284 The National Geographic Magazine 



Photo by Israel C. Russell 



Ruined Estates near Georgetown, St Vincent {see page 282) 



are much more dense than the accom- 

 panying fragments of fresh lava and re- 

 tained their heat longer. Those that 

 fell on the desolated area were still red 

 hot when they struck the ground and 

 capable of causing the ignition of houses, 

 etc. Where the hot stones accumulated 

 about tree-trunks the wood in many in- 

 stances was completely changed to char- 

 coal. This material at the time of my 

 visit to Georgetown was being gathered 

 by the inhabitants in considerable quan- 

 tities and used for fuel. 



This brief account of the material 

 which fell on St Vincent will, I think, 

 show the main cause of the loss of life 

 and the destruction of houses, vegeta- 

 tion, etc., on that island. The major- 

 ity of the people killed, as on Mar- 

 tinique, in the opinion of physicians and 

 others early on the scene, lost their 



lives from the inhalation of hot dust and 

 being scalded by steam charged with 

 burning dust. On the outer margin of 

 the region of destruction the steam cloud 

 seems to have condensed to scalding 

 water, which was thick with dust and 

 formed a hot mud that adhered to every- 

 thing it touched. Casualties also re- 

 sulted from the rain of falling stones, 

 and, as has been frequentty stated, 

 lightning from the volcanic cloud was 

 intense and frequent and is supposed to 

 have caused many deaths. 



After returning on the linear to Kings- 

 town, where the Dixie still la}' at anchor, 

 visits were made to interesting places on 

 shore, including the beautiful and well- 

 kept botanical gardens in care of Mr 

 Henry Powel. Early on the morning 

 of May 29 the Dixie started f jr Port 

 Castries, St Lucia, arriving there about 



