The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-06-03


lee crater. All the previous day. loud
detonations from the volcano had been
heard. so loud that the reverberations
echoed from St. Thomas on the north
to Barbados on the south. The fear
full crashing sound ceased and there be-
gan a shower Of fine ashes, which fell
like rain over the city. The Inhabitants
became alarmed. but Gov. Mountet
who arrived at ST. Pierre the evening
before. did everything possible to al
lay the panic. They partly succeeded.
but scarcely had the fears OF the peo-
pie been allayed when there came the
explosion, and in an instant St. Pierre.
its people, its houses, had been blotted
out OF existence.
After a search of three hours in the
ruins l found no trace of the American
consulate. Consul Thomas T. Prenris
his wife and two daughters. are I'M
doubtedly dead. That quarter OF the
city is still a vast mass of blazing
ruins. Nor has any trace of James
Japp, the British consul. been found
Mr.. Japp had a large family at St.
Pierre.
From everything l saw 1 feel conf
dent that 10000 is not too great an
estimate of the loss of life Every one
in the city persisted, and suburban
towns added thousands to the number
Of victims.
Plantations and small villages have
been devastated by the ceaseless rain
of ashes and fire which has poured
from Mont Pelee.
These survivors have taken refuge
in the hills. away from the danger of
the lava flow in the valleys but still
menaced by the showers OF fire. They
must be relieved. taken to places OF
safety, fed and clothed. The work
must be done quickly. Hundreds and
even thousands of them must perish
as it is before help can reach them.
The work of exploring the ruins OF
| ST. Pierre, of bringing away the refu-
| gees in the hills in the northern part
| of the island and of burning the bodies
of the victims is progressing as rapidly
as circumstances will permit.
Fort de France is crowded with refu-
| gees and food is already so scarce that
alarm is felt that it will be exhausted
before supplies can reach here.
AS a result OF the relief work the
! people who had fed to the hills be-
hind the village of lie Precheur. nearly
| 1000 in number, have been brought
| here.
They are in most pitiable cond1-
ton Hundreds of them are frightful-
ly burned and in most urgent need OF
medical care. All the doctors and
| nurses in Fort de France are working
night and day among the injured ana
they are assisted by scores OF volunteer
nurses, many women of the wealthiest
families of Fort de France giving their
| services.
A number of steamers. including the
! government vessel Rubis. started from
| here for St. Pierre They carried gov
eminent delegates. a number OF gend-
| armes, detachment of regular in
fantry and several priests.
The vessels also carried quantity
| of fire wood. petroleum and quickllme,
for use in the cremation Of the bodies
! of the victims of the terrible volcanic
outbreak. Large quantities of disin-
| fectants and stocks Of clothing for the
| refugees We're also shipped to st
| Pierre.
The refugees had, as a rule, assem-
| bled at lie Carbet and Case Pifote, moi
far from st. Pierre, and. it is reported
over a thousand of them have dice
since the fearful stream of lava poured
down Mont Pelee-
The sea for miles round was covered
with the wreckage of the vessels SUM
off ST. Pierre at the time OF the OILS
aster. and ashore only a few trees, al
bent seaward by the force OF the vol
canic shower, were left standing.
When nearing St. Pierre the RuDl
met a number of tugs towing hghter
filled with refugees.
The heat from the smoking, lava
covered ruins at st. Pierre was SUI
locating and the stencil from Tn
corpse-strewn streets was awful Onl
a few walls were standing. The re
mort that the hospital clock was foun
intact with its hands stopped at 7:3
was confirmed, as was the statemen
that the offices of the cable compan
had entirely disappeared.
On all sides were found portions Q
! corpses. which were gathered up D
the soldiers and gendarmes and burne
on one of the public squares.
Not drop of water was procuraol
ashore. The darkness caused by tn
clouds of volcanic dust shrouded tn
town. and continuous subterranea
rumhling added to the horror of tn
scene.
The fort and central quarter Of tn
town were RACED to the ground an
were replaced by beds of hot cinder
. The iron grill work gate of the so'
eminent offices alone was standln
$. There was no trace of the street
" HUGE heaps of smoking ashes were