The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-30
LAST DAYS OF ST. PIERRE.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION BY TWO
FRENCH TRAVELLERS.

Upon the Unfortunate City-Queer
Effects of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In
the Vast Charmed House.
from the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
New York, May 26.-Count de Fitz-
James, who, with Baron Fontenilliat.
witnessed the destruction of st. Pierre
Martinique, escaping destruction in
most marvellous manner, and by the
display of great fortitude and pres
ence of mind, described his impress
sions here to-day. Both these French
travellers realize now how favored
they have been by fortune, and each
shows in his appearance the hardships
York to-day on the Red d Line
steamship Caracas. from San Juan.
Count de Fitz-James said From
boat in the roadstead in front of st.
Pierre, Baron Fontenilliat and 1 wit
messed the cataclysm that came upon
the city We saw the shipping de-
stroyed by breath of fire. We saw
the cable ship Grappler keel over I'M
der the whirlwind. and sink as though
drawn down into the waters of the
harbor by some force from below. The
Roraima was overcome and burned at
anchor. The Roddam, a trifie more
fortunate, was able to escape, like a
stricken moth which crawls from a
flame that has burned it's wings and
left it a cripple to suffer until death
relieves.
"Our own danger was great, and had
it not been for the bravery and the
courage of the Baron l would have
persisted as miserably as did the thou
sands of wretches ashore. l was
stunned, unable to lift a hand to as
sist myself. Baron de Fontenilliat
dragged me from the boat into the
water, where he supported me until
was so far recovered as to be able to
care for myself
IF you will permit me to relate the
remarkable circumstances that took
us to Martinique and ST. Pierre in
time to be witnesses of this great
tragedy, l will give, as best l can, the
picture which will never leave my
memory.
An Early start Saved Their Lives.
Baron de Fontenilliat and 1 had
been in French Guiana on business
trip relating to some mining property
in which we are interested. We learn
ed upon our arrival at Carbet that
All eruption of Mont Pelee had Destroy
ed a part Of the village of Precheur.
or the other side of the harbor. That
was the eruption of May 3. We made
immediate arrangements to visit the
scene of the disaster. Two negro boat
men were employed to take us across
the bay, and it was the fact that we
made an early start the next morning
that saved our lives.
LAS we made our way across the
water we more than half faced Mont
Pelee which was throwing off a heavy
cloud of smoke, steam and ashes. No
flames We're to be seen.
"On shore the inhabitants could be
seen making their way about the water
front. The city was to our right.
Small craft piled about the harbor,
some trading with the ships that were
at anchor, while in some fishermen
were going out to the fishing grounds,
just off Carbet. 1 should have said
that the calm of the morning was al
most abnormal, not ripple was to be
seen on the face of the sea-
Majestic Rambling of the Volcano.
1.-The rumblings from the bowels of
the mountain were majestic in tone.
cannot tell you just how they sound
ed, but perhaps you can imagine
mighty hand playing upon the strings
of harp greater than all the world.
The notes produced were deep and full
of threatenings. There was a PAIRING
sensation, and every now and then
there was a commotion of the waters
that caused a swell, without making
the surface break.
"Out from the shore put a small
leunch, carrying the pennant of Gov
ernor Mouttet. The Governor at the
last moment had realized that the sit
uation was filled with a terrible dan
ger. He was attempting to escape with
his family and few friends. l had
commented to Baron de Fontenilliat
upon the appearance of the Governors
craft. Neither of us gave to the in
cident its true significance.
An Explosion and "A Burst of Flame.
while we were talking there came
an explosion that was beyond any that
ever before happened. / can only liken
it to a shot from a mammoth cannon.
The breath of fire swept down upon
the city and water front with all of the
force that could have been given to it
by such a cannon.
The explosion was without warming
and the effect was instantaneous. Gin
ders were shot into our face with
singing effect. The air was filled with
flames. Involuntarily we raised our
hand to protect our faces. / noted
the gesture when / saw the bodies of
the victims on shore. Arms had been
raised, and the hands We're extended
with the palms outward a gesture that,
in a peculiar manner, indicated dread
and horror.
Thrown Into the Water.
when the explosion came, our two
boatmen were either thrown from the
boat or with quick impulse they
sprang overheard. 1t was the one
thing to have done to save their lives.
but, unfortunately for them, they lost
their presence of mind, and, instead of
staying by the side of the boat, they
evan away in the direction of Pre-
cheur which we We're approaching
when the disaster came. 1t was impos-
sible for them to land at Precheur, so
they were compelled to put back. They
then struck out across the bay, evil
IDENTIFY hoping to reach Carbet. We saw
neither of them again, and I have no
doubt they were drowned.
MY brave companion had the same
impulse that actuated the negroes. He
sprang into the water, and when he
saw that l did not move, he reached
up and catching me by the shoulder
dragged me from the boat | was
stunned at first, and, though it was not
physical injury 1 could not move of
my own volition until the cool water
restored my senses.
The shipping Overwhelmed.
"It was so that we could see all that
happened about is. The Grappler rushed