Murat Halstead (1829–1908)

on the cover:
The World on Fire: Splendors and Horrors of the Lesser Antilles;
The Destroying Volcanoes of Old and the New
by Murat Halstead
The Destroying Volcanoes of Old and the New Classed
A Strange and Awful History

title page:
The World on Fire including Splendors and Horrors of the Volcanic Eruptions of the Lesser Antilles, together with a Biographical Sketch of Josephine, Empress of the French, the Fair Daughter of Martinique, and Alexander Hamilton, Stalwart Son of Island of Nevis, and Father of the American Constitution.
by Murat Halstead
The Destroying Volcanoes of the Old and the New Classed
A Strange and Awful History
Splendidly Illustrated with Many Views in Half Tones

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Not sure what connection this has with volcanic eruption, but in
Chapter XXV The Caribbees and the Isthmian Canals and
Chapter XXVI The Darien Isthmian Canal History
the author offers his opinions on the advantages and feasibility of constructing what we know today as the Panama Canal… (más)

teaming across Manila Bay from Cavite to the city on an energetic ferry-boat, scanning the wrecks of the Spanish fleet still visible where the fated ships went down, one of them bearing on a strip of canvas the legible words "Remember the 'Maine,'" the talk being of Dewey's great May-day, we were passing the famous flag-ship of the squadron that was ordered to destroy another squadron, and did it, incidentally gathering in hand the keys of an empire in the Indies for America, because the American victor was an extraordinary man, who saw the immensity of the opportunity and improved it to the utmost, some one said: "There is the Admiral now, on the quarter-deck under the awning—the man in white, sitting alone!" The American Consul at Manila was aboard the ferry-boat, and said to the captain he would like to speak to the Admiral. The course was changed a point, and then a pause, when the Consul called, "Admiral!" And the man in white stepped to the rail and responded pleasantly to the greeting—the Consul saying: "Shall we not see you ashore now?" "No," said the man in white, in a clear voice; "I shall not go ashore unless I have to." Some one said: "This would be a good chance to go. Come with us."… (más)