Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-05-23
MARTINIQUE PEOPLE
CRAzED WITH FEAR
Frightened Refugees Pouring
Into Fort de France.
DIXIE NOW LANDING SUPPLIES

People Seem Wild With Terror and
Ask Only to be Taken Away From
Island, Which They Say Will Sink
Into the Sea.
Fort de France, Island of Martin
ique, Wednesday, May 21.-Mont Pc
lee seems tea be resting after yester-
days fearful manifestation of energy.
Streams Of frightened refugees have
been pouring into Fort de France from
all the surrounding country These
peopfe are not destitute, but they are
terrified. They want only one thing,
and that is to be taken far away from
this island, with which. they say, the
gods are angry and which they will
destroy by fire before it sinks under
tie sea.
People Crazed With Fear.
The consuls here and the officers of
the war vessels in the harbor are
waylaid by persons crazed with fear
and begging to be carried away
The weather is now calm and beau
tiful but the mountain is yelled in
volcanic clouds, which often assume a
very threatening aspect and occasion
ally rumblings are heard. Some heavy
and very welcome rain fell this morn
ing.
The United States steamer Dixie,
Captain Berry, from New York, ar
rived TO-DAY after quick and safe
passage. Her passengers include many
world famous scientists. Professor
Robert T. Hill, government geologist; !;
Professor c. E. Borchgrevink, the
Antarctic explorer; Messrs George
Curtis and George Kennan and a mum
ber of magazine writer's and CORE
spOndents are also among those who
arrived on the steamer
Dixie Landing Supplies.
The Dixie began landing her enor-
stbrehOuse on shore soon became con
gested, and this is the greatest Difficult
ty Of the administration.
The United States steamer Potomac
went to inspect st. Pierre, with the
commanders Of the war vessels now
here. With the greatest difficulty the
party succeeded in making landing
The effects of the outburst Of yester-
day were tremendous. The huge tow
ers of the cathedral were hurled to the
earth. The bombardment of volcanic
stones is not sufficient to account for
this and all evidences point to the pas
sage of furious blast of blazing gas
travelling at enormous speed and with
incalculable force. The deposit OF
powders, ashes and angular stones is
enormous. Not a human being saw
what happened at st. Pierre yesterday
morning Fort de France is over.
Whelmed.
This second eruption was many
times more violent than that which eff
faced st. Pierre and swept it's people
from the earth. Nor has all volcanic
activity ceased. Vast columns OF
smoke and gas still pour from the
great crater and new assures have
opened on the mountain sides and are
vomiting yellow whirlwinds, which
rush intermittently, now from one
point and now from another. Boiling
mud is afso thrown out at times in
torrents that reach the sea and pro.
duce small tidal waves.
Amphitheater of Destruction.
From a somber, silent city of death
and desolation ST. Pierre has become
a hideOus amphitheater of fiery, roar.
Ing destruction.
The people are convinced that God
Is angry with the island and means to
scourge it with fire and then sink it
in the ocean. Utter and unreasoning
fear possesses all souls. Even Fort de
France is believed to be unsafe. The
presence of the relief corps, however,
is helpful to the people, who say:
"The American flag makes safety"
The Potomac could not approach
close to st. Pierre. The Dixie will
sail tomorrow for st. Vincent, but the
other vessels will remain.
The scientists who have arrived
will examine into the question of the
danger of the peaks of Carbet, near
Fort de France, becoming active vol
canoes. The outburst of yesterday
probably means a ruined island as all
confidence is lost.
I'VE want not food, but only to
leave" is the cry of rich and poor.