180 ; 
The focus of annihilation was the new crater, midway between 
the sea and the peak of Mont Pelée, where now exists a new 
area of active volcanism, with hundreds of fumaroles, or 
miniature volcanoes. 
The new crater is now vomiting black, hot mud, which is 
falling into the sea. Both craters, the old and new, are active. 
Mushroom-shaped steam explosions constantly ascend from the 
old crater, while heavy ash-laden clouds float horizontally from 
the new crater. The old one ejects steam, smoke, mud, pumice 
and lapilli, but no molten lava. 
The salient topography of the region is unaltered. The 
destruction of St. Pierre was due to the new crater. The 
explosion had great superficial force, acting in radial directions, 
as is evidenced by the dismounting and carrying for yards the 
guns in the battery on the hill south of St. Pierre and the statue 
of the Virgin in the same locality, and also by the condition of 
the ruined houses in St. Pierre. 
According to the testimony of some persons, there was an 
accompanying flame. Others think the incandescent cinders 
and the force of their ejection were sufficient to cause the 
destruction, This must be investigated. 
On Monday, May 26, Dr. Hill started on horseback 
from Fort de France for Morne Rouge and Mont Pelée. 
He reached Morne Rouge safely on May 27, where he 
succeeded in getting a number of photographs. A close 
approach to Mont Pelée was impossible, so he started 
back in a southerly direction. During the two nights he 
was Camping out he made some important observations 
of volcanic action, and on his return issued the following 
statement :— 
My attempt to examine the crater of Mont Pelée has been 
futile. I succeeded, however, in getting very close to Morne 
Rouge. At 7 o’clock on Monday evening I witnessed from a 
point near the ruins of St. Pierre a frightful explosion from 
Mont Pelée, and noted the accompanying phenomena. While 
these eruptions continue no sane man should attempt an ascent 
to the crater of the volcano. Following the salvos of detona- 
tions from the mountain, gigantic mushroom-shaped columns of 
smoke and cinders ascended into the clear, starlit sky, and then 
spread in a vast black sheet to the south and directly over my 
head. Through this sheet, which extended a distance of ten 
miles from the crater, vivid and awful lightning-like bolts flashed 
with alarming frequency. They followed distinct paths of igni- 
NATURE 
tion, but were different from lightning, in that the bolts were | 
horizontal and not perpendicular. This is indisputable evidence 
of the explosive oxidation of the gases after they left the crater. 
This is a most important observation, and it explains in part the 
awful catastrophe. This phenomenon is entirely new in volcanic 
history. 
I took many photographs, but do not hesitate to acknowledge 
that I was terrified. 
Nearly all the phenomena of these volcanic outbreaks are 
new to science, and many of them have not yet been explained. 
The volcano is still intensely active, and I cannot make any 
predictions as to what it will do. 
Associated Press messages from Martinique, dated 
May 31, announced that Prof. Heilprin had succeeded in 
climbing to the top of the crater of Mont Pelée. The 
despatch is as follows :— 
Prof. Angelo Heilprin this morning ascended to the top of 
the crater on the summit of Mont Pelée. 
The expedition left Fort de France last Thursday, May 29, at 
noon. Friday was spent in studying the newly formed craters 
on the north flank of the mountain. Saturday morning Prof. 
Heilprin determined to attempt the ascent to the top of the 
crater, and with this purpose in view he set out at five o’clock. 
The volcano was very active, but Prof. Heilprin reached the 
summit and looked down into the huge crater. Jere he spent 
some time in taking careful observations. He saw a huge cinder 
cone in the centre of the crater. The opening of the crater 
itself is a vast crevice 500 feet long and 150 feet wide. 
While Prof. Heilprin was on the summit of the volcano, 
several violent explosions of steam and cinder-laden vapour took 
place, and again and again his life was in danger. Ashes fell 
about him in such quantities at times as to obscure his vision | 
completely. 
NO. 1703, VOL. 66] 
[JUNE 19, 1902 
Prof. Heilprin found that the crater at the head of the River 
Fallaise has synchronous eruptions with the crater at the summit 
of the volcano, and that it ejects precisely the same matter at 
such times. 
On May 31 a party consisting of Prof. Jaggar, of 
Harvard University, Dr. Hovey, of the American 
Museum of Natural History of New York, and Mr. 
George C. Curtis, ascended to the summit of the Soufriére 
of St. Vincent from the western side. 
The ascent was exceedingly difficult, owing to the mud that 
covered the mountain side, but the ground was cold. After a 
tiresome scramble up the slippery hill, the rim of the old crater 
was reached about midday. There was no trace whatever of 
vegetation, but there had been no change in the topographical 
outlines of the mountain on that side, and the old crater re- 
tained its tragic beauty. The great mass of water that formerly 
lay serenely about 500 feet below therim of the crater had dis- 
appeared, and the crater appeared to be a dreadful chasm more 
than 2000 feet deep. With the aid of a glass, water was made 
out at the bottom of this abyss. 
The party did not venture across the summit of the Soufriére 
to inspect the new crater, which was then emitting a little 
vapour, for the ground in that direction looked to be dangerous. 
Apparently the ridge of the mountain, called ‘‘The Saddle,” 
was intact, although the old crater seemed of larger circum- 
ference than before the recent eruption. At the western base 
of the Soufriére a subsidence of a depth of 100 feet occurred for 
an area of a square mile. The bank of volcanic dust that pre- 
vents the sea encroaching farther inland at Wallibou is being 
gradually washed away. The lava beds on the eastern side of 
the Soufriére continue to emit steam, despite the protracted and 
heavy rainfall that has occurred. 
Mr. Knight, Senator for Martinique, has arrived in 
Paris, and a few of his observations of the condition of 
men and things in that island are given in yesterday’s 
Times. He says that the streams of mud which are still 
flowing do not emerge from the flanks of the volcano, but 
from the constantly convulsed ground, now opening in 
large abysses and then closing. Evidence that the death 
of the victims of the Mont Pelée eruption must have 
been instantaneous was obtained from the appearance of 
the bodies discovered. 
Thus, persons have been found on the thresholds of their 
nearly demolished houses in the attitude of gazing at Mont 
Pelée. Others were found seated at a table. One man, dis- 
covered in the middle of the street, had the muscles of his legs 
and arms fixed in the attitude of a runner. Others were 
| shaking hands. 
PROF. ADOLF FICK} 
ITH Adolf Fick, the physiologist of Wurzburg, 
whose death took place in the autumn .of last 
year at Blankenberg, there passed away one of the last 
representatives of the brilliant physiological school by 
| the combined labours and critical acumen of which, 
| during the latter half of the past century, the foundations 
of modern physiology were established. For the com- 
plete appreciation of the man’s whole character, however, 
regard should be had as well to Adolf Fick’s energetic 
and practical support of public, and, in particular, edu- 
cational questions, as to his distinction as investigator, 
man of science and teacher. In all matters that he took 
in hand he made a striking and original appearance, 
and he merits a special place in the honour roll of 
history. 
Fick, in whom as a youth conspicuous mathematical 
talent had already displayed itself, sought the university 
with the intention of studying mathematics. His elder 
brother, Heinrich, who died a few years ago while pro- 
fessor of Roman law at Ziirich, urged him to the study 
of medicine, and this he pursued at Marburg and Berlin. 
1 Abridged from an obituary notice by Prof. Kunkel. 
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