Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-05-23

thc otii, SlO"trlnS OOlllIS NatcT anu
mud on the people near by.
Sixty are reported to have been
killed by lightning while fleeing
! After numerous earthquakes during
the preceding fortnight, accompanied
by subterranean noises in the direc-
tion OF the Soufriere volcano, which,
is located in the northwestern part OF
the island, a loud explosion occurred
Monday, the 9Th inst, from the crater,
and the water in Crater Lake ascended
in stupendous cloud of steam and
exploded heavily.
The noises grew louder continually
till Wednesday morning, when the
old crater, three miles in circumter.
ence, and the new crater formed by
the last eruption belchcd smoke and
stones, forcing the residents of Walli-
bou and Richmond Valley, beneath
the volcano, to flee 10 Chateau Belair
for refuge.
The thunderons noises, which were
continually increasing, were heard
i'll other islands in the West Indies
two hundred miles away.
At midday the craters elected enor
nous columns of steamy vapor, which
rose majestically eight miles high and
expanded into wonderful shapes, re-
sembling enormous caulihOwers, gi-
gantic wheels and beautiful flower.
forms, all streaked up and down and
crosswise with vivid flashes OF light.
ming, awing the beholder and impress
ing the mind with fear.
The mountain labored to rid itself
OF mass of molten lava, which later
flowed over, in six streams, down the
side OF the volcano, and the greater
noises following united in one great
continuous roar all Wednesday night
till Thursday morning, accompanied
by black rain, falling dust and Faville
scoria "a hail OF burning lava). These
phenomena, attended with midnight
darkness all Thursday, created feel
ings OF fear and anxious suspense.
On the morning of Friday there
was fresh eruption aud elections of
fiery matter, more dust covering the
island, in some places two feet deep.
A dispatch received at the Colonial
Office London. on the 18th. from Fort
de France says there is,po doubt that
Gov. Moutett and the commander OF
the troops at St. Pierre, Col. Dain, are
dead.
Other dispatches confirm the re.
ports that the American and British
Cousuls and their families perished.
M. Bloch. Inspector of Finance, and
M. Labarthe, the Colonial Minister'S
Secretary, who have been despatched
by the Government to Martinique,
sailed from Brest on board the
French cruiser D'Assas, which carries
money, provisions and other stores for
the relief OF the Martinique sufferers.
A French cable official who went to
st. Pierre reports that the company's
Office has been burned to ashes, and
that there is no traces of the staff.
This official adds that the cremation
Of the bodies of the victims has begun
in the outlying districts, and that the
cable steamer Pouyer.Quartier is pro.
ceeding to repair the Northern cable.
The waves OF lava are still reported
to be floating northward. They have
extended to Carbet, south OF st. Pierre.
The Paris Temps, referring to the
destruction OF st. Pierre, says:
We believe, from the information
received here from the Island OF
Martinique" (meaning doubtless the
official despatches) "that the disaster
surpasses all that Imagination can
conceive. The whole northwestern
portion OF tho island is laid waste.
Three large communities, exclusive
OF st. Pierre, have been destroyed"
The fear is beginning to seize the
British papers that even worse news
may come. For instance, the Stand.
ard, in an editorial on the l1th, says
I" 1t is only too clear that the area af.
fected is larger than known at first.
IfDominica and st. Lucia have not
suffered greatly there is reason to fear
that their turn may come, nor is it by
any means certain that corresponding
convulsions have not occurred, or may
not soon follow on the mainland
of Central and South America. In
the presence Of such forces man is
helpless, and we can only prepare TO
relieve the survivors as speedily as
possible. The United States has set
US an honorable example"
The destruction of st. Pierre,
Martinique, seems to have been due
to the presence OF water in contact
with the volcanic fires of Mount Pelee
The steam thus generated blew the
mountains head off, as Prof. Hovey,
of the Natural History Museum, ex.
plains, just as a hot boiler explodes
when cold water is carelessly intro.
duced.
All the conditions invited calamity.
The island is OF volcanic origin, being
little more than . ridge joining two
threatening peaks. From Pelee to St
Pierre the descent is short and steep
and there was no way of escape when
flame flashed down upon the town and
set it almost instantly ablaze, followed
by rain Of hot mud and ashes and