Democratic messenger., 1902-05-24
REALIZED IMPENDING FATE
Young Woman Writes Five Days
Before Martinique Disaster.


4 special from Paris says: "Governor
l. 'Huerre. of Martinique. has cabled to
the colonial minister. NJ. Decrais. an
nouncing that Mont Pelee continues to
throw up immense quantities If cinders,
which. owing to change in the direc-
ton of the wind, are now covering the
southern districts of the island. Violent
explosions have been heard at lie Carbet.
1.-The governor further declared there
is no danger of an outbreak ON the part
of the population of the northern dis
tricts of the island. as alleged. in con-
sequence of the people being out OF
work.
Martinique mails forwarded just
prior to the disaster arrived recently.
The newspapers print number of pri-
vate letters from ST. Pierre. giving
many details of events Immediately
preceding the catastrophe. The most
interesting of these is letter from a
young woman. who was among the vic
Tins, dated May 3.
AWAITED HER FATE.
After describing the aspect of st.
Pierre before dawn, the town being lit
up with flames from the volcano, every
thing covered with ashes and the people
greatly excited. yet not panic. stricken.
she wrote:
My calmness astonishes me. l am
awaiting the event TRANQUILITY. My only
suffering is from the dust, which pene-
trates everywhere, even through closed
windows and doors. We are all calm.
Mamma is not bit anxious Edith alone
is frightened.
"If death awaits US there will be a
numerous company to leave the world.
"Will it be by fire or asphyxia? 1t
will be what God wills
"You will have our last thoughts.
Tell brother Robert that we are still
alive. This will, perhaps, be no longer
true when this letter reaches you.
SAMPLES OF THE ASHES.
The Edith mentioned was lady visi-
tor who was among the rescued. This
and other letters enclosed samples of
the ashes which fell over the doomed
town. The ashes are bluish-gray i'm
palpable powder. resembling newly
sulphur.
Another letter, written during the af-
ternoon of May 3. says:
1.-The population of the neighborhood
of the mountain is fiocking to the city.
Business is suspended, the inhabitants
are panic stricken, and the firemen are
sprinkling the streets and roofs to settle
the ashes, which are filling the air
These and other letters seem to lndi
cate that evidences of the impending
disaster were numerous five days before
it occurred.
WAS THERE NO ESCAPE:
1t is difficult to understand how it
was that general exodus of the popu-
lation of ST. Peirre did not take place
before May s.
Still another letter says:
'St. Pierre presents an aspect un-
known to the natives. 1t is IA city
sprinkled with gray snow, a winter
scene without cold. The inhabitants of
the neighborhood are abandoning their
houses, villas and cottages and are
fiocking to the city. 1t is a curions pell
nell of women. children and barefooted
peasants, big black fellows loaded with
household goods. The air is oppressive:
your nose burns.
Are we going to die asphyxiated:
"What has tomorrow in store for us !?
\ flow of lava. rain of stones or cata-
clysm from the sea? Who can tell.
Will give you my last thought if must
die"
AN EXCURSION POSTPONED.
St. PIERRE paper of May 3 an
nounces that an excursion arranged for
the next day to Mont Pelee had been
postponed. as the crater was inaccessible
adding that notice would be issued
when the excursion would take place
Although Whitmonday is public
holiday, the ministry of the colonies
was open as usual, and all the officials
were at their posts. The advices re-
ceived from Martinique indicate that
the local authorities are no longer anx-
ious regarding food and other supplies.
which are now reaching Fort de France
i'll sufficient quantities to meet all de-
mands until the arrival of the supply
ships now OH their way to the island
and those preparing to sail The gov
ernmcnt believes that the emergency is
over.