Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-16
The Hamilton, T~wenty-fourrh and Farnam.
MOUNT PELEE SIX YEARS AFTER
Changes Elected By Passing Years
NOaed ny an American
Observer.

Or. Edmund Otis Hovsy, assistant cura-
tor Of the geological department of the
American Museum OF Natural History. is
back from a three months tour Of inves-
tigstion Of the volcanoes Of the west In
dies. He was one OF the first scientists to
arrive at Martinique after the eruption Of
Mount Pelee in May, 1901. when 9sO00 resi-
dents OF st. Pierre were killed. A year
later he went again TO Martinique TO study
the great dome and spine pushed up in
the midst Of the crater Of Mount Pelee.
His trip this year was further to investi-
gate the conditions in Martinique and in
the island Of St. Vincent and 10 determine
what changes had taken place IL the in
tervening five years.
Mrs. Hovey accompanied her husband
and together they camped on the edge Of
the crater Of Mount Pelee for five days.
She was the first woman to spend a night
on the mountain since its erupuon. When
questioned concerning the results Of his
trip Or. Hover said:
Al St Pierre l found many changes
since my last visit there, five years ago.
The town boasts al present q blacksmith
shop, a police station that occupies the
former bank site and a modest hotel with
accommodations for two guests. / found
that the Rue Victor Hugo, one Of the prin-
opal streets Of the ruined city, has been
partially cleared Of ash TO allow the sugar
planters 10 reach the new pier. There
were not many other signs Of q clearing
up Of the city and the place looked more
like a ruin Of 100 years ago than anything
else.
Our camp fire was pitched about 1000
feet above the sea Waite had 10 be
brought from a point four miles away and
we used alcohol for fuel, but we were near
some vents which constantly emitted
steam and heat and these we used 10 some
extent to cook over. They almost equal a
gas range for efficiency and were con-
sidersbly more economical
Our next camp was pitched on the top
OF the mountain within $50 feet Of the
crater, which we found stiIl active. and
about 1000 feet above sea level. For five
days and nights we remained there in
vesrigatinE the cone and protogrsphing il.
i found that the cone Of Mount Pelee,
which rose I'd LmO feet above the noun
tain when I was there in April, 1909, had
been broken off and q new zone formed
some 500 feet lower. On the cone were
hundreds Of ventF or fumeToles out OF
which steam poured and where the TEN
p~erature registered about 1000 degrees
Fahrenheit. As far as known no ash hEE
been thrown out from these vents in the
last three years.
There was considerable danger attend
ing climbing the new cone, for it rises with
a slope Of about thirty-seven degrees and
8 practically covered with loose rocks
making walking very insecure. As unt
reaches the top the wind also blows {
gale. making II extremely dangerous Il
stand.
.'The eastern side Of Mount Pelee ] found
much grown over since my last visit
Sugar Is being raised in the s~urroundinl
country again.
The volcano has been steadily decreas
ing in activity since the last big explosion
in 1902 and there seems 10 he very LITTLE
fear OF another outbreak in case Of an
other eruption il would be likely 10 occur
il would seem. from the western side o.
the cone."-New York Sun.