Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-10
Appalling Disaster Said to Be Without a
Parellel Except Pompeii.
EIGHTEEN VESSELS DEVoURED BY FLAMES
All Persons Who Are on Board the Fated
Ships Are Buried in the Sea,
UNITED STATES CONSUL AND FAMILY DEAD
Eruption IL Described as storm of
steam, Mud and Fire, which
Was First Apparent Last
Saturday.

ST. THOMAS, d. w. l., May 9.-It is now
estimated that 40 900 persons perished as
result OF the volcanic eduption in the island
Of Martinique.
SAN JUAN, p. R., May 9.-The cable off,
cIals here have received advices from the
island Of Dominica that a schooner which
has arrived there from the island OF Mar
tinique reports that over 10000 people are
supposed to have perished during the vol
canic disturbance in Martinique. The cable
repair steamer Grappler, belonging to the
West Indian and Panama Telegraph COM
pany OF London, was lost with all hands
during the eruption of Mount Peele at st.
Pierre. Martinique. Grappler was one Of
the frst ships to disappear.
Reports at WashinRtOn.
WASHINGTON, May "a cablegram has
just been received at the State department,
- as follows;
of State, Washington: At 10 o'clock a. m,
on the sth inst, storm OF steam, mud and
ure enveloped the city and community. MOI
more than twenty persons escaped with
their lives. Eighteen vessels were burned
and sunk with all on board lnGiqa1ns 9rnns a 50sr
bee named Roraime. The United states
consul and family are reported among IN ngoda the
1oupe for provisions and will leave at to-
morrow. AGME, Consul.
The consul at Martinique is Thomas T.
Prentice. He was born in Michigan and
was appointed from Massachusetts as con-
sui at Seychelles Island in 1871 and later
served as consul at Port Louis, Mauritius,
Rouen, France, and Batavia. He was ap-
pointed consul at Martinique In 1900
The vice consul at Martinique is Amaree
Testart, who was appointed from Louisiana
in 1898.
The latest available figures show the
total population of the island OF Martinique
IS $4,000 people. of whom $4,000 lived in
St. Pierre.
saves Thirty Inhabitants.
PARIS May s.-The commander of the
French cruiser Suchet recently telegraphed
20 the minister OF marine from Fort De
France Island Of Martinique, under date
Of Thursday, May 8, at 10 p. M, as follows.
Have just returned from st. Pierre.
has 1een SSgnaReteyb g aqs yb,SS dessrEyeo fs eS
tYwn at about In the morning; The en-
back the few survivors, about thirty. All
she shipping in the har6oT has hsen zen. de-
NJ. Biuguenot, a sugar planter Of the
island Of Martinique received cable dis
patch this morning from Fort de France
cent by the manager of the Francois fac
cory. announcing that he had tried Il
reach st. Pierre, but found the coast COW
cred with ashes and the town enveloped IL
dust and could not land.
The commander OF the French cruiseI
Buchet. now at Fort de France, has beer
ordered to return to st. Pierre, Martinique
with all the speed possible and to forward
details OF the disaster to the French gov
eminent. He cannot however. be hearC
from for twenty-four hours. as suche
has gone TO the island OF Guadeloupe in or
der to obtain provisions.
II is feared that NJ. l.. Mouttel. the gov
ernor Of Martinique, has perished. He tele
sraphed May that he was proceeding Il
st. Pierre. Senator Knight is also sup
-Dosed to have been at st. Pierre.
The State department has been receiv.
ing dispatches from commercial houses II
New York asking that warship be sen
at once to Martinique to afford relief. Th'
matter is under consideration.
Little Excitement In Paris.
The Parisians do not seem to realizS tn
awfulness OF the disaster which has hardl,
caused more than a ripple OF excitement
This was mainly due to the meagerness o
the dispatches received here and to tn
total absence OF details. The only sign o
grief yet visible Is the half -masted Gag o
the ministry OF the colonies
The Metin says II is one OF the mos
frtghtful eatastrophes recorded and that W
must so back to Pompeii to ind a parable
for such q calamity.
News is Confirmed I'm London.
LONDON, May s.-The colonial once her
has received a dispatch from Sir Rober
I.lswsllyn, governor OF the windwar
islands In the Caribbean. dated from Kings
ton. st. Vincent. yesterday. in which III
governor says that the soutriere volcano /
the northwestern part OF the island OF s
Vincent continued In activity. Earth shock
had recurred for a week past, but not &C
tually In Kingston. On Wednesday a bi
cloud OF steam hung over the soufrisFe an
the inhabitants. who were greatly Alarme
we're nocklng to Chateau Belair. Their
were already 800 refugees there who weI
being fed by the authorities.
With the exception Of q dispatch repeat
ing the news brought to the Island of s.
Lucia yesterday afternoon by the Britis
steamer Roddam, which announced the totI
destruction OF the town Of ST. Pierre. Islan
of Martinique. by q volcanic eruption. II
English merchants and shippers here haYiu
trade relations with Martinique have n
eeived no direct news OF the catastrophe.
Even the owners OF the Roddam. whic
was forced TO slip her anchorage At s
Pierre 4 order to escape and which va
badly damaged. seventeen OF its crew beir
killed. have not heard from the vessel
captain.
Two other Versions
former resident OF ST. Pierre now
this city, says there were about 1000 whi
people among the Inhabitants OF the d.
Stroyed town.
Governor LlsWsllyn OF the windwai
-~islands telegraphed today from the IslaI
OF 81. Lucia TO the Colonial once as 70
lows;
No news from the Island OF 81. Vineer
from what i saw on the passage to
Loeia I fear the eruption OF Soufriere
very serious. The cables 10 Granada al
81 Vincent are broken.
Al S;l5 p. m. London IL quite cut
from communication with the island
Mariininua The cahIa oomnanlaa haNa 1