Telegram-herald., 1890-07-11
SWEPT BIZ FIRE.
Burning OF Fort do France. IN the
Island OF Martinique
5000 PEOPLE LOSE TaEIR H0HES.
Mary lives Eost Sad Property Sasssd At
.s.oea 0ao Des1royed-Aia GlseE -
oshsr Csloslles-story ~ ths
CzE2stFophe.

roEr OF SPAN. June - Details con
eerning the destraclioo Of TIE tosn of
Port ae France. in Ehe French island OF
Martlnie ae. have iasE reached IS. In
meiiatelF after the catastrophe Gov
ernor Casss. OF Martinique, sent an ap-
peal for assistance - the Governor OF
Trinidad. Sir William Robinson. assuE-
lag him that thrse-q quaEters OF the town
had been bgFned, and that more than
Eve thousand persons were without
homes and food. Gov. Robinson ~ once
convened the legislative council, the
mem bers OF which voted . sum Of s2, 900
u the sufferers.
On sunday morning, June %, tele-
gram Was received at ST. Pierre, the
capital. announcing that terrible fire
Was raging in Fort De France, aud re-
guesting the services OF men and
pumps NJ. Leon Gerard, director
OF the steamship line. at once
placed the steamers Audacieux
and Pearle az the service of the
authorities These steamers, with men
and pumps on board, left St Pierre at
noon, and on their arrival at Fort de
France, a. about 1880 p. H., the whole
seaboard was in flames 20 the waters
edge. Starting in the middle of
the Rue Blenac, the fire had reach
ed the Grande rue, and the Rue
ST. Louis, and had destroyed
every thing within space OF over 100
yards, Up to the river Madame The
palace OF justice being threatened.
AID with il the northeast Of the
town, the vital necessity OF saving the
courthouse was recognized, but the
street was narrow, there were no
pumps and but little water. and the
people were tired out and disheartened
after six hours OF hopeless struggle
with the flames, the heat from which
was mosJ intense. AS a result they be-
came disorganized and thought only OF
saving what personal effects they could.
IL was not until the woodwork of the
presidents oflico had caught fire that the
pumps arrived and organized measures
we're adopted by the comparatively fresh
dremen from ST Pierre 10 save the
buildings, which, after an hours hard
struggle, was accomplished.
Meanwhile the cathedral was in
flames, and was soon ruin, togeth-
er with its magnificent organ.
The panic now became general.
Women and children were scream
ing and running hither and
thither, and furniture was being
thrown out OF the windows into
the streets until they became almost
when it was toe late, dynamite was
employed to arrest the progress OF
the fire. Terrific explosions were heard,
and whole blocks of buildings wore
seen to fall, killing some and wounding
many persons The PenSionnat des
Soeurs, the post and telegraph Offices,
and the Hotel Bediat though escaping
at first. were now in flames. and at 5 p.
n. 1900 of the best houses in the
town were burning. At the other
extremity OF this huge furnace
which covers ninety square acres, tho
fight with the fire was gallantly and
,ourageously carried on, but the wind
was high and houses were rapidly
burned, and, falling bodily across the
streets. communicated the flames to tho
houses on the other side. These falling
houses constituted a grave element OF
LANCER 70 the fremen and greatly re-
tarded their efforts
At night the fire had consumed every
thing between the Rue de Fosse and the
sea. and between the Savane and the
River Madame. ~ about 10 p. m. the
houses at tho bottom OF the Rue du Gov
ernment were attacked, and only
bv strenuous efforts were the presby-
terv and the gendarmie saved. Had
thov fallen tho whole town must have
been consumed. It was right here that
the progress Of the flames was stayed.
The sight next morning was pitiful
and narrowing in the extreme The
savanna was strewn with odds and ends,
in the midst OF which was camped
whole population suffering from hunger,
thirst and cold, for near morning rain
had fallen. chilling to the bone
those uniortunate people who had no
! other shelter than that afforded By the
/ trees The steamer Energique, how
ever. soon arrived from ST. Pierre with
twenty tons of food dispatched by the
agents Of the line.
The cause OK the fre is attributed by
/ some to kerosene and by some to a
Dutch stove. In the opinion OF many
| had prompt measures been taken and the
surrounding houses been blown up the
( town would have been saved. The loss Is
very considerable, 100 houses hav-
I ing been destroyed valued az l2,000, 000
francs (s2,43o.000 and furniture, etc.
/ valued at g coo. coo francs, in all total
OF s.. 900, 600. It is impossible at this mo-
mens TO toll the number Of victims.
/ Twelve bodies have. however. been re-
covered. many charrsd beyond recogui-
ton. and others fearfuly muniated.
Fifteen soldiers are receiving attention
At the hospital. Glsny Of them seriously.
and one it is said. fatally wounded
I The number Of civilians wounded is con
siderable Fully theee-quarters OF the
tov-n is destroyed as regards area and
soven-eirhths of the people arc home
( less Among the public buildings de-
strovef are the pCo--house, cathedral.
F custom house town hail. Convent Of
tee sCnurs de S. Joseph, buresu des
I 7evues. Tinscection le genie. the slaugh-
ter house. and the Usine Psintc Simon.
f The celebrated library has also been
f destroyed. TO tbeir credits b it sad,
T the various British Wess India Islands
Z have promptly aided with grants O
money their afflicted sister colony
+ Fort &C. France Isl on the west coast Of
F Martlnque, snch West India ana s
I TIE cauitsl of she colony. II has hne
I harhcr. st-eu~ fortifcatioas and before
I the fre had 3 an7 fne patl-c ha-loin 3
I Its population wss ahout 1900 IN lSoe-