New Volcano In New Hebrides

Party's Startling Experience On Mt. Lopevi

THE peace and tranquility that brood over the islands of Epi, Paama and Ambrym were rudely shattered on March 6 last by an earthquake shock which caused the houses to rock and reel in an alarming fashion.

No sooner had the tremor subsided than the residents were astounded to discover that the earthquake had set in action a new volcano in Ambrym, thus raising the number of this strange fra ternity of undesirable neighbours to three in the central islands.

The Admiralty Chart shows two vol canoes, Mount Benbow and Mount Mar um, rising from the ash plain of Am brym, within a few miles of each other For the past 45 years, Mount Benbow has alternately fascinated and alarmed the residents of Ambrym and the sur rounding isles by intermittent eruptions,

but Mount Marum has remained uni formly dormant and quiescent.

But its behaviour has not always been above reproach. The records of Brit ish naval officers show that it was last in eruption 50 years ago, when it wiped out several villages on the north side of the island. Now, after the sleep of half a century, the earthquake has ef fectively resuscitated the monster and endowed it with a new lease of life.

For three successive days, the two vol canoes, without being unduly violent, erupted in a spectacular fashion and pre sented a truly picturesque and pheno menal sight. Pillars of smoke, in curi ous, cerebreform masses, issued from the two craters and ascended in straight parallel columns to a stupendous height and then spread out in all directions like gigantic parachutes. Gleaming in the sunlight, or glowing in the darkness with a weird, incandescent light, the two vol canoes were a unique and matchless spectacle, the like of which would be difficult to find anywhere in the world.

But, so long as the two resplendent actors deport themselves with restraint and moderation, the spectators on Ab brym and surrounding isles will raise no objection to their presence and dra matic performances. There will be no necessity for residents to go beyond the verandahs of their dwelling houses when they wish to take visitors to the pic tures!

In the neighbourhood of Ambrym is the island of Lopevi, with its volcanic cone rising sheer out of the sea, to a height of 5,000 feet. Though 12 miles in circumference, the island has no har bour or anchorage, and none of the inter-island steamers can make it a port of call. Consequently, it is seldom vis ited by travellers from overseas.

But it lies in the track of steamers cruising through the Group, and from their decks tourists obtain a good view of the striking landmark. Should for tune favour them with the volcano in violent eruption, as it did Martin John son, the movie-picture expert from Los Angeles, they are rewarded with the unique spectacle of a dense white cloud rising from the crater and ascending in spiral columns to a wondrous height.

At present, there is consternation among the natives of Lopevi because the volcano, after bursting out intermittent ly in pyrotechnic displays for nearly half a century, has suddenly closed down. The natives, primitive though they are, have sufficient knowledge of mechanics to understand that the clos ing of a safety valve is as dangerous in a volcano as in a steam engine.

Accompanied by a layge number of natives. Mr. W. H. Grube,' an island mer chant, climbed to the summit and was struck dumb with chagrin and bewild erment at the sight which confronted them. Expecting to peep into the bot tomless pit of Dante’s Inferno, the ex ploring party found neither crater nor volcano, and not even the slightest in dication that a volcano had ever existed.

On the last occasion when a party of explorers ascended the mountain, the volcano was in violent eruption. From time immemorial, when the volcano was in action, the inhabitants of Lopevi have imagined that the fire-god who dwelt

within the crater was angry with them, and accordingly, a large party, carrying bunches of drinking coconuts, accompan ied the European climbers to the sum mit in order to throw in the nuts as an oblation to appease the wrath of Vulcan.

The ascent, difficult enough at any time, was made still more difficult by volcanic outbursts, but on reaching the summit they were rewarded with the thrill of their lives. From a vent about a quarter of a mile in diameter, and over a mile in depth, explosions were taking place every few minutes, accom panied by a roar of batteries of artillery.

Masses of molten lava were shot hun dreds of feet into the air and, bursting into innumerable stars, fell back into the cauldron from which they had been ejected.

To-day, the summit is a bare, gaunt, silent mountain peak, covered with vol canic ash, over which Mr. Grube and his party wandered without let or hin drance, and around which the sea-birds are ever hovering.

When the climbers descended with the news that the volcano had closed down, the report struck terror into the hearts of the natives who inhabit the villages nestling in sheltered positions at the base of the mountain. The old people have still a grim recollection that the volcano closed down before the last big eruption in 1898, when it exploded with a convulsive outburst, obliterating one of the villages and placing the lives of the whole population in jeopardy.

The natives are afraid of a repetition of the disastrous occurrence and are in a state of alarm and apprehension

M.F.