Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
April 13, 1813
Primary Source Reference:
Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 64
Additional Source Text:
"Which were collected from the Roofs of Houses in the Island of Barbadoes on the 5th of May. (The Eruption of the Volcano in the Island of St. Vincent occured the 30th of April 1812.) During the fall of this powder, which covered the whole Island of Barbadoes to the depth of an inch & a half, there was utter darkness from half past 7 in the morning till half past 12 P.M."
"N.B. A hasty chemical Analysis shews the consituent parts to be, Argils, Carbonate of lime, Iron slightly oxidated & probably some [silex?]. Barbadoes is 70 miles to Windward of St. Vincents."
The donor was "of Barbados."
Notes:
Soufrière Saint Vincent is an active volcano on the island of Saint Vincent in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. The eruption of 30 Apr 1812 was the subject of a painting by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) pictured here.
The Peale Museum also received a sample of ash from this eruption on 19 May 1813 from John Hughes, Jr. Accessions Book, p. 65
See also the entry "Ashes, collected from the deck of the Brig Mars, Capn. Norry."
