Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-16
DAMAGEONST. VINCENT
VOLCANIC ERUPTION CAUSED
WIDESPREAD DEATH AND BUM.
Scientists Predict That Soufriere Will
Break Out Again in Short
Time.

A dispatch from Kingston. Island OF 81.
yincent T. W. L. dated Tuesday, May H.
saws. M rrrson has yet been able 10 APP
proach within eight miles of the new crater
of the Soufriere volcano. But Judging
from what can be seen from conslderapie
distance the old lake at the summit OF inc
mountain has disappeared The numerous
Gssllres in the mountains sides continue
to throw out vapor. and the subterrahea"
,nurrnuriuCs and tremblings indicate con-
tinued unrest During the afternoon vi
Monday a dense volume of steam anu
smoke ros, from the volcano and the whole
island was covered by a peculiar mist.
The inhalation of noxieus vapors here is
increasing the spread of sickness.
An ambulance corps from the ISLAND of
Barbados has arrived here. Starvation
threatens the poorer classes of the afflicted
district.
Nearly every remaining negro hut in the
Carib country contains decayed bodies, and
the horrible stencil is driving people away
BIutilated bodies are tied with ropes and
dragged to the trenches. where they are
buried Sometimes bodies are cremated.
3 The local government is feeding and shell
tei'inS about 1000 refugees. Subscriptions
for the relief of the sufferers are being
raised in all the British West Indian is
lands
Scientists who have come here from The
British island of Trinidad predict another
IL
short time.
The damage done to St Vincent by the
volcanic crupt!onS is now known to be con-
siderably greater than was at first esti-
mated The present uneaSineSS of the in
habitants of the island is increased by the
continuous agitation of the volcanic craters
q Friday morning. May q. large stones and
volcanic dust fell in the neighborhood of
Georgetown for two hours, terrifying the
people there \ cloud of hot vapor then
passed over that port. Two eruptions of
less magnitude than the first occurred Sat
Irday. May IL. and from then until today
! fire and smoke have been ascending at in
teryalS from the craters.
! Owing tn the great heat it is still. impos-
Sible to approach the SOufriere volcano
from the leeWard side
, Interesting discoveries have been made
regarding physical changes on St. Vincent
resulting from the eruptions Several fis-
Sures have been observed on La SOufriere
The estate of Walibou has disappeared
. and has been replaced by an inlet of the
sea. Richmond. an estate adjacent to
tWaiihOu, which was fOrmely fiat, and upon
which there were several laborers' cottages
has been completely burned, and out of the
estate there now arises a large ridge of
! ground. 1t is believed that the Rabacci
: crater in the Windward district of the is
land. has also erupted.
From a distance La Soufriere, although
less violent. still wears a cap of dark
clouds. which Is flumined every now and
then by flashes of red light.
Volcanic dust fell here again yesterday
but fortunately there have been also sew
| eral heavy rain showers, which have
washed away the dust from the grass and
! restoring yerdure of the fields. The condi-
! ton OF the atmosphere is also apparently
improving.
Owing 10 the destruction of several es-
tates the sugar and arrow root industries
or st. Vincent are seriously injured. Desti-
tuition prevails among the laborng classes
VINO are without homes, without clothes
and hungry.
Nearly 2o'o deaths on this island have
been reported Bodies have been discoy-
/ cred III houses in lifelike attitudes. pre-
! sentlnS gruesome spectacles There are
! decomi''Sed bodies in many houses. and in
/ order - guard against disease it probably
| WIZ he necessary for the authorities to burn
| these dwellings. Owing to the many diff
culties IN The way of those who have the
! matter in hand hundreds of bodies have
! not yet been inferred.
, AS wide areas of ground which formerly
/ produced foodStUff have been devastated
| therr Is today an abnormal demand for
/ Dreadstufs and consequent scarcity of
! 1000 supplies. The prices on food are ad-
! NancInS. The destruction of the live sfoct,
( OF the island has also caused a rise in the
price OF meat ~
A British warship has arrived here from,
B Trinidad bringing provisions for the relief
OF the sufferers.