Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-18
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
DEFRANCE, ISLAND OF MAR.
UNIQUE, BURNED.

T-hree-Quarters of tho Fort Destroyed and
Nearly all the Inhabitants Homeless
The Entire Population Suffering from
Cold, Hunger and Thirst-The Loss Great.
Details concerning the destruction June
% of the town of Fort De France, in the
French island of Martinique, have just
reached Port of Spain. Immediately after
the catastrophe Gov. Case, of Martinique,
sent an appeal for assistance to the gov
ernor of Trinidad, assuring HIM
that three-quarters of the town had
been burned and that more than
5000 persons were without homes and
food. The legislative council Immediately
appropriated So, 1000 in aid of the sufferers.
On the morning of June 20, Oh receipt OF
the news of the fire at Fort De France, two
steamers, with men and pumps on board,
were sent from Fort Pierre, and en- their
arrival at Fort De France, ut about l:30the
Whole Seaboard Was i'll Flames.
The fire had destroyed everything within
o space of over one hundred yards up to
the river Madam. 1t was not until The
woodwork of the presidents Office had
caught fire that the pumps arrived and or
eanlzed measures were adopted to save
the buildings which, after an hours
hard struggle was accomplished.
Meanwhile the cathedral was
in flames and was soon in ruins. A panic
now became general. Women and chill
dren were screaming and running hither
and thither, and furniture was being
thrown out Of windows into the streets
until they became almost impossible at
the last moment.
When it Was Too Late,
dynamite was'employed to arrest the prog
ress of the fire. Terrific explosions were
heard, and whole blocks of buildings were
seen to fall, killing some and woundinR
many persons.
At night the fire had consumed every
thing between Rue De Fosse and the sea
and between the Savan and River Madam
at about 10 p. m. The houses at the bot
tom of Rue government were attacked,
and only by strenuous efforts were the
Presbyterian and Gendarmerie saved. Had
they fallen the
Whole Town Must Been Consumed.
1t was right there that the progress OF
tue ldLues were staytu. liz elBAC ueAs
morning was pitilul and narrowing in the
extreme. Savanna was strewn with odds
and ends, in the midst of which were
canlped the whole population suffering
from hunger, thirst and cold, for near
morning a rain had fallen chilling to the
bone those unfortunate people who had no
other shelter than that offered by the trees.
Tho loss ic very Siiarahle.
LOO Houses Having Been Destroyed,
valued at 1000, 600 francs $50, 400, 0Oo) and
furniture valued at 5000, 600 francs, max
ing q total loss OF $ 5000, 900. 1t is i'm
possible at this moment to tell the mum
Der of victims. Twelve bodies have, how
ever, been recovered, many charred beyond
recognition and others fearfully mu
tilated. Fifteen soldiers are receiving
atte1tion at the hospital, many Of then
seriously and one, it is said, fatal,
wounded. The number of CURTAINS in
ju1ed is considerable. Fully three-quar'
ters of the town is destroyed and seven
eighths of the inhabitants are homeless
The various British West India islands
have aided with grants of monev thei,
afflicted pipLeA Nulvuy.