The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-07-20
SCIENTIST TALKS
ON VOLCANOES


interesting talk on volcanic phenom.
ena, as observed at Pelee and Saint
Vincent, before the University Club
last night. The lecture was illustrated
with series of excellent lantern
slides, most of them from photographs
made on the ground by DR.. Anderson.
DIR. Anderson visited Saint Vincent
Immediately after the eruption of 1902
and made, not only a thorough scien-
tfc study of the conditions prevailing,
but a valuable collection of photo.
graphs as well. Five years later he
again visited the scene and was able
to compile some interesting compar-
ative data, as well as add to his col
lection of pictures.
DIR. Anderson was introduced by
Judge Ballou who explained that he
had come here to study volcanic phe-
nomena in these Islands. DR. Ander-
son paid a pretty tribute to DR.. Brig.
ham, whom he characterized as one of
the greatest living authorities on vol.
canoes.
A large map of the island of Saint
Vincent was first thrown on the
screen. The speaker explained, briefly,
the geographical lay of the land, and
pointed out the deep valley, bounded
on either side by the two volcanoes,
which cuts the island in two. The
presence of this valley he explained
by saying that the lava and dust,
thrown up by the volcanoes, falls
down the sides in such way that the
low land is not encroached upon.
- h. nf
which DR.. Anderson showed, depict
the chimney in action, and some of
them were made at no little personal
risk. All of the photographs taken
Immediately after the great eruption
of 1902, show the ground in the de-
vastated zone bare of vegetation.
Those taken five years later show a
rich, tropical vegetation over all.
"The Island of Saint Vincent, like
those of the Hawaiian group, has a
lee and windward side," said the
speaker. "The windward side is
swept by storms and the coast is
rocky The lee side is quiet, the
shores are sandy and covered with veg
citation"
On visiting the volcano Immediately
after the eruption, DR.. Anderson
climbed the mountain and descended
into the crater, and some of the views
exhibited by him give very clear
idea of the uncanny force of the eX-
plosions, which throw up clouds of
volcanic dust and send. streams of mol
ten lava flowing down the mountain
side to devastate the fertile valley
lands beneath.
AT intervals DIR. Anderson caused
several pictures of Central American
volcanoes to be thrown on the screen,
to illustrate his theory of the relation
ship between the volcanoes on either
side of the Caribbean sea. He explained
that many of the phenomena which he
had observed on Saint Vincent, he had
also discovered to exist on the main.
land of Central America, and he placed
the volcanoes of the two places in the
same class.
From Saint Vincent, DR.. Anderson
turned his attention to Martinique. He
exhibited map showing how Saint
Pierre, miles away from Mount Pelee,
was entirely destroyed by the volcanic
ash and lava, having been right in the
path of the flow.
"When | visited Saint Pierre, and
wished to ascend Pelee | came very
| near coming to the same end as did
the residents of that Inflated city,
continued the speaker. "Unable to ap.
proach within reasonable distance OF
the ruined city by steamer, we charter
ed a sloop and anchored off Saint
| Pierre, intending to make the ascent
the next day. With great interest we
watched the clouds hanging over the
| mountain, when one of the party eX-
pressed the belief that one which was
rapidly approaching us was of differ
| ent character from those we had been
watching. l took a glass to examine
it, and what | saw made me call the
| attention of the captain of the sloOp.
AN instant later we were getting
up anchor and crowding on sail, and
soon the trade wind was driving us
out to sea. But, fast as we went, the
cloud Travelled more rapidly, and soon
we could see the flashes of lightning
playing back and forth. Determined
to sell our lives as dearly as possible
we got out towels and tied them around
our heads to protect us from the fumes
and ash.
| benlnu tHe ClOuu we cOuIu see lnt
streams of molten lava flowing dowI
the mountain side. The sight was awe
inspiring.
I" Finally, when the cloud was with
in two hundred feet of our sloop, ant
rapidly overhauling us, it seemed Il
release great quantity of ash, whicl
fell into the water. That lighteneC
it and it rose, passing over our heads
AS it passed by, ashes fell on the deck
We found them cold and we knew
that we We're saved.
"We then steered for the city ans
arrived late that night, anchoring a
once. We all were tired, and we slep
that night on deck.
"ln the early morning hours, l wa
awakened by the sound of an approach
ing row boat, and an instant later ou
sloop was hailed.
- Is that you AndersonP came tn
hail, and | answered that it was,
"'We were just going out to scare
for Your body, came back the answer
II was Jaggar, whom you lately ha
the opportunity of listening TO here
He was also at Martinique, studyin