St Pierre,
50 nearly finished by the hurricane Of fire
that had swept down the mountainside
on that terrible 9Th OF May, Professor
HeiIprfn was successful IN reaching the
TOP crest OF Pelee and IN gazing into the
crater. He was also present at the time
Of the destruction OF Morne Rouge, that
mountain town on Pelee's slope, that es-
capped the ~catGclysm OF May only to be
swept on the face Of the earth by sim
lar occurrence on August 90
What Professor Heilprin has 10 say Of
the premonltory symptoms Of q coming
eruption. collected from writings and the
accounts Of eye-witnesses, is interesting
Gs contradiction OF the erroneous idea
accepted by some that the destruction Of
St Pierre came almost unheralded-
An ints1irsnt analysis Of the situation pre-
vents o-s from undertaking how with the
es a. az fsis 1Ttsn time at SAINT
r1Etng from its very foot, placid attitude
slsd remaining and Scofed a. the notion Of
a departure Where on the island. the inhab-
ltAntl are 9sked eoitor1slly. could a more
~ p-Aos Se found IN the event Of q vista
ne1 By an earthquskei The earthquake, for
which the poor people had trembled from day
ss = eS rse Sse @8 HS n ts place came thae a.
tAct could Tot have been foreseen- com
E.iaG30u Appointed 70 investigate the condition
u tSs volcano reported thai tSers was moth
lng u its activity that warranted departure
from the city The position Of the craterS and
- ths vl1eyI opening the sea was such
thsZ Eaie. that Tie safety Of Saint Pierre was
Absolutely assured
This report ws1 virtually and perhspz will
Engiy tnoorssd By the unfortunate Governor
Wbo. iured 20 its creed. embarked on that tour
% personal examination 20 which he and his
wife both fell victims. A far keener foresight
vas that Of the captain Of the Italian ship Or
goiina who that 7th OF MAY. contrary TO
the protests Of those whom he was serving and
the threats Of the customs officers decided
peremptorily 70 sail out with his half cargo
and turn his stern 70 Pelee He knew what
VesuviUs was he said but be felt that PeIee
much that Vesuvius was not.
A city choked with sulphur its
streets blocked with falling and fallen ash
and with q burning and laundering volcano
Etsnding at its threshold-this is the picture
- Saint Pierre during the latter days OF April
and early Nay, the city whose gayety had been