Eruptions on Martinique and St Vincent 435 



concerning the interior of the earth. 

 In this more pointedly, perhaps, than 

 in related fields is the saying true that 

 ' ' the known is but a small fraction of 

 the unknown." In the study of the 

 earth's interior, the search for the ulti- 

 mate causes of volcanic eruptions, etc., 

 a visit to an active volcano is most in- 

 structive and suggestive, but such in- 

 vestigations should not end with the 

 cessation of the outbreaks. 



The manifestations which reach the 

 ■earth's surface and on which our judg- 

 ment as to the condition of its interior 

 must be chiefly based are movements in 

 the rocks, earthquakes, escape of heat, 

 magnetic changes, etc. While several 

 of the phenomena referred to become 

 especiallv prominent during volcanic 

 eruptions, they are not confined to such 

 occurrences or to the vicinity of volcanic 

 vents, but may be studied at all times 

 and at any locality. Among the rec- 

 ords which it is desirable to obtain and 

 from which some judgment in reference 



to the condition of the earth's interior 

 may be had are the occurrence of earth- 

 quakes, their character, direction of 

 motion, location, both geographical 

 and vertical, of their centers and all else 

 concerning them, and changes in the 

 magnetic condition of the earth. Ob- 

 servations in these directions are highl}' 

 desirable in the vicinity of volcanoes in 

 order that they may serve as danger 

 signals, but may yield valuable returns 

 when carried on at a distance from all 

 centers of volcanic disturbance. 



In this connection I wish to suggest 

 that the National Geographic Society 

 can make a substantial addition to our 

 knowledge of the earth by maintaining 

 a magnetic and seismographic observa- 

 tory. I^et a start be made by placing 

 in our Hubbard Memorial Building the 

 best instruments of the nature just re- 

 ferred to that can be had, and extend 

 assistance to individuals, colleges, etc., 

 at as many other localities as practicable, 

 in establishing similar observatories. 



LITERATURE 



The magazine articles, reports, etc. . concern- 

 ing the recent eruptions in the Antilles, which 

 I have seen, are as follows : 



Anderson, Tempest, and J. S. Flett. "Pre- 

 liminary report on the recent eruptions of 

 the Soufriere in St Vincent, and of a visit 

 to Mont Pelee, in Martinique." In Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Society of London, 

 vol. 70. 1902, pp. 423-445- 



Borchgkevink, C. E. "History's greatest 

 disaster." In Frank Leslie's Popular 

 Monthly, vol. liv, July, 1902. "Marti- 

 nique Supplement," pp. i-xvi. 

 ' Les Colonies." " Life in the doomed city, 

 As reflected in the leading newspaper of 

 St Pierre, ' Les Colonies.' in its editions for 

 May 1-7, the week previous to the disas- 

 ter. ' ' In the Century Magazine, vol. lxiv, 

 August, 1902, pp. 61S-633. 



CHURCH, J. R. "The Martinique Pompeii." 

 Scribner's Magazine, vol. xxxii, July, 

 1902. pp. 2oa-2od. 



" COLLIER 'sWekkly." " Conditions at Mar- 

 tinique and St Vincent." In Collier's Il- 

 lustrated Weekly, vol. 29, June 17, 1902, 

 pp. 8, 9, and 24. 



— [Illustrations from Martinique and St 

 Vincent.] In Collier's Illustrated Weekly, 

 vol. 29, June 21, 1902, pp. 6-7. 



DASSETT, J. H. "Volcanic eruptions in the 

 island of St Vincent, West Indies." 

 Pamphlet printed in Kingstown, St Vin- 

 cent, May 12, 1902. 



Deckert, E. "Martinique und sein Volka- 

 nismus." In Petermann's Geogr. Mitte- 

 lungen, 1902, heft vi. 



DlLLER, J. S. " Volcanic rocks of Martinique 

 and St Vincent. " In the National Geo- 

 graphic Magazine, vol. xiii, July, 1902, 

 pp 285-296. 



Falconer, J. D. "Volcanic dust from the 

 West Indies." In Nature, vol. 66, June 5, 

 1902, pp. 130-132. 



Flett, J. S. See Anderson, Tempest, and 



" Harper's Weekly. " " The destruction of 

 St Pierre." In Harper's Weekly, vol. xlvi, 

 June 7, 1902, pp. 716-717. 



Heilprin, Angelo. "Monte Pelee in its 

 might. ' ' In McClure's Magazine, vol. xix, 

 August, 1902, pp. 359-36S. 



— " Mont Pel£e and the ruins of St Pierre." 

 In the Youth's Companion, vol. 76, Octo- 

 ber 2, 1902, pp. 471-472. 



HillEbrand, W. F. "Chemical discussion 

 of analyses of volcanic ejecta from Marti- 

 nique and St Vincent. ' ' In the National 

 Geographic Magazine, vol. xiii, July, 

 1902, pp. 296-299. 



