The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-07-11
Fort Defrance, in the Island
Of Martinique, Visited
by Fire.
Three-0uarters of the Town Destroyed
and Nearly All the inhabitants
Homeless.
The Whole Population Suffering From
Cold, Hunger and Thirst---The
Loss Great

PoEw oF 6rAfS, June sa.
Details concerning the destruction June
20 OF the town Oh Fort DE France IN the
Preach island of Martinique, hare just
reached Port OF Spain. Immediately after
the catastrophe Gov. Casse, of Martinique,
ssns an appeal for assistaHcs to the gov
ernor Of Trinidad, assuring him
that three quarters of the town had
been burned and that more than
5000 persons we're without homes and
food. The legislative council immediately
appropriated ~, 900 La aid OF the sufferers.
On ihe, morning OF June ~, ON receipt of
the news of the iire III Fort DE France, two
steamers, with man and pumps on board,
were sent from Fort Pierre, and en- their
arrival at Fort lie France, af about 1:30 the
whole se~bcard was In Flames.
The Gre had destroyed everything within
space Of over one hundred yards up TO
the river Madam. II was NOS until the
woodwork Of the presidents Office had
caught hre that the pumps arrived and or
Ranized measures wera adopted to save
the buildings which, after an hours
hard struggle was accomplished.
Meanwhile the cathedral was
IN flames and was soon 10 ruins. A panic
nov became general. Women and chill
dren were screaming and running hither
and thither, and farniturs was being
thrown out OF windows into the streets
until they became almost impassable nj
the last momsnt
when n was Tso Late.
dynamite wasaempioyed 20 arrest the prog
ress Of the fire. Terrific explosions were
heard, and whole blocks of bnildinps were
seen to fall, killing some and wonnding
many persons.
"a night the Gre had consumed every
thing between Rue De Fosse and the sea
and between the Savan and River Madam
at about 10 n. m. Ths houses 1t the bot
tom of Rne government we're attacked.
aud only by strenuous efforts were the
Presbyterian and Gandarsnerie saved. Had
they fallen the
WnoIe Town Mass fs~en Consumed
II vas right thsre that the progress Of
The flames we're stayed. The sight next
ynorning was pitifnl and narrowing In the
extreme. Savanna was sfrewn with odds
ana ends. In the midst Of which were
oanpsd the whole population suffering
from hunger, thirst and cold. for near
morning rain had fallen chilling 20 the
b0ne those unfortunate people who had no
other shelter than thai offered by the trees.
The loss In very considerable,
1.s0o Houses kfAving Been Destroyed,
valued at 2,000, 600 francs CO, 400, ,0o0) and
furniture valued at 5000, 900 francs. max
ing total loss Of $1,000, 900. II is i'm
possible ii this moment 10 tell the nEm-
Der Of victims. Twelve bodies have. how
ever, been recovered, many charred beyond
rscognitlon and others fearfully mu-
tilAted. Fifteen soldiers are receiving
attc- tion IL the hospital. many Of them
seriously and ond,, IL is said, fatally
wounded. The number Of Curlans in
ju1ed II considerable. Fully three-quar-
tsrs of the town Il destroyed and seven
siehths of the inhabitants are homeless.
The various British West India islands
hare sided with grants of money their
inflicted sister cniony.