812 EUUPTION OF THE SOUFRIERE IN ST. VINCENT, 



About midda}" on Tuesday the tirst signs of the eruption were 

 observed by those dwelling on the southwestern side of the mountain. 

 At 2.40 that afternoon there was a considerable explosion, and a large 

 cloud of steam ascended into the air. By 5 o'clock a red glare was 

 visil>le in the steam cloud on the summit. Activity continued during 

 the evening, and at midnight there was a great outburst and red 

 flames were noticed on the lip of the crater. Next morning from 

 Chateaubelair a splendid view could be obtained of gigantic nuishroom- 

 shaped clouds rising to a great height in the air — estimated at 30,000 

 feet — and drifting away before the northeast trade wind. As the da}" 

 advanced the eruption increased in violence; hy 10.30 a. m. enormous 

 clouds of vapor were being emitted with loud noises, accompanied by 

 much lightning. It is remarkable that at that time the inhabitants of 

 the windward side were still in doubt about the reality of the erup- 

 tion, since they mistook the dark cloud covering the mountain for a 

 thunder cloud. The mountain was now in a state of continuous 

 activit}", and from Chateaubelair it could be seen that the materials 

 were mostly discharged from the old or principal crater. Vast clouds 

 of steam, showers of dark matter (probably mud), and of stones, could 

 be seen projected from it, partly on the leeward, but mostl}^ on the 

 windward side. At midda}^ the slopes of the mountain were still green 

 and the rich mantle of tropical vegetation had not yet been destroj^ed. 

 A thin layer of fine ash had fallen over the lower ground, only sufii- 

 cient to give the leaves a grayish color. The enormous columns of 

 vapor continued to ascend from the crater, with frecjuent violent out- 

 bursts, projecting showers of stones and mud. 



About this time it was noticed that steam was rising from some of 

 the valleys on the south side of the hill, and this increased till at 12.50 

 the whole mountain was suddenlj^ enveloped in a dense cloud of vapor. 

 Just Ix^fore this the rivers Wallibu and Kal)aca had been seen rushing 

 down in raging floods of boiling water. It is most probable that these 

 phenomena were due to the escape of the crater lake, which was driven 

 over the lower or south lip of the crater between 12 o'clock and 1 

 o'clock on the Wednesda}^ afternoon, and poured down the valleys to 

 the sea. So far as we know there were no mud la^'as, in the ordinar}^ 

 sense, flowing down these valle3's, but only a tremendous rush of l)oil- 

 ing water, which left no traces which wo could recognize when we 

 visited the district. 



B}' 1 o'clock the roaring of the volcano was tremendous. Showers 

 of stones were being projected both to windward and to leeward. The 

 enormous colunms of steam continued to ascend from the crater. The 

 lightnings were terrific, and after the large outl)ursts which took place 

 eveiy few minutes volumes of vapor might be seen covering the 

 whole area. Hitherto the eruption had been of a type with which 

 geologists are familiar, and the destruction done was confined to the 

 higher parts of the mountain in the close vicinity of the crater. 



