The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
MONT PELEE RECALLED
Scientist Describes Present Condition of West Indian
Volcano that Destroyed 26000 Lives.

Dr. Edmund Otis Hovey. assistant cura-
tor Of the geological department Of the
American Museum Of Natural History.
got back 10 this city on Wednesday on
the Guiana. Of the Quebec Line. from q
three months tour OF investigation Of the
volcanoes OF the West Indies. says the
New York Sun He was one OF the first
scientists 10 arrive al Martinique after
the eruption Of Mont Pelee in May. 1892.
when 1900 residents or 81. Pierre were
killed year later he went again 10
Martinique 10 study the great dome and
spine pushed Up IN the midst Of the crater
Of Mont Pelee His trip this year was
further to investigate the conditions in
Martinique and in the island Of s.. Vim
cent and 70 determine what changes had
taken place in the intervening i've. years
Mrs Hovey accompanied her husband.
and together they camped on the edge Of
the crater Of Mont Pelee for I'VE days
She was the first woman 10 spend . night
on the mountain since its eruption When
questioned concerning the results Of his
I trip Or. Hovey said
we arrived al Fort de France. the
capital Of Martinique, on April =. From
there we went by steamer 10 Le Carbet.
a village about two miles south Of s.
/ Pierre. and were taken in a canoe from
that point 20 the ruined city.
Found Many Changes.
AT St Pierre I found many changes
since my last visit there five years ago.
The town boasts AZ present blacksmith
shop police station that occupies the
/ former bank site. and a modest hotel
] with accommodations for two guests The
l city was even hotter than il was in its
! days OF prosperity, when IL was known as
one OF the hottest places II the Islands
4 found that the Rue Victor Hugo. one
Z of the principal streets OF the ruined city.
/ had been partially cleared of ash TO allow
the sugar planters % reach the new pier
| recently built near the site OF the light
house on Place BeTtin- Regular steam
I boat service was established with Fort DE-
Z France IN June
There were not many other signs Of a
/ clearing Up Of the city. and the place
Z looked more Ike ruin Of a hundred
I years ago than anything else. 4 few OF
I the houses have been cleared away in a
! search for vaICables. but everywhere
grass and weeds have sprung Up. and
most OF the walls standing when I was
I there fve years ago have fallen
Cooked from CrHter's Heat.
Our first camp was pitched about 100
+ feet above the sea Water had 90 be
Z brought from point four miles away.
! and we used alcohol for fueI. but We were
] near some vents which constantly emit
/ ted steam and heat. and these We used 10
some extent 70 cook over. They almost
Z sgu1led a Ezs range FOR efficiency and
were considerably more economical
nj I'D -
T q the mountain within IL feet OF the era
ter. which we found s-iu active. and
2 about 4a11 feet above sea level For Eve
. days and nights We remained there inves-
. -igatinE the cone and paotograPhiug il
Z found that the cone OF Mont Pelee.
{ which rose Up 100 feet above the noun
Z tain when I was there in April 1913. had
I been broken on and d new cone formed
some so feet lower On the cone were
hundreds Of vents. or fumeroles. out OF
/ which steam poured and where the TEN
T perature registered about r11f degrees
Fahrenheit As Ear as known 10 ash has
{ been thrown out from these vents II the
. last three years
Cone Hard TO Ascend.
I There was considerable danEe- attend
7 ing climbing The new cone. for i rises
T win q slope cE about g degrees and is
practically covered with loose rocks.
making walking very insecure As one
I reaches the top the wind also blows
gale. making it extremely dangerous 10
stand
The eastern side Of Mont Pelee 7 found
Z much grown over since my last visit ST.
gar is being raised n the surrounding
/ country again
/ The volcano has been steadily dec-eas-
I iuC 5I activity since the last big explosion
I ir 1872 and there seems 70 be very little
fear OF another outbreak IN case Of an
other eruption z would De likely 20 occur.
{ il would seem. from the western side ot
I tire cone.
Z After breaking camp on Mont Peiee- Dr-
and Mrs Hovey lefc fo- the island Of s.
7 Vincent. where the volcano Ia So-friere
was also IN eruption az the time Of the
I Felee outbreak Dr- Hovey found t1ac
I s. Vincent volcano quiet and peaceful.
Deepest Crater In West Indies
The crater of this volcano said Dr.
: Hovsy. is the largest and deepest in The
I West Indies. being n're-Jenths Of mile
/ wide and oue-thi-d Of q rnile deep, with
/ lake IN the bottom one-fourth Of q mile
across The sides are extremely Qrecip5-
tous. and the water OF the lake a peculiar
veI-ovish sreen. attributed BY some 20
Z fue sulphur deposit
Mrs Eovey and I made our first as