402 
NATURE 
[AuGusT 21, 1902 
ROYAL SOCIETY REPORT ON THE WEST 
INDIAN ERUPTIONS. 
THE Soufriére mountain forms the northern extremity of St. 
Vincent, and its general form at-once suggests a compari- 
son with Vesuvius. It is a simple cone without lateral or 
parasitic craters. The one at its summit is surrounded on the 
north side by the remains of a gigantic crater ring, which has 
the same relation to the present crater as Somma has to 
Vesuvius. On the north-east lip of the main crater there is a 
smaller one known as the New Crater, as it is believed to have 
originated in the eruption of 1812. It is only one-third of a 
mile in diameter. It is doubtful whether the New Crater was 
active during the late eruption, and there can be no doubt that 
it was from the principal crater, or ‘‘ Old Crater,” that the 
materials mostly were emitted. Deep valleys, often with pre- 
cipitous sides, have been cut in the slopes of the mountain, 
especially on its southern side, and it is in these—and particu- 
larly in the Wallibu, Rozeau and Rabaca Dry River—that the 
greater part of the ejecta of the recent eruption have collected. 
Premonitory Signs of Activity. 
The eruption of May, 1902, though sudden in its outburst 
and disastrous in its effects, was far from unexpected. In the 
north of St. Vincent there were two settlements of the Aboriginal 
Caribs, and these had been so startled by the frequent violent 
earthquakes, that in February of last year they were considering 
the advisability of deserting the district. But the first signs of 
actual volcanic activity were on Tuesday, May 6. The in- 
habitants of the leeward side were fortunate in having a Clear 
view of the crater, and warned by the outbursts of steam they 
fled to Chateaubelair, and other places along the coast-line to 
the south, so that few lives were lost in this quarter. But, on 
the windward side, the summit of the mountain, as is frequently 
the case, was wrapped in cloud. Here, at the base of the 
mountain, there is an extensive stretch of flat land, known as 
the Carib country, on which were situated some of the largest 
and richest estates in the island, with a dense population, mostly 
black or coloured. So little alarm was felt here, that even on 
the morning of Wednesday, May 7, when the leeward side was 
practically deserted, sugar-making was in progress on several 
estates, and all the operations of tropical agriculture were being 
conducted as usual. From Kingstown, telephonic messages 
were sent to Georgetown, which is not far from the base of the 
hill, stating that the Soufriére was in eruption, but they appear 
to have occasioned little anxiety. And when, about mid-day on 
Wednesday, the danger was too obvious to be overlooked, the 
Rabaca Dry River, and some of the streams on the windward 
side, usually dry except after rains, were running boiling hot, 
and could not be crossed. Many fugitives in this way found 
their escape cut off. It was here that the loss of life was greatest, 
which, though many escaped, is estimated to have amounted to 
2000, including about a dozen white men—the overseers of the 
plantations. The exact number will never be known, as many 
were entombed in the ashes where they fell. 
Progress of the Eruption. 
About mid-day on May 6 the first signs of the eruption were 
observed by those dwelling on the south-western 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 visible in the steam cloud on the 
summit. Activity continued during the evening, and at mid- 
night 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 mushroom-shaped 
clouds rising to a great height in the air—estimated at 30,000 
feet—and drifting away before the north-east trade wind. As 
the day advanced the eruption increased in violence ; by 10.30 a.m. 
enormous clouds of vapour 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 eruption, since they mistook the dark 
cloud covering the mountain for a thunder cloud. The mountain 
was now in astate of continuous activity, 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 
1 Abridged from a preliminary report by Dr. Tempest Anderson and Dr. 
J. S. Flett, just published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. Ixx. 
PP. 423-445 
NO. 1712, VOL. 66] 
dark matter (probably mud), and of stones, could be seen pro- 
jected from it, partly on the leeward, but mostly on the wind- 
ward side. At mid-day the slopes of the mountain were still 
green, and the rich mantle of tropical vegetation had not yet 
been destroyed. A thin layer of fine ash had fallen over the 
lower ground, only sufficient to give the leaves a greyish colour. 
The enormous columns of vapour continued to ascend from the 
crater, with frequent violent outbursts, 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 in- 
creased until at 12.50 the whole mountain was suddenly enveloped 
in a dense cloud of vapour. Just before this the rivers 
Wallibu and Rabaca 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 Wednesday afternoon, and 
poured down the valleys to the sea. So far as we know there 
were no mud lavas, in the ordinary sense, flowing down these 
valleys, but only a tremendous rush of boiling water, which left 
no traces which we could recognise when we visited the district. 
By 1 o’clock the roaring of the volcano was tremendous. 
Showers of stones were being projected both to windward and 
to leeward. The enormous columns of steam continued to 
ascend from the crater. The lightnings were terrific, and after 
the large outbursts, which took place every few minutes, 
volumes of vapour 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. 
But about 2 o’clock—to quote the words of an eye-witness 
(Mr. T. M. McDonald, of Richmond Vale Estate)—‘‘ there 
was a rumbling and a large black outburst with showers of 
stones, all to windward, and enormously increased activity over 
the whole area. A terrific huge reddish and purplish curtain 
advanced to and over Richmond Estate.” This was the strange 
black cloud which, laden with hot dust, swept with terrific 
velocity down the mountain-side, burying the country in hot 
sand, suffocating and burning all living creatures in its path, and 
devouring the rich vegetation of the hill with one burning blast. 
The Hot Gases and Dust. 
On the leeward coast few were overtaken by the black cloud, 
as the inhabitants had fled and taken refuge in the villages 
south of Chateaubelair. Those who were caught were killed or 
badly burned. One boat was near Richmond at the time the blast 
swept down. The occupants describe the heat as fearful. Hot 
sand rained into the boat, and the sea around was hissing with 
its heat. The darkness was so complete that a man could not 
see his hand. They saved their lives by diving into the water ; 
when they returned to the surface the air was suffocating, but 
they continued to dive again and again, and, when at their last 
gasp, they found that the air cleared, and they could breathe 
again. This occupied only a few minutes—probably much less 
in reality than it appeared to them. One man was too ex- 
hausted to continue diving ; he clung to the gunwale of the 
boat, and the tops of his ears were severely scorched. 
On the windward side of the island an uninterrupted view of 
the progress of the eruption could not be obtained, owing to the 
veil of cloud which obscured the summit.” By mid-day on 
Wednesday even the most sceptical were convinced that the 
Soufriére was in eruption, and that the noises heard continuously 
were not due to a thunderstorm. Before mid-day there had 
been very heavy rain-showers, and it was noticed that the rain- 
drops carried down fine particles of ash. Work ceased on the 
plantations, and those labourers who still remained endeavoured 
to escape to Georgetown or shut themselves up in their houses. 
By 2 o'clock fine ashes, with occasional larger stones, were fall- 
ing steadily, but, as yet, little damage had been done, and no 
one had been injured. Then came the climax of the eruption, 
and those who were in the open air saw a dense black’ cloud 
rolling with terrific velocity down the mountain. They took 
refuge in their houses and in the plantation works, where they 
crowded together in such numbers that in one small room 87 
were killed. The cloud was seen to roll down upon the sea, 
and was described to us as flashing with lightning, especially 
when it touched the water, All state that it was intensely hot, 
smelt strongly of sulphur, and was suffocating. They felt as if 
something was compressing their throats, and as if there was no 
