The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-20
WHY DIDN'T THEY LEAVE
Letters Turn Up Showing st. Pierre
People Had Ample Warning.

Paris. May 20.-It is difficult to under
stand how it was that general exc
dus of the population of St. Pierre dlo
not take place before May 8.
A letter written before the eatasuo-
phe says:
st. Pierre presents an aspect un-
known to the natives. 1t IS a city
spriukled with gray snow, a winter
scene without cold The inhabitants Of
the neighbOrhoOd are abandoning thelt
houses, Villas and cottages and are
fiocking to the city. 1t is curious
pelI nell Of women, children and bare
footed peasants big black fellows load
ed with household goods. The ar IS
oppressive; your nose burns. Are we
going to die asphyxiated2 What has to-
morrow in store for us? A flow Of lava,
sea? Who can tell? Will give you my
last thoughts if 1 must die"
A St. Pierre paper of May 81 an
nounces that an excursion arranged for
the next day, to Mont Pelee, had been
postponed as the crater was 1nacceS-
sible, adding that notice would be is
sued when the excursion would take
place
Although Whitmonday is a public
holiday the ministery of the colonies
was open as usual, and all the OfhclaiS
were at their posts. The adVlees re-
ceived from Martinique indicate that
the local authorities are no longer an2I-
Gus regarding food and other supplies,
which are now reaching Fort lie
France in sufficient quantities to meet
all demands until the arrival of the
supply ships now on their way to the
island and those preparing to sail The
government believes that the emer-
gency is now over
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that the ministery of the
colonies totally discredits the report Of
the destruction of Saint Marie, Martin
ique, by fire, which has reached here,
as today's dispatches do not mention
41,o ,5.o1, f1or-fn. .7111x n
have done if the town had been burned
The congregation completely filed the
fashionable church of st. Augustine on
the occasion of the solemn service or
ganized by the league of the French
women in memory of the victims OF
the Martinique disaster. Bishop Cor
mon, assisted by the clergy of the par
ish, celebrated mass and pronounced
the absolution. This was the first me-
mortal service for the dead of Martin
ique held in Paris. Another will be
held in the new basilica of the Sacred
Heart, at which Bishop COrmOn Will
report of the French embassies and le-
cations at the various capitals show
that the sympathy with France abroad
is increasing. The latest royal sub
scription is that of the former queen
regent of Spain, who has given 10000
francs to the fund, which now amounts
to over 750, 600 francs. NJ. L'Huerre, the
governor of Martinique, has sent the
following cablegram to NJ De Crais,
the colonial minister, dated Fort De
France, May IS:
7 have informed the population that
supplies by the United States naval
vessel Dixie and the steamers Fonten-
abella and Madiana will arrive here to-
| day. The cargoes of these vessels viii
| be exempted from all duties and other
! charges. This is done on all food sup
! plies reaching US.
Commander G. W. Mentz and Captain
| Crabb of the quartermaster's depart
ment, have just arrived here on the
United States collier Sterling with tbs
/ food presented by the government OF
Porto Rico"