Abstract
SEVERAL interesting observations and records connected with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes have come under our notice during the past week. As has already been remarked, the exact cause of the sudden destruction of the inhabitants of Martinique after the eruption of Mont Pelée is a little difficult to determine. Witnesses who were on the Roddam in the bay of St. Pierre at the time of the disaster on May 8, state that when the eruption occurred the vessel was struck with such force by the material ejected that she was nearly capsized and seemed to be enveloped in “a whirlwind of fire.” Apparently what burst from the volcano was highly heated gas carrying with it immense quantities of white-hot volcanic ash. The vessel eventually reached the harbour of Castries, St. Lucia, and a survivor gave a correspondent of the Times the following account of his terrible experience:—
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Records and Results of Recent Eruptions . Nature 66, 153–154 (1902). https://doi.org/10.1038/066153a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/066153a0