The Washington times., 1902-06-14
Found Once Prosperous
City of St. Pierre a
Smoking Ruin.
VIEWS OF DISASTER SHOWN
Greatest Destruction in Martinique to
Human Life and Works of Man-No
Typographical Differences - Victims
Lived Five Minutes.

That Washingtonans are still inter
ested in the cataclysm of Martinique
was well illustrated last evening, when
an audience which nearly filled the
National Theater listened to the stories
of scientists who had seen and exam
ined the ruined locality
Two lectures were given in the play
house, under the auspices of the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
The Introductory address was by
Prof. Borchgrevink, who dwelt with elo-
quence upon the destructive forces of
nature and In considerable detail upon
the latest volcanic tragedy which re-
suited in the doomsday of st. Pierre
and its suburbs. A number of excellent
stereopticon views were displayed dur
ing Prof. Borchgrevink's remarks
Naturally, however, the Washington
audience was more keenly interested in
the talk of DR.. Robert T. Hill. geolo-
gist and explorer. DR.. Hill made the
explanation that he was neither lee
turer nor an orator, but that he would
cnGeavor TO relate oflhand what he had
seen during his visit TO the distressed
island.
He spoke in eulogistic terms of the
immediate relief furnished to the suf-
ferers in the French island by America
and of the praiseworthy rapidity with
which this country fitted out an ex-
peGi;icn TO make a scientific investiga-
tion of the tragedy.
A Sublime Achievement.
DR.. Hill declared that the sending of
the Dixie to the scene of horror and
distress was sublime achievement.
that it carried an unusually large corps
Of able men and that the future alone
VIII reveal the things accomplished by
them during that memorable trip.
Being extemporaneous and largely in
spired by the large number of photo
graphic views taken by DR.. Hill. his ad.
dress was more or less rambling, but
ai"2ys interesting. since the words !
came from the mouth of one who had
observed the conditions in st. Pierre al |
most Immediately after the disaster. |
He declared that he could not begin |
to describe the t4.rible things that he |
had witnessed. but that he would try to |
give an interesting outline of the trIp |
to Martinique
Dr. Hill began with a picture of the |
Dixie. which was heartily applauded. |
AFTER cetailing the several classes of |
investigators that had sailed on her. he
showed a view of the flag. explaining
that he did this because the expedition
coupled with the relief fund for the
sufferers was an achievement of which
the nation would in the future be ex-
tremely proud
He. said that. after about seven DAYS
sail, the American vessel reached the
destination. There were only three
lights visible from the harbor of a once
prosperous city. 1t was discovered that
one of these lights was a pile of burn
ing coal, and the two others funeral
pyres.
He then proceeded TO comment upon
the prosperous appearance of the ruined
city before Pclee had burst forth. Nu-
merous views were shown. indicative OF
a condition of industrial. social and ed
ucational progress, which were in strik-
ing contrast with the after-pictures of
absolute chaos.
A Smoking Ruin.
DIR. Hill stated that he had found the
once prosperous city of Martinique a
smoking ruin. The original outbreak
OF the long passive volcano had been
followed by another which had com
pleted the work OF obliterating the beau
ties of the city.
Thousands upon thousands of human
beings had been inferred by the rain of
stones and ashes from the roaring 7
mouth Of the crater. II was only neces
sary to dig Down almost anywhere in the
ruins to find the charred body of a vic
tim Of the wrath of Mont Pelee. .
He exhibited a picture of a church, .
rather the walls of a sanctuary, re- :
marking that several hundred persons |.
who had been seeking the consolation =.
of religion had been buried there by the .
force of the eruption. .
All of the destruction, however, was !
not in st. Pierre proper. Around ii were :
several prosperous and beautiful sub {
urbs. The inhabitants OF these met the +.
same fate. and were numbered in the {.
frightful aggregate OF casualties. !
Judging from inquiries, the inhabit- Z
ants had not suffered instant DEATH but (
had lived for from five to ten minutes. :;
running about in a frenzy TO escape :,
the overwhelming ashes and vapors OF :;
Pelee. St. Pierre contributed about 25.-
600 victims of the holocausts, and the ::
villages from six to seven ;;
One of these villages had :.
been almost depopulated several days /
previous to the great eruption by a ::
storm of stones and ashes. ;:
Numerous views were exhibited to :.
show the character OF the ashes thrown :,
out OF the crater and of the hapless ma :;
tiYes trying to ford the streams of hot 4
flowing mud and gain place OF compar- J;
tive safety. The fine roadways had been !
almost obliterated by the flowing mud, !:
In which were imbedded hundreds of Z:
dead animals. Pictures were displayed {;
which showed that immense trees had !.
been torn up by the roots and stone !.
rent asunder by the terrific I
orces of nature. I.
Flames From a Black Cloud. r
DR.. Hill related n most interesting +
'act concerning the destructive force as 1t :
appeared 10 the human eye. Many wit !.
lesses had been examined and all Of them I
agreed that when the eruption came !.
great black cloud issued from lower +
rent of the volcano and rolled down TO 4.
Il. Pierre in almost an instant. There =
Ippeared to be no flame in that cloud +
When il had reached the doomed town O
however. there came from II fame :
which fired the city from north 20 south i
md this great place, which consisted al =