Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-13


and poisonous gases marches right up the
mountain side, and, IL he can. looks into the
crater itself.
This American student is a familiar fig
ure in Italy And now that Vesuvius,
Stromboli and Etna have begun to belch forth
again, the Italians know 1t won't be long
until Perret arrives. Indeed, the italian
peasants, whose homes are near these vol
canoes, think Perret is crazy. What more
natural conviction could they have of a man
who defies death when they are fleeing for
their lives?
But this fearlessness of death, coupled
with his scientific turn of mind, has made
Perret a benefactor of mankind. 1t has
enabled him to reconstruct the science of
volcanology, to sound the subterranean
depths of these volcanoes and to foretell with
unusual exactness the preparations FOR out
ward activity going on in the bowels of the
EARTH
HonOred by Italians
Because Of these achievements. because he
has relieved the minds of Italy's peasants of
groundless fears, because he proved that the
volcanic lava frequently may be a blessing.
he was knighted by the King of Italy. Even
the residents of the Japanese volcanic re-
gions swear by him, and American scientists
agree that he has revolutlonized this science.
Not many persons would select a live vol
cano as a subject for personal experimenta-
tion' But Perret did and since 1906 when
he took up this work on Mount Vesuvius, he
has proved erroneous whole lot of theories
concerning volcanoes. Mr.. Perret was origi-
nally an assistant to Thomas A. Edison
While with him he invented the 'Perret low
speed motor" the first in this country. He
had previously invented a light dry battery
for automobiles. Then his health broke
down and he was sent abroad to recuperate.
1t was to Naples that he went.
He started on his new career by his meet
ing with Professor Matteucci. who was di
rector OF the Royal Observatory at Mount
NesuVlus Nesuvius fascinated the American
at once ana with his investigating turn of
mind, he began study OF this famous vol
cano, By accepting the position of honorary
assistant to the director. he was permitted 10
remain on the mountain and use the observ-
atory instruments.
PerTet's first discovery was method of de-
teeting the coming of volcanic eruption. II
was in March, 1906, that "the old GENTLE
man." as the natives referred to Vesuvius.
gave evidence that another outbreak was i'm.
minent. Perret was awakened from sleep in
the observatory by a buzzing sound. II was
hardly audible at FIRST and could not be heard
at all when he raised his head from the Dill
low. No sooner had he retired than the
vibrations reached his ear again. This time
he arose, and, taking the iron rod Of the
headboard between his teeth, detected the
sound more distinctly. When he told his inn
pressions TO the director he was laughed Al.
But Perret stuck 70 his conviction ana saw
his theory proved true when 10 days later
Vesuvius burst forth in fearful eruption.
Prisoners Of Vesuvius
For eight days Perret and Professor Mat
teueci were prisoners in the observatory. the
strength Of which prevented them from be-
ing crushed under the tons OF ashes ana
rocks belohed forth by Yesuvius. It was
here that they experienced the darkness Of
which Pliny wrote when Pompen ana Her
eulaneum we're buried in Is A D.: mot the
darkness OF the darkest night. but the darl<-
ness OF a sealed dungeon"
These Investigations led Perret 10 adant ths
mierophoue ransmitter Of the telephone Il
that he could feel the pulss & ne sarth's