The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-01-30

While conyersing with friend, stand.
ing upon lava of some remote previous
eruption. their feet seemed to be get
ting warm; gradually they moved
away as the heat grew more notice.
able. and watched for the source. They
noticed the rock change color, and
finally grow white hot. then melt
Then a stream of lava burst Out
through the rock where they had been
standing and flowed down the noun
tain. 1t was rare sight The molten
lava under the rock lava gradually
heated, melted it, and burst through
by its tremendous heat.
Mr.. Perret has the distinction of be
ing the only yolcanlogist in the world
to-day and his work is of profound
scientific Importance. His predictions
have been SO accurate that he did moi
hesitate TO recommend the return OF
the warships sent to Stromboli to re
move the 1000 residents living on thai
island mountain because he said the
worst of the eruption had passed. The
admiral took his word for it and left
the islanders at home, to the great
CONSERVATION of the mayor, who hac
sent repeated kilograms to the govern
ment to send the ships. There was.
cause for alarm, of course, for the ex
plosions were SO great that every win
dow in the city was broken from the
conclusion. Such confidence as Mr.
Perret has in his predictions can only
come of profound study of volcanoes
and accurate deductions Much will be
learned in the near future by this en-
thusiastic vo1cano1ogist.
The three mountains lie quite close
together and, of course, all are under
italian domination Etna is in Sicily
while Stromboli is but 40 miles from
there. Therefore, Mr. Ferret has ii
within his reach to observe all three
mountains when in activity.
Mr.. Perret had the following to say
when asked what was the basis fol
his belief that it would soon be pos
sible to predict accurately the time Of
volcanic activity in any given case:
volcanoes are of periodic activity
and each one has its own individual
characteristics, which must be. taken
into account. There are several things
to be considered, when one attempts
to predict what any volcano will do.
The past history of the volcano must
be considered carefully to learn its
periodicity, although the length of the
period of eruption may be variable, the
order of events is virtually the same
in each case; so if the observer knows
what is taking place at any given
time, he can get line on what has
been happening during the elapsed
eruptive period and know what viii;
probably happen. There are indica
lions to be observed on the spot, such
as determining the character of the
gases given off by the fumaroles, OF
smoke tunnels on the mountain sides
and their temperatures, and also by
examinations of the sub
terranean sounds, the drying I'D OF
wells in the immediate vicinity or their
fouling by sulphurous gases. the rising
of the shore line at the base of the
mountain and the frequency and in.
tensity of the earthquake shocks in
the vicinity. Last, but not least, much
may be learned by the careful study
of plotted curves, showing the astro
nomical and gravitation influences
the gravitational influences exerted
by sun and moon in their various
phases, as they pull more or less
strongly together in the same direc-
ton.