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PLAYING WITH FIRE TO SAVE LIFE VOLCANOLOGIST’S JOB _ * ....... ■ - — ■ ■ — ~~ Eruption of Pelee in 1902 Set Perret on Unusual Study American Scientist Is Guardian Angel of Island Where Earth Tremors Give Hints of Activity at Mount Soufriere. The Gorge recording thermometer (x). Frank A. Perret, volcanologist, is shown collecting water specimen at Montserrat.—Photo by C. E. Browne. By John Francis Steele. AD It not been for the Pelee disaster on the Island of Mar tinique in 1902, in all proba bility, the name of Perret would never have been known in the field of science. At that time Frank Alvord Perret, a Connecticut Yankee with a French name (pronounced Parrayj, was a young electrical engi neer in New York tinkering around with inventions and other electrical devices. Today as one of the world's most oustanding volcanologists, he does not feel quite at ease unless he is in some uncomfortably hot place trying out his test tubes on Vesuvius, Pelee. Sou friere and the like. No little embryonic mud floe can go a trickling down the side of a volcano without Prof. Perret having a name for it. These little trickles known as Strombolian are ever a delight to his eye. No little caper can go uncharted and unidentified by him. His work as a scientist has taken him around the world twice and to virtually every upheaval of importance. He has spent 32 years studying active volcanoes. Much of that time has been passed in Italy. As early as 1904 he became assistant to Prof. Matteucci fit the Royal Observatory. Vesuvius, Italy. He has done direct research w-ork at Vesuvius, Stromboli, Etna, Messer,a, Saskurashima. and was the director of the Hawaiian expedition of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech nology, spending the Summer of 1911 et the crater of Kilauea. The decorations he bears are signifi cant: Uffiziale della Corona D'ltalia and the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. As director and foundateur of the Musee Volcanologique at St. Pierre, Mr. Perret has collected many valu able relics not only from there but from the world’s most famous vol canoes. In this marvelous collection of objects excavated from the ruins of St. Pierre are iridescent and melted glassware, perfume sealed in glass, books still legible, carbonized bread, spaghetti, a loaf of cheese and linen. Then there is the fragment of I crucifix from the church, the tower from which w’as reckoned the latitude and longitude of the Island of Mar tinique. One sees the grating of the dungeon of Auguste Cyparis, the only survivor of the 1902 disaster, when the lives of 30,000 people were snuffed out in almost the twinkling of an eye. pROM the layman's point of view there is nothing so interesting as a small light bulb still bearing parts of ashes and lava in which it rested for 29 years. Since unearthing it Mr. Perret has guarded it with tealous care. The instant the light * shone forth when his nervous fingers turned the switch, he declares to be the most dramatic moment of his career. This museum is on that sad little thoroughfare with the imposing name —Rue Victor Hugo. Looking over the coping toward the sea the eye falls upon ruined walls, grim reminder of the former glory of the dead city. To the left one sees Mount Pelee, with a snowy sombero, basking in the tropical sunlight, with its once ter rible path to the sea, quiet as a coun try lane in Yorkshire. Martinique—Le pays des revenants —was known to Columbus at Mati ntno, where all the Inhabitants were women of Amazonian type. The place Is remembered if for nothing else as the birthplace of Josephine. Empress of Napoleon. A beautiful statue to her stands in the Place de la Savane and can easily be seen from the harbor. She looks pathetic and lonely in her immortal marble. There was activity of commerce on the island, but also time for leisure and plenty of gayety. Then came the ill-fated morning Of May 8, 1902. There had been a feeling of uneasiness on the island as Pelee had been roaring out like acme huge beast held in leash. Nuees ardentes (flaming clouds) in termittently arose from the crater. Three days before a sudden rush of boiling lava had engulfed a sugar factory and destroyed a village of ISO persons, roared madly along the Riviere Blanche and hurried to the water’s edge, turning the sea into seething torrents of steam. The fiery monster struck early in . the morning as if all thb demons of heli had gathered in the night for hideous conclave. It was 7:52 a. m. to be exact. A few minutes later every vestige of human life was wiped out save that of one poor colored man, Auguste Ciparis, a prisoner in a dun geon which was under a protected hill. Through the small gratings of his cell hot ashes crept in and scorched his body. Three days later, more dead than alive, he was rescued by persons searching in the ruins. The city went d^-n under a veil table flood of molten lava. The devas tated district was about eight square miles, but beyond that lay a region terribly damaged. /")F THE eighteen ships which were at anchor in the busy harbor only one escaped, the Roddam, which luckily had been ordered to quaran tine some distance away. Charred and burned until it bore little resem blance to the proud ship which the day before had dropped anchor at St. Pierre, it slunk like a ghost into Castries, St. Lucia, the nearest har bor, 20 miles away. The deck was strewn with scorched bodies and the captain and his remaining crew were blinded and tortured from their ter rible experience. The ghosts of the dead town still stalk through the West Indies and one meets many persons who witnessed the cataclysm from Fort de France, Bridgetown. Barbados, and as far away as Port of Spain, Island of Trini dad. Within the past year Prof. Perret received a hurry-up call to go to the Island of Montserrat. British West Indies, where earth tremors, sup posedly from Mount Soufriere had been giving the inhabitants of the little village of Plymouth a bad case of the jitters. The writer happened to be a pas senger on the same British steamer and it was midnight when we ap proached the harbor. Every one was awake or awakened as a sickening odor of sulphur filled the air. Its presence gave rise to considerable ap prehension among the officers lest an eruption was at hand. To the passengers it was just a horrible smell but to Prof Perret it was a scientific warning, something that might portend disaster. We watched his small, wiry figure go down the gangolank and called out our adieus as the splash of the oars carried him into the darkness. No doubt the whole village was awake and breathed easier at the approach of its “guardian angel.’' Following a big shock In May, he remained on the island observing, taking tests of temperature and ana lyzing the gases. For two years this small island has had a series of local earthquakes, which, seemingly, are due to subterranean lava endeavoring to reach the surface. His work here is to prepare to give warning of any eruption. Although he believes there is no immediate danger of such an oc currence, a field station has been es tablished with buried microphones, temperature recorders and detectors of earthouakes. The analyses of the gas and water collections are yielding new and in teresting data of value to science. The gas issuing in higher concentra tion yields by decompostion products differing greatly fi;om the original compound, which without disagree able odor, was found to be extremely poisonous. Among these rases was the well-known sulphuric-hydrogen, which in one instance was so strong that it turned the immaculate white Canadian steamer to a dark browp over night. • N> 'J'EN DAYS later on the return trip when the steamer stopped at Montserrat, Prof. Perret was pleased to report that Mount Soufriere was quiescent and that there was no in dication to show that an eruption was imminent. Prom the boat anchored within a mile and a half of the mountain a slight smoking was in evidence but no odor. In 1902, so little was known of the terribly destructive nature of the pecu liar type of volcanic activity impend ing, that the people of St. Pierre re mained in town in the face of a threat so menacing as to excite our astonish ment today. This appalling catas trophe gave rise to a world-wide in vestigation of volcanic phenomena in the hope of reducing to a minimum the loss of human life. Twenty-seven years later at the first outburst of Pelee St. Pierre was deserted, only a few persons remaining over night. However, it is an important fact that ample warning always precedes a great eruption. It was in August, 1929, that things were becoming increasingly interest ing up Pelee Mountain way. The "dome" of 1902, as described by La croix, had been blown off, while at the sea deltas were formed and huge blocks and boulders lay scattered everywhere. A flaming cloud had swept around a small island and de stroyed live stock and 4,000 coconut trees that lay in its path. Just as Vesuvius had grown enormously since the Pllnian eruption, 79 A. D., so had Pelee enlarged by filling the valleys and the forming of a lofty dome until a typical volcanic massif had replaced the long, ridgelike eminence of pre-1902 days. Madame Pelee, Alt appears, is not adverse to charting her head jeasy The museum established at St. Pierre, Martinique, by Prank Alvord Ferret. In casting off a domelike or helmet shaped chapeau for the more trans parent sky-piece with conical towers, spiral windings and minarets, pro ducing remarkable visual effects. He conducted his study from an Im provised shack on a hotel roof In 8t. Pierre which reassured the people and helped to allay the great fear which prevailed. His little portable micro phone had been mounted Inside a sterno tin which In turn had been ce mented to the bottom of an ordinary gasoline can. The apparatus was buried at a depth of two meters in the south wall of the Riviere Seche Valley and , awwy from the sea to avoid the sound, i Except for a short length of Iron, a4 double line of copper wire was strung on poles all the way to 8t. Pierre station where batteries and earphones . completed the equipment. In this j work. Prof. Perret was given the finest co-operation and assistance from all classes of people. The result was most gratifying. The slightest sound, even I the sleepiest yawn of the haughty | mistress was recorded. J-IIS MAIN purpose was to watch for any indications of abnormal activ ity. Not unlike Atlas with the world on his shoulders, the professor had a volcano on his hands with the lives of many trustful human beings look ing to him for safety. He was well aware of the importance of his vigil. Came a day when there were signs of activity in the “castle”—a clank and a flash as if the armored knights were having a lively tilt with their swords. This was a bird of good and not bad omen. What followed was of vast importance. A strong upward emission of gas and ash at the crater seemed to indicate a very consider able release of energy. This important refcase caused almost complete calm the next day. This discharge of gas preceding every notable output of lava is a phenomenon stressed by the pro fessor. The change in the nuees ardentes was marked. Instead of rolling over the ground, buoyed up by powerful gas pressure, they moved along the earth gouging out deep furrows as , Head of native woman, from a statuette in terra-cotta, at the St. Pierre Museum. they went. The castle now had dis appeared and Madame Pelee was going about her business shaping a new dome. Her once artistic castel latel head-piece was shapenlng Into a dangerous and war-lilce helmet. Silence was everywhere—a definite warning that a menace was masked under the dome of stillness. The Gov ernment station at the Morne des Cadets was notified. Two phases were shown here: The emission of nuees ardentes with their self-explosive lava and their dome-building with their virtually gas free but Incandescent lava. The courageous scientist kept his vigil. He watched with awe those brilliant convolutions of ash and va por as they seemed to spring and roll like raging lions. Just a small part of the ever-recurring phenomenon. Heavy tropical rains caused new activity. Deep Indentations were made In the side of the vol.-ano as the mud and water poured rapidly down the descending slope. This downpour gave rise to a most terrifying spectacle— a steaming nuee ardente—lacking the explosive character but forming an im pressive train of rolling dust-charged steam cloud which continued through the night. Accompanied by police officials, the volcanologist crossed the River des Peres on the back of a powerful negro whose foothold among the rolling stones was a marvel. It seemed al most unbelieveable that the action being witnessed could be provoked by an outside agency. The dome was reduced thirty meters in height. The highly protective powers of the ele ments are well known as Incalculable tons of ash and debris are borne away by the wind which greatly reduces the danger of the volcanoes. ANE OF the devices which comprised Prof. Perret’s equipment was a tuning fork which accurately deter mined the decrease in bulk or the in crease in lava. It seemed to be a case of nip and tuck between the sharps and flats. Sometimes the A's had it and sometimes the B's. The very rythmic French names— Petit Bonhomme and Chat Couchant— are given to two "gate posts” which constitute a feature of volcanic mor phology. The sentinels guarding the approach to Madame Pelee mark the old crater wall, being fragments of it but increased to enormous size by the accumulation of new lava. These to scientists are a morphological curi osity. Gases which would give the average layman frightful nausea to Mr. Per ret are only a part of the day’s work. He had an experience in the eruption of 1929-1932 that almost cost him his | (Continued on Eleventh Page.) Photoplays in Washington Theaters This Week WEEK OP JANUARY 5 Academy 8th and G Sts. S.E. Ambassador 18th and Columbia Rd Apollo 624 H St N.E Arcade Hyattsvillc. Md. Ashton Clarendon. Va. Avalon 5612 Connecticut Ave Avenue Grand 645 Pa. Ave. B E. Cameo Mount Rainier. Md. 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Joe Cook comedy. _Novelty. _ Wiillam Powell and Rosalind Russell in "Rendezvous." ■ Comedy. News._ Edmund Lowe. “King Solomon of Broad way.” Zasu Pitts in ■ “The Affair of Susan.” "In Person." with Ointer Rogers and George Brent. __Melody Master. _ Gary Cooper and Ann Harding In “Peter Ibbetson." _News._ j Margaret Sullavan and Walter Connolly in “So Red the Rose.” ; _Mlckey Mouse cart. Joan Crawford in “I Live My Life.” News. . _ Comedy. William Powell in “Rendezvous." • Cartoon. Paul Muni and Ann Dvorak in “Dr. Socrataa." Comedy. News. William Powell In “Rendezvous." . _Musical._ Miriam Hopkins and Edward G. Robinson in “Barbary Coast." Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon in "The Scarlet _Pimpernel."_ Edward G. Robinson and Miriam Hopkins in "Barbsry Coast." Cartoon. News, Dark. ' Clark Gable and Charles Laughton in "Mutiny on the ._Bounty."_ Oaorte Raft and Joan Bennett in "8he Couldn’t Take It.” Also “Java Head." Dark. ’ Paul Lukaa and Wal ter Abel in “TheThree Musketeers." . Oartoon._ Jamas Cagney and Margaret Lindsay in "Frisco Kid.” MaJ. Bowes’ amateurs. Frank Parker in . “Sweet Surrender." Edmund Lowe in "Grand Exit.'|_ ConradVtedtln "Pass ing of the Third Floor Back." Also "Wings over Ethiopia." Rochelle Hudson and Henry Fonda JJWay Down East.'^ George Arlise In j “Mr. Hobo." ; Ronald Colman and i Joan Bennett in "Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo." The Marx Brothers hi "A Night at thg Opera." ■port nek Monday Mary Carlisle In “The Old Homestead " Jean Arthur In _“Public Menace. Joe Penner end Jack Oakie In “Collegiate." _• Cartoon._ TheM»rx Brothv* In "A Night at the Opera." Sport reel._ Rochelle Hudson and H"nry Fonda In ‘ Way Down East." Cart. Novelty. News. Fredrlc March and Merle Oberon in _"Dark Angel."_ The Marx Brothers in "A Night at the Opera.” _Novelty._ Walter C. Kelly In "Virginia Judge." Joe Cook comedy. Novelty._ William Powell and j Rosalind Russell in "Rendeivous.” _Comedy. News._j Edmund Lowe. "King Solomon of Broad way.” Zasu Pitts In "The Affair of Susan." “In Person.” with Ginger Rovers and George Brent. _Melody Master. Gary Cooper and Ann Harding in "Peter Ibbetson.” News.___ Margaret Sullavan and Walter Connolly In “So Red the Ros» ." Mickey Mouse cart. Joan Crawford in. “I Live My Life.” News. Comedy. ___ William Powell In “Rendeivous." Cartoon. First ahow at S: 15. Paul Muni and | Ann Dvorak In "Dr. Socrates." Comedy. News. William Powell i In "Rendeivous." _Musical. 1 Miriam Hopkins and Edward G. Robinson In _"Barbary Coast.” _ ~Leslie Howard and' Merle Oberon In "The Scarlet _Pimpernel.”_ Edward O. 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Cartoon._ News. _ Fredrlc March and Merle Oberon in J'Dark Angel."_ The Marx Brothers in "A Night at the Opera." _Novelty._ James Cagney and* Margaret Lindsay in "Frisco Kid." Charlie Chase comedy. Chester Morris and Sally Ellers In "Pursuit.” Cartoon. Band. News. Douglass Montgomery In "Harmony Lane.” Clive Brook In "Dressed to Thrill." Pat O Brim In •"Stars Over Broad way.** _ Comedies._ Margaret Sullavan and Walter Connolly in "So Red the Rose/^_ Margaret Sullavan and Walter Connolly in "So Red the Rose.'1 Mickey Mouse cart. Jack Benny and Una Merkel in •‘It's in the Air." _ _ Comedy._ Kay Francis in "I Found Stella Parrish." • Sport reel. Zasu Pitts and Hugh O'Connell in "She Gets Her Man." Cartoon. News. Cary Grant and Gertrude Michael In "The Last Outpost.” Charlie Ohas^ comedy. Lawrence Tlbbett and Virginia Bruce In "Metropolitan." _Oomedy_NoYtlty._ Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon in “The Scarlet Pimpernel."_ Warner Oland and Irene Hervey in “Chan in Shanghai.” _Comedy. News. Joan Crawford and Brian Aherne T Live My Life." cfark Oable and Charles Laughton In "Mutiny on tha Bounty."_ Nino Martini in "Here's to Romanes.” Edmund Lowe In "Grand Salt." Loretta Young and Henry Wlleoxen ha •Tha Crusades ” Cartoon. News. Lionel Barrymore in "The Return of Peter Grimm.” _Musical. _ James Dunn and Claire Dodd in •Tha Payoff. Comedy. Oort. Newa Nino Martini In “Here's to Romance." Lola Wilton In "Society Fever,” Joan . Bennett and Oeorg* Raft in "She Couldn't Take It.” f Newa. Comedy. _ Jack Benny and Bleanor Fowell in "Broadway Melody of 1036.** _ Florence Rice in _^Ouard That Oirir. Kay Francis and Ian Hunter In SrrfSSfc Gary _Qoop«r and . & Wednesday i Spencer Tracy In • Dante * Inferno." Norman Foster In ' ''Buperspeed.”_ j Clark Gable and Charles Lauahton In "Mutiny on the '_Bounty."_ Preston Poeter and Barbara Stanwyck in “Annie Oakley." Laurel andHardycem^ Oary Cooper and i Mary Brian in •The Virginian.” _Com«dy. _Newg._ William Powell and Rosalind Russell in !_“Rendezvous."_ Edward O. Robinson in “Barbary Coaat." Cart oo n.__ James Cagney and Margaret Lindsay in "Friaco Kid " Charlie Chase comedy. Cary Orant and Gertrude Michael In •The Last outpost." Comedy._News._ Douglas* Montgomery in "Harmony Lane.” Clive Brook in j;Dres»ed to Thrill.^ Pat O’Brien In "Stars Over Broad wav." _Comedies._ Margaret Sullavan and Walter Connolly In “So Red the Rose “ Edward O. Robinson In “Barbary Coast.” Popeye. _ Florence Rice and Preston Foster in ’’Superspeed." __Comedy._ Margaret Lindsay In “Personal Maid's Secret.” Musical. Cartoon. ZasuPitts and Hugh O'Connell in “She Gets Her Man." Cartoon. News. Cary Grant and Gertrude Michael in “The Last Outpost. Charlie Chase comedy. Kay Francis and Ian Hunter In "I Found Stella Parrish.'' Comedy. Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon In ■The Scarlet _Pimpernel.’;_ Warner Oland and Irene Hervey In “Chan in Sheeghal.” Comedy. News. Joan Crawford and Brian Ahernt •1 Live My _Llfe.*!_ Clark- Osble and Charles Laughton In “Mutiny on the Bounty."__ Nino Martini in "Hare’s to Romance.” Bdmund Lowe In “Grand Kxlt.’’ Loretta Young and Henry WUcoxen in •The Crusade*. _Cart— Lloi Barrymore hi ‘Th - Davit and t Brent In al Agent.” _y. Cart. Hews. i Htno Martini in .“Here's to Romanct.” Lola Wilson In “Society Fever, Joan Bennett and George Raft in “She Couldn’t Take It.” Hews. Comedy._ Jack Benny and Eleanor Powell In “Broadway Melody _ Of 1938.”_ Florence Rice In “guard That Oirir. Kay Francis and SkSSWu. Pariah?' Comedy._ r and M to Thursday John Boles in "Red heads on Parade." Also "The 8panish Cape Mystery."_ Clark Gable and Charles Laughton In "Mutiny on the _Bounty."_ Preston Foster and Barbara Stanwyck in “Annie Oakley." Laurel and Hardy com. Gary Cooper and Mary Brian in •‘The Virginian." Comedy. _News. William Powell and Rosalind Russell in "Rendesvous."_ Edward O. Robinson in • Bsrbary Coast." Cartoon. Lee Tracy and Gall Patrick in "Two-Fisted.” Comedy. Vsrlety. Jack Oakie and Burns and Allen in "Big Broadcast of 1938." Com News. Warner Oland. “Char lie Chan in Shanghai." Noel Coward in 1 "The Scoundrel.'* William Boyd in "Eagle s Brood." Musical. _Band reel._ The Marx Brothers In "A Night tt the Opera.” |News. Edward O. Robinson in "Barbary Coast." Popeye._ The Marx Brothers in "A Night at the Opera.” __Comedy._ Walter Abel in "The Three Mus keteers.'' _Travelogue. Warner Oland in "Chan in Egypt." Jean Parker In "Princess O'Hara." Warren"flull and Margaret Llndaay In "Personal Maid's Se cret." Oom oddity. The Marx’Brothers in "A Night at the Opera." _Comedy._ Fredrle March and Evelyn Venable in "Death Takes a _ Holiday.”_ William’Powell *nd Rosalind Rusaell In "Rendesvous." _Cartoon. News _ James Cagney and Margaret Lindsay in _"Frisco Kid."_ Ronald Colman and Joan Bennett in "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo." Lionel Barrymore in “The Return of Peter Grimm." Jack La Rue, "Hot Off the Press." Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak In _ "Thanks a Million." Cartoon. News._ George Murphy and Jean Arthur In "Public Menace." Musical. Cartoon. Bette Davis and George Brent in “Special Agent ” Oomiar. Cart. _Newj. Richard~Arlen in "Let 'Em Hive It" Shirley Grey In 'TO Girl Who Came Back." Victor McLaglen in "The Informer." . Peter Lorre in ' "Mad Love." Miriam Hopkins and Edward G. Robinson in "Barbary Coast.’* _Serial._ William Powell In ‘‘Rendesvous.” Cartoon. Band reel. William Powell ssr" - Friday John Boies In "Red heads on Parade' Also "The Spanish Cape Mystery."_ Clark Gsble and Charles Laughton >n "Mutiny on the _Bounty.” __ Cary Grant in "The Last Outpost.” El Brendel comedy._ Pst O'Brien and Jane Fromsn In "Stars • Over Broadway.” _Amateur nisht. John Wayne in • Westward Ho.” Serial. _Betty Boop._ Sally Blane and Sidney Toler in_ -This Is the Life ” Oomedy. Sport reel. Winnie Shaw and Lyle Talbot in "Broadway Hostess.” Comedy. Musical. __ Jack Oakle and Burns and Allen in "Bit Broadcast of 1638." Com News. Warner Oland. "Char lie Chan In 8hanthal." Noel Coward In _"The Scoundrel.” William Boyd in "Eagle's Brood. Musical. _Band reel._ The Marx Brothers In i "A Night at tha I _ Carole Lombard and s Fred MacMurray In "Hands Across the _Table.”_Comedy. ; The Marx Broth-rs in "A Nlaht at tha Opera." !_Comedy._ Warren William in "The Case of the Lucky Legs." __Popeye._ Warner Oland in "Chan In Egypt.” Jean Parker in _ "Princess O'Hara.” Barton MacLans In "Man of Iron.” _Easy Aces. • The Marx Brothers In "A Night at the Opera.” _Oomedy. Fredrtc March and Evelyn Venable in "Death Takes a Holiday."_ William Powell and Rosalind Rusaell in "Rendesvous." _Cartoon. News. James Casney and Margaret Lindsay In _"Frisco Kid.” Ronald Colman * and Joan Bennett in "The Men Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo." Lionel Barrymore in ‘The Return of Peter Grimm.” Jack La Rue, "Hot Off the Press." Dick Powell and _Ann Dvorak In _ •Thanks a Million.” Cartoon. News, Bob Steele la "No Man's Rants." Musical. _Cartoon._ Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor In "Dante’s Inferno.” Comedy. Cartoon. Shirley Grey in "The Girl Who Came Back." ■In* Crosby tp„ "Two for Tonight. Comedy. _News. _ Miriam Hopkins and Edward O. Robinson in "Barbary Coast.' _Serial._ WUUam Powell In "Rendetvous.” Oeerae-Arlissln ••Mr. Hobo.” _ William Powell 'teSSK*" Saturday Ben Lyon in ■'Frisco Wsterfront. George O’Brien in JJA Holy Terror." Ronald Colman and Jo»n Bennett in "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.' "Music Is Magic.” "Last Days of Pompeii." Serial. _Mtckey Mouse George Raft in "Shi Couldn t Take It.” Cherles I; in ••Fighting Youth.”_ Jack Benny and Una Merkel in ••It'S in the Air.” _ Serial. Comedy. _ Wheeler and Woclsey In ‘The Rainmakers.' No. S of "Oreat All ■Mystery.’’ Comedy' "This Is the Life.” "His Family Tree.” • Cartoon._ Edw. Everett Horton in "His Night Out.” Qeo. O'Brien. “Whis pering Smith Speaks.” Joe E Brown in "Alibi Ike.” Gene Autry in ‘The Singing Vagabond.^ "Annie Oakley." •To Beat the Band.” _Cartoon._ James Cagney and Margaret Lindsay in "Frisco Kid. _Comedy. Wheeler and Woolsei in ‘TheRainmakers.' No. 3 of “Great Ail _Mystery.” Ken Maynard in "Heir to Trouble." Serial. Comedy._ Gary Cooper and Richard Arlen in •The Virginian.” Serial (matinee only) William Powell and Rosalind Russell In “Rendegvous.” _Cartoon. News._ "The Rainmakers.” "Too Tough to Kill.” Cartoon. Walter C. Kelly and Btepin Fetchlt la "The Virginia _Judge.”_ Fredrlc March and Evelyn Venable In "Death Take! a _Holiday. George O'Brien and Irene Ware In “Whis pering Smith Speaks.' _Comedy,_News._ Robert Armstrong ir "Little Bit Shot.” Also "Wings Over _Ethiopia.”_ •'In Person.” with Ginger Rogerg and George Brent. _ Popeye. _Novelty. _ Esther Ralston In "Forced Landing.” Oene Autry in "Melody Trail.” . Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak in ‘Thanks a Million. Cartoon. Newa. _ Kay Francis and Oeorgt Brent in “Goose and the Oan. der " Comedy. Sport Wheeler and Woolsei In "The Rainmakers.’ Ken Maynard in “Western Frontier.” Ben iron in “Frisco Waterfront.’' Buck Jones in “Tht Ivory-Handled Gun. Jack Benny in “It's in the Air.” Hoot Gibson in _"Sunset Range.”, James Dunn In Also Tvory?Handled _Guns.”_ Betae Daniels in “Music Is Magic.” Ken Maynard in "Lawless Riders.” "Preston’Foster and Barbara Stanwyck ic -Annie Oakley." Serial._8port reel. Paul'Lukas and Wal P^BSh! Mauna Loa W eirdly Lovely In Close-Up of Eruption Eye-Witness Account of Difficult Climb to Peak and Rewards It Offered Given by Woman Who Risked Its Hardships. The eruption of Mauna Loa at night. Being on the windward side of the outbreak permitted the photographer to get within a thousand yards and when the wind did suddenly change he was peppered with hot j cinders and effluvia. By Harriett K. Whitman.! ON THURSDAY evening. No vember 21. soon after a short sub-tropical twilight, a great red glow was seen !n the southerly sky. Friends telephoned friends that the long-expected event had happened and that there was an eruption on Mauna Loa, the ‘'Old Faithful” of volcanoes under the ' American flag, located on the Island of Hawaii some 200 miles away. Hun dreds of Honolulu residents crowded vantage points along Oahu’s coast, watched and speculated on the red glow that suffused the horizon. The first Inter Island plane left at 8 o’clock Friday morning, and I was fortunate enough to get a seat, on the second plane, leaving John Rodgers airport at 8:30 a.m. Shortly after leaving Honolulu we were able to see a huge cone of smoke which grew in size as we flew toward it, slowly, in our impatience, passing the | islands of Lanaii. Molokai and Maui. Our plane climbed steadily and soon we were able to see the color of ; fire. Most of the nine passengers i had cameras and rushed from one window to another to get pictures j from every possible angle. Finally, at 13.000 feet, we saw the crater itself. Collars were turned up and there were complaints of cold feet—because it does get cold at 13,000 feet here in Hawaii. All eyes were concentrated upon the huge fountain of fire and j we were 13,300 feet before we saw the lava flows. Gasps of awe and wonder as we looked down upon the most magnificent of all spectacles! Tongues of fire leaping skyward and cascading into a huge red caldron. Five great flows—looking like veins of deep red blood flowing at a terrific pace down the mountainside. j It was so awe inspiring that we were silent, and even forgot our cameras for a moment. The pilot pointed the plane toward Hilo, but fortunately the president of the Inter : Island Airplane Co. was with us and sent forward a ncte to circle the volcano again and again. Speechless with the terrible beauty, we flew on to Hilo where box lunches were awaiting us as we had 20 minutes before the plane left for the J return flight to Honolulu. I knew ; that I could not leave the island with out seeing this amazing spectacle at night so I decided to stay and chance seeing more. T OCATING friends of mine on the j ^ other side of the island on their j way to Humuula I set out for Weimea. I was able to get in touch with them at a C. C. C. camp, watching the | volcano eruption at an altitude of j 6,500 feet, but 9 miles from the j bottom of the flow. They told me they j planned to return to Waimea, drive i around the island, and climb the other | side of Mauna Loa. by way of the Mauna Loa Trail. This sounded mad but everyone was mad with excite ment. So, instead of waiting for them I took the Humuula Trail and drove toward the red glow in the sky. The trail was only a cow path and scarcely wide enough for one car, but there were dozens* going in each di rection. Progress, naturally, was slow and dangerous. About 10 o’clock I met them, and, hearing that I could see but little more at the C. C. C. camp than from where we were, we all returned to Waimea, then on to Paauhau, a sugar plantation, where we spent Friday night. Up early on Saturday and hurried telephone calls for sweaters, blankets, boots, horses and food. In Hilo we made a fruitless search for woolen underwear, but found only a pair of boy’s outing flannel pajamas. The customers in the sub-tropics of Hilo want cotton and there is no need of carrying woolens. The manager of the Kapapala Ranch had picked six of his best trail horses for our party, accompanied by two cowboys and two extra pack horses. They were sent to Five Tanks, which is on the Kapapala Ranch at the end of the automobile road and the point where the Mauna Loa trail starts winding its tortuous way through lava fields to the top of the volcanoes. Four men, another girl and I tied every available sweater to our saddles, also slickers for protection against the wind. Our hurriedly as sembled costumes were unique and amusing. I think mine was the most grotesque—consisting of the striped pajamas a man's gray sweat shirt, brown riding breeches held up by a black and white bathing suit belt, men’s white woolen socks, my high heel brown sandals, a felt hat tied on with a polka dot scarf, white cotton gloves, dark glasses and a masque of cold cream. Our pack horses were laden with blankets, food and water. The excel lent horses all had painfully wide stock saddles, in which we became restive long before we reached u»e top and which we thoroughly loaufcd by the time we returned to our start ing point. After a hurried picnic lunch under a koa tree at Five Tanks we began our long climb at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. We rode through an old koa forest and grassy country on into kiave bushes and then to fields of lava of prehistoric origin. Climbing all the while—lava, lava, lava. Smooth pahoehoe lava and black, broken clinker-like a a lava. Hard on the horses’ feet, harder on our nerves, and the saddles cramping our joints each step of the way. Night came on Just as we reached the Rest House, a tiny ranger’s cabin situated in the middle of a supposedly extinct cinder cove at an altitude of 10,100 feet, where the winds were blowing cold blasts into our tired faces. Our watches showed it was 5:15 pjn. The rest house consisted of a large room with a tier of bunks and a small space for the kitchen. Fortu nately, there had been rain a few days before and there was enough for the horses. A ranger was preparing supper and let us use his kerosene stove to heat our coffee and steaks, which were already cooked and packed in a thermos. We rested until 7, left one exhausted pack horse and started out again. The cold night was ex quisitely beautiful—the stars seemed just out of reach in a wonderfully clear sky as we rode toward the red glow. J'HE great red flow, however, wa* no assistance in keeping to the trail, as it blinded us and the horses. The trail is over various kinds of lava, the most difficult being the rough, black aa. mentioned earlier. We stumbled along slowly, as the newly cut trail was almost impossible to And at night and was also dan* gerous, even more so than we realized, until we saw’ it by daylight on our return trip. Several members of our party grew so saddle weary that they tried walking, but falling into lava blisters waist deep soon dis couraged them. Many times we found ourselves off the trail and had to reconnoiter with our one flashlight until we found it again. The jagged lava was like a bed of metallic clinkers and the monotony of the climb and the clink of the horses' feet on the glistening volcanic rock put our nerves on edge. As we drew nearer to the top we were able to see the flows again, tearing down the mountains in all directions. Our horses broke through old lava blisters, smoke curled around their legs and made them nervous, and the Hawaiian cowboys became alarmed. They said it was unsafe to take the horses nearer. Actually, we suspected, they feared Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, who has lived on all of the islands and has taken up her last abode on Hawaii. When a volcano erupts it is an expression of her anger. We urged them on and continued climbing until we felt the heat from the volcano on our faces. This was at II o'clock. We were forced to lead our frightened horses the last quar ter-mile. The wind was blowing a terrific gale, the temperature falling at a distressing rate, we were numb with cold and every joint ached. DUT—there beside us. at an altitude U of 12,000 feet, the volcano was sending forth what looked like molten gold—into the sky a hundred feet or more. Fantastic designs shot from the fountain like dreamland fireworks— Dante’s Inferno—another world. Riv ers of gold flowed and one. more furious than the others, suggested the speed of an express train at night. It was too great to "describe in words, and when we had suffered as much cold as we could bear we found a hole in the rocks, slightly pro tected from the wind, threw blankets down, crawled in, pulling more blan kets over us up to our noses and watched what the Hawaiian* call "Pele’s anger" until ealy Sunday. Our seven-hour horseback ride down was even more painful and monot onous than the climb up, but the experience was the greatest of my life. DANCING. Pref. and Mrs. Aeher’i Stadia. 11*7 10th st. n.w. Class and danelny Fridays. 0:30 ta 11:80 p.m.. with Berryman’s Orchestra. Pri vate lessens toy spot. Met. 4100. Bst. ISOft EDWARD F. MILLER STUDIO 814 17th St. N.W. No. 8093 "It It It Dance Wt Teach IV' CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS IN DANCING TAP—BALLBOOM—SPANISH Start Friday January lOth 12 Lessons, $6.00 Private Lesion, toy Appointment! Trial Lesson, 81.00 Instraetlan In year own hems. M yap desire! Special Ratea ta Couplet Canellis Dane* Studios 007 18th St. N.W. Dlstrlet 7000 Open Daily IS—10 Bandar le—6