The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03
PELEE'S OBELISK GONE.
Disappearance of the Singular shaft
During the ummer
Philadelphia Ledger.

Philadelphia Ledger.
One extremely unique effort Of the latest
outbreak OF volcanic force on the Island
Of Martinique was the development last
winter and spring OF a vertical shaft one
thousand feet from the summit OF Pelee.
Scarcely less wonderful is the disappear
ance Of tina shaft during the last sum-
mer. Professor E. o. Hovey tells the story
briefly in the last number of Science.
Between the end of April and the early
part Of August the obelisk underwent
numerous alterations in height. The sub
sidence was by no means regular. After
this had amounted to 100 feet there was a
recovery TO half that extent. other less con-
spicuous gains followed later losses. Most
Of the movements were slow, but between
July 5 and Z there was a shortening which
amounted 10 about 100 feet. The total
diminution In height does not seem 10 have
exceeded go feet. but as the cone out OF
which the shaft protruded had increased
it's elevation fully 400 feet I'm the meantime,
the column disappeared from view. A sec
ond spine or tooth. reaching above the dome,
was detected or Sept. s. and within a week
II grew twenty metres. FOR a time II looked
as IL last winters performance was to be-
paralleled. That hope was disappointed,
however. On Sept IL a fresh eruption
Nh6 AhAtA 1AN-+ 49, III AhA
reference is made 10 il in Professor Hovey's
narrative. which comes down 10 the open
ing OF October.
Concerning the method by which a column
twice as high as the Washington monu-
ment could be erected on the summit Of a
volcano one has difficulty in reaching a
satisfactory conjecture. Possibly the task
would be easier If Pelee produced lava. but
IL does not. The only materials elected
since its activity was renewed eighteen
months ago. are dust. small rocks. steam
and gas. Rivers OF mud have flowed down
its sides, but these are supplied by "A mix
ture of two OF the substances Just mem
toned. Could the obelisk have been man
ufactured out OF molten rock half a cen
fury ago, or at a still earlier period, and
remained like a loose plug in one OF the
passages opening into the main crater2
The suggestion does not seem credible. IL
would also be curious 60 know how far be-
low the visible top OF the mountain the
lower part Of The shaft extended. Again.
was IT not odd that the slender mass re-
manned in a vertical position? How was IL
kept there?
Within the last few weeks a striking con-
trast 10 the general type Of volcano TO
which Pelee belongs has been afforded by
the eruption Of Mauna Loa. The Ha-
waiian cone discharges lava In enormous
quantities.. but makes little ado over q.
" neither the chimney through which that
huid comes up from the earth's interior
be exceptionaliy broad and straight. Al *
impossible 10 tell. Ii IS safe 90 say that
the comparative serenity OF the outpour-
ing II due In part 10 the fact that little
water Is encountered on the way 10 the
surface. The sudden conversion of that
fluid into steam when n meets molten
rock would result I'm an explosion like that
OF dynamite. Some Incident of that sort.
no doubt. explains the violence with which
Pelee occasionally shoots dust ard steam
10 a height or four or five miles above its
summit. Interesting as is the general dis
similarity between volcanic action In the
two regions. IL furnishes no clew 20 the
mystery under consideration. II Is no easier
TO guess how an obelisk could be formed
| In Hawaii than IL Martinique