Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-15
VESSELS AT MARTINIQUE
Corpses Found in All Attitudes Show
ing That Death Was Sudden.


Fort De France, Island OF Martinique,
May 1~1.-Scveral steamers. including the
government vessel Rubis, started from
here yesterday for st. Pierre, ten miles
from this city.
The steamers had on board 4 govern-
ment delegate. a number OF gendarmcs, a
detachment of regular infantry and sew
eral priests. The vessels also carried a
quantity Of fire wood. petroleum and quick
lime, for use in tho cremation of the bodies
of the victims of the terrible volcanic out
break of Thursday last. Large quantities
Of disinfectunts. and stocks Of clothing for
the refugees were also shipped to st.
Pierre. The refugees had as n rulo, as
sembicd at LIE Carbet and Cas-, Pilote mot
TAR from st. Pierce and, it is reported,
over a thousand of them nave died since
the fearful stream OF lava poured down
Mount Felce.
The sea for miles round was covered
with the wreckage of the vessels sunk Off
st. Pierre at the time of the disaster and
ashore only a few trees, all bent eeaward
by the force Of the volcanic shower. we're
left standing.
When nearing St. Pierre the Rubis met
a number of tugs towing lighters filled
with refugees.
The heat from the smoking, lava-covered
ruins at st. Pierre was suffocating, and
the stencil from the corpse-strewn streets
was awful. Only a few walls were stand
ing. The report that the hospital clock
was found intact, with its hands stopped
at $50, was confirmed. as was the state
ment that the offices of the cable company
had entirely disappeared.
On all sides were found portions of
corpses which were gathered up by the SOL
dlers and gendarmes and burned on one of
the public squares.
Not a drop of water was procurable
ashore. The darkness caused by the clouds
of volcanic dust shrouded the town and
continuous subterranean rumbling added to
the horror Of the scene.
The fort n central quarters Of the town
were RACED to the ground and were re-
placed by beds of hot cinders.
The iron grille-work gate of the govern
ment offices was alone standing. There
was no trace of the streets. Huge heaps
OF smoking ashes were to be seen on all
sides.
At the landing place some burned and
ruined walls indicated the spot where the
custom house formerly stood and traces OF
the larger shops could be seen. In that
neighborhood hundreds Of corpses were
found lying in all kinds of attitudes, show
ing that the victims had met death as II
by a lightning stroke. Every vestige of
clothing was burned away from the
charred bodies. and in many cases the ah-
domens had been burst open by the intense
heat. Curiously enough the features of the
dead were generally calm and reposeful,
although in some cases terrible fright and
agony were depicted. Grim piles OF bodies
were stacked everywhere, showing thai
that death had stricken the crowds while
they were vainly seeing escape from the
fiery deluge. On one spot a group of nine
children were ound locked In each others
arms. The vaults Of the bank of Martini
que at the head of what had been the Rue
dc LHospital, were found intact. They
contained two million francs d4,0o .0OW in
specie and other securities, which was sent
here for safe-keeping.