300 The National Geographic Magazine 



Desert of Sahara,' I found there was 

 no account of its having been seen so 

 far west, so I bottled a sample of it. 

 On my arrival in New York and hear- 

 ing of the volcanic eruption at Mar- 

 tinique, I concluded it came from there, 

 although we were 600 miles to wind- 

 ward of that island.'' 



From the log of the steamship Lou- 

 isiauian, Captain D. Edwards, Liver- 

 pool to Trinidad, April 25 to May 9, 

 1902 : 



"Arrived in Carlisle Bay, Barbados, 

 May 7, at 11 a. m. (Martinique N. W. , 

 140 miles), the weather being fine and 

 clear. Between 1 and 3 p. m. reports 

 as of heavy artillery firing were heard, 

 and shortly afterward a dense black 

 cloud appeared in the west, in the direc- 

 tion of St Vincent (W. 100 miles), and 

 gradually moved toward E. S. E. At 4 

 p. m. the whole sky was overcast, except 

 a low arch to the northward. At 4.30 

 light showers of dust began to fall, and it 

 was so dark that lights had to be burned 

 on the ships and ashore. At 5.30 we de- 

 parted for Trinidad ( Port of Spain) , the 

 weather being so dark that we could not 

 distinguish a large mooring buoy at a 

 distance of 40 yards. At this time the 

 rain dust was pouring down and speed- 

 ily covered the decks to the depth of a 

 quarter of an inch. About 10 miles 

 from Carlisle Bay the dust was so dense 

 as to cause almost total darkness, and 

 during this time it thundered and light- 

 ened, the lightning being of a dull- 

 red color. From 7 p. m. to 9 p. m. the 

 dust kept falling thickly ; at 9.30 the 

 thunder ceased and the dust showers 

 diminished ; at 1 1 p. m. it commenced 

 to clear to the southward and the stars 

 were occasionally visible. We steamed 

 through this rain of dust for a distance 

 of 90 miles in a direct line from Bar- 

 bados to Trinidad, and at a low esti- 

 mate 1 inch of dust fell on the decks. 

 From 5.30 p. m. the wind was north, 

 light, until 2 a. m. ; after which it was 

 S. E., gentle." 



From the log of the barque Ethel 



Boyntc»i, Captain J. W. Cates ; Phila- 

 delphia to Cartagena, Ma}' 1 1 to June 2, 

 1902 : 



' ' The only thing unusual noted dur- 

 ing the passage was the discolored water 

 from Mona Passage (Martinique E. S. E. , 

 400 miles ) southward through the Carib- 

 bean Sea to latitude 15 N., the water 

 throughout the stretch being of a dark 

 grayish tint and carrying small particles, 

 which appear to be volcanic ashes. To 

 the southward of 15 the water assumed 

 its natural deep blue." 



From the Government Laboratory, 

 St Johns, Antigua (Martinique S. S. E., 

 150 miles), C. H. G. Sprankling, ob- 

 server : 



"During the period of volcanic ac- 

 tivity in the southern islands there has 

 been nothing in the atmospheric condi- 

 tions here to connect with the disturb- 

 ances." 



Log of ship Lena, Nibbs, master, 

 Barbados to New York : 



" While at Barbados a heavy rain of 

 volcanic dust fell from Mount Soufriere 

 (W., 100 miles) on the decks and 

 awnings of the vessel. Seven tons of 

 same were thrown into the hold for 

 ballast." 



Log of the S. S. Coya, Thomas, mas- 

 ter, Montevideo to New York : 



" May 7, 10.30 p. m., latitude n° 23' 

 N., longitude 57 52' W. (Martinique 

 N. W., 300 miles; St Vincent W. N. 

 W., 250 miles). During the afternoon 

 a heavy bank commenced rising in the 

 north, which by 10.30 p. m. covered the 

 whole sky. At the same time a fine 

 gray substance commenced falling, 

 which by 8 a. m. of May 8 covered the 

 decks to the depth of an eighth of an 

 inch. The wind during the incident 

 was east, moderate; sea smooth." 



Log of the barque Elea?wr M. Wil- 

 liams, Corbett, master; Conetable Island 

 to New York : 



"May 8, 1902, latitude 14 N., longi- 

 tude 57 W. ( Martinique W., 250 miles). 

 Fine weather, sky overcast. During 

 the first part of the night heard a very 



