290 DR. TEMPEST ANDERSON ON THE ERUPTIONS OF THE SOUERIERE IN 
Mr. Huckerby noticed after the eruption that further subsidences had taken place 
north of the mouth of the Wallibu River, as had happened in the May eruption. 
The Eruption of October 13 and 14, 1902.—This appears to have been the most 
severe eruption since May, 1902. Mr. Huckerby writes^ :—“On the 1st and 
13th of October there were electric displays over the crater, and on the night of the 
12th a lunar halo was observed. The 13th and 14th were days of intense heat, and 
several earthquakes were felt at the northern end of the island. At about 8 p.m. 
on October 14, slight rumblings were heard, and clouds of dust-laden steam were 
ejected from the crater, but everything passed off very quickly. At midnight the 
activity recommenced and violent detonations disturbed the people of the district. 
At 12.30 a.m., what appeared to be a ball of fire presented itself over the crater, 
followed by a flow of red-hot matter down the Larikai side of the mountain. At the 
same time a mist-like circle appeared over Chateau Belair. At five minutes to two, 
stones began to fall in Chateau Belair and continued for about two hours. The 
electrical displays were terrible to behold, and the thunder cannonaded with a 
deafening roar. Mud began to fall at 2 o’clock. I noticed four earthquake shocks, 
the two at 3.22 a.m. and 4 a.m., respectively, being the heaviest and most prolonged. 
The detonations became irregular between 4 and 5 o’clock and died away gradually. 
At 8 o’clock in the morning the crater was sending forth volumes of dust-laden 
vapour, which action continued until the 17th. Stones, some probably two pounds 
in weight, were picked up at Chateau Belair on the morning of the 15th. Most of 
the ejecta were carried out E. and N.E. of the island. The Carib country was 
covered with large stones and coarse material.” 
The debris fell chiefly upon the windward side of the island. The Carib country, 
as it had been previously utterly devastated, did not attract much attention, but 
Mr. PowellI' visited the still inhabited districts and noted the amount of damage. 
At Kingston there was from ^ to \ inch of ash. Further north it gradually increased 
in thickness. At Gregs and Union Estates 2 inches were measured, and at Park Hill 
3 to 4 inches, while at Georgetown and Mount Bentinck the depth was 6 to 8 inches. 
Much damage w 7 as done to the provision grounds of the natives in all the localities, 
which the newspapers describe as utterly ruined. The ash was very hot, but 
apparently from the heat of the sun. The dust was carried as far as Barbados, where 
detonations were heard, and samples were collected at the Government Laboratory, 
and also by the U.S. Weather Bureau, and the Rev. N. B. Watson, St. Philips. 
Professor Radcliffe Hall gives the amount collected at the Laboratory as follows : — 
Tons per acre. 
October 16, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the rate of . . . . 0-48 
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. „ .... 2‘10 
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. „ .... 1 • 34 
Total from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ,, .... 3 - 92 
* In a letter to Dr. Anderson. 
f Powell, Report of October 24, 1902. 
