New-York tribune., 1902-05-17

Kingston. Island Of ST vtncert. May 1a-A
corraspondent of The Associated Press has just
returned here from visit on horseback, to the
devastated district OF this island. in which ne
travelled fifty miles and penetrated to within nFe
miles of the Soufriere crater. The ash covered
area of st Vincent exceeds that Of Martinique
which the correspondent has also explored the
most conservative estimate of the death list
here places the number at loo ABOUT
1900 bodies have already been buried
The entire northern part CT the island Is
covered With ashes to an average depth OF
eighteen inches varying from thin layer at
Kingston 20 two feet or more at Georgetown
The crops are ruined, nothing green can be
seen. the streets of Georgetown are cumeered
with snowdriftlike heaps Of ashes, ana ashes
rest SO heavily on the roofs that IN seVerai
cases they have caused them 20 fall IN Ihere
viii soon be 5000 destitute persons in need OF
assistance from the government. which is al
ready doing everything possible to relieve the
sufferers. There are hundred injured people in
the hospital a. Georgetown. gangs Of men are
searching for the dead rapidly burying them
in trenches and all that can he done under the
circumstances is being accomplished
The British cruiser Irdefatigab's brought
twenty FIVE tons of supplies here and returned
70 the island of Trinidad to-day for more
The Governor of the Windward Islands Sir
Of the authorities.
While the outbreak cf the volcano on the
island of Martinique killed more people outright,
more territory has been ruined in st. Vincent,
hence there is greater destituton here.
The injured persons were horribly burned by
the hot grit. which driven along with
tremendous velocity Twenty-six persons who
sought refuge in a room ten feet by twelve We're
all killed One person was Drained by a huge
mine mile fraD he
BURIAL AND CARE OF VICTIMS.
Rough collins being made to receive the
bodies of the victims. The hospital here is
filed with dying people. Fifty injured persons
are lying on the floor of that building as there
are 10 beds for their accommodation, though
cots being RAPIDLY constructed of boards,
This ana similar work has been going since
Immediately after the disaster, but two days
elapsed before there any burials, the
negroes refused TO dig the necessary trenches.
though they offered three times their
usual wages by the local authorities. The
nurses employed are incompetent. but they
willing 10 learn, and are working hard. The
negroes are Indifferent to all that has taken
place They expect TO receive government ra-
tions. There have been instances where they
have refused to bury their own relatives.
It is estimated that the has encroached
from ten feet TO two miles along the coast
near Georgetown, and that a section on the
north of the island has dropped into the sea.
This is apparently verified by the report Of the
French cable ship Pouyer- Quertier that sound
ings show seven fathoms where. before
the outbreak. there were thirty-six fathoms Of
water.
Lieutenant Benjamin r. Mccormick COM
manding the United States steamer Potomac
now in these waters las called on Governor
Llewelyn and offered him the sympathy Of the
United States and any assistance which il was
in his power to render. The Potomac has also
landed what she could spare of her foodstufs
The Governor expressed his thanks and added
that there was no immediate need Of help. The
United States steamer carried official dispatches
to the island of st. Lucia.
VEGETATION WIPED OUT
Since midnight on Tuesday the subterranean
detonations here have ceased and the Soufriere
on Wednesday relapsed, apparently, into per-
feet repose. smoke rising from the crater.
and the fssures emitting no vapor. The stunted
vegetation that formerly adorned the slopes of
the mountain has disappeared, having given
place to gray colored lava. which greets the eye
on every side The atmosphere is dry. Rain
would be welcome, as there is a great deal of
dust in the air which is disagreeable and irri-
tating to throats and eyes and is causing the
merchants to put all their drygoods under cover
| Inc Whlte inhabitants are anxious to know
whether the repose Of the volcano is permanent
| or whether IT is the Iull which usually precedes
greater activity. Some people, anticipating that
there is danger Of further volcanic eruptions
are leaving the outlying towns for this city
! The negroes who have remained on the estates
are half starved, and the Carb survivors are
leaving their caves and pillaging abandoned
dwelling houses and shops A number of arrests
| have been made in this connection
ARMY TENTS FOR PATIENTS
As the Colonial Hospital here was found in
adequate to accommodate the sufferers large
| army tents have been erected for the use of
| the patients, who are being constantly brought
| here from other towns on the island. but even
| these annex hospitals are overcrowded The
| local doctors have been reinforced by a doctor
| who arrived here from Grenada one Of the Brit
! sh Windward Islands. He brought with him q
number of packages of medical supplies which
were extremely useful
The arrival here of the first detachment of
| from Georgetown. caused sensation This
charred bodies exhaled fetid odors ard whose
/ loathsone faces made even the hospital at
/ tendants shudder. All these burned persons
were suffering fearfully from thirst and utter
! ing wher strong enough to do so. agonizng
cries for water. 1t IS doubtful whether one Of
the whole party will recover
The death rate among the people in the hos
pttals is still very high in spite OF the best
medical efforts made in their behalf
All the neighbering British colonies are evinc-
ing sympathy with the sufferers here. subscrip-
ton lists havs been started, and food and cloth
ing are being forwarded 70 So. Vincent from