The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-01-22
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Ever since the terrible earthquake
in Italy, the eyes of the world have
been watching the volcanoes in the
immediate vicinity to see what they
would do as a result of the violent dis
turbances of the earths crust. Would
Etna and Stromboli get into violent
eruption and complete the work of
devastation? And with the question
came absorbing interest in the past
and present history of these volcanoes
and the study of their peculiarities.
Perhaps no one is better qualified to
speak on this point than Mr.. Frank A.
Perret of Naples, Italy, who is vol
cano expert and was with Mateucci on
Vesuvius throughout the violent erup-
ton of 1906.
Mr.. Perret is an American, but since
1908 he has made special study of
volcanic phenomena, taking up his res
idence at Naples that he might OBJ
serve Vesuvius. He has also studied
Etna and Stromboli.
There is a marked difference be-
tween Vesuvius and Etna, which is
now in eruption. Vesuvius is true
cone, with one central crater from
which it erupts, although its lava
flows are from crevices that open in
the mountain flank below the crater.
Etna, with height of 1000 feet and
a mass so tremendous that its base
measures 80 miles in circumference,
is flat-topped. So its great eruptions,
as a rule, are not from the central
crater. but break out on all sides of
the mountain, wherever the wall Is
the weakest at the time. To-day there
may be seen, scattered here and there,
more than 200 different cones, each of
which marks the site of an eruption.
Some of these cones are more than
300 feet high, being almost as large
as Vesuvius, and all have been formed
by lateral eruptions.
Mr.. Perret spends most of his time
visiting the several volcanoes of Italy
when in activity, as some of them
continually are. He makes his obser-
vations on the spot. OF course, he en-
Joys all the risks there are to be had.
During the eruptions of Vesuvius, he
was with 80 others, mostly carbiniers,
on the mountain opposite to where the
ash fell and the lava flowed. Sudden
w, the wind changed, carrying ash,
dust and dense smoke toward the
men. 1t became so dark that holding
the hand before the face, 1t could not
be seen. The dust was so dense that
its friction caused the lips to bleed
and eyes. ears, clothing, all were filled
with fine ash. The gases at the same
time were sitting. The people were
several hundred yards from the OBJ
servatory and had no way to get to II
for safety. 1t was finally decided the
guide should take the end of a rope
and seek a landmark leading TOWARDS
the observatory where the rest would
follow along the rope; he then sought
another landmark, etc, finally, all
were safely gathered at the observa-
tory, but the darkness, dust, ash and
gas were as bad as ever and 1t was
only a question of time when all would
succumb to the baneful influence OF
the vapor. This awful condition last
ed from early afternoon to midnight
when the wind changed again and re-
lief was instantaneous. Had condi-
tions remained as they were until
morning there is no doubt that all
would have persisted. The result OF
that changing wind can be imagined
by the amount of ashes which fell at
the time. From the roof of the veran-
da of the observatory were shoveled
six tons which we're measured by
bushel baskets. How the so people
survived those eight or nine hours In
such an atmosphere is certainly mys-
terry. For the heroic part which Mr..
Perret took during this eruption, he
was knighted by the king of Italy,
his title being official cavaliere of the
crown.
A remarkable occurrence, seldom II
ever before seen by man, was wit
messed by Mr.. Perret on Vesuvius.
While conversing with friend, stand
ing upon lava Of some remote previous
eruption, their feet seemed to be get