The age-herald., 1902-05-11
Earth Shakes Violently.


 Earth Shakes Violently.
 The earth shook violently and at 1 o'clock in the afternoon a midnight darkness spread over the country. Thirty people are known to be killed. and the damages to property in the Windward district was very heavy.
 The storm roared about Soufrierre all night without cessation, but on the fol- lowing morning it became intermit tant and fainter.
 A report from Barbadoes says that on the 7th the sky was heavily overcast, the heat was excessive and there was distant sound of thunder. Later, early in the afternoon, dense darknesss set in, and a great quantity of vivid dust fell and continued falling until late hour. No damage IS reported.
 RELIEF WORK TO BEGIN
 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
 Fort de France, Martinique, May 10.- Hopes are raised here that more of the population of St. Pierre than indicated In the earlier dispatches have been saved. It Is believed that a number of people were rescued from the stricken towns by steamers running to Fort de France.
 The work of clearing away the debris in the city of St. Pierre will be com iAiNiSSN dS SOOll dS IL ID pOSSlDlt lp tHlcI the smoking ruins. A semblance of order has been restored. It has been agreed by the municipal and other authorities to burn all corpses found in the streets. The authorities of Fort de France are sending all procurable necessaries for the sufferers. with medical aid for the in- jured, the food supplies of St. Pierre be- ing all destroyed. The cruiser Suchet is revictualing Martinique from Guadeoupe. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
 IS WILLING TO AID.
 Washington, May 10.-The United States government Is willing and anxious to do anything within its power to aid the sur vivors of the terrible calamity on the island of Martinique. The difficulty is to ascertain just what can be done and the extent of the needs. Then. too. there are limitations upon the power of the execu- tive to proceed in such matters.
 Secretary Moody has already sent to the commandant at San Juan authoriza- tion to dispatch the United States Poto- mac to Martinique in his discretion. Sec retary Hay has charged Assistant Secre- tary Hill with the duty of comforting with the Navy Department to devise other plans of relief The Potomac Is nothing more than a large sea-going tug oI very limited carrying cApdclty, ellner in passengers or freight About the only useful service she would serve, in the opinion of naval officers, Is to make quick trip to Martinique or to the nearest approachable point and ascertain from personal inspection the precise needs of the survivors which may afterward be satisfied by supplies dispatched on mer- chant vessels. News is also awaited from the Cincinnati just arrived at San Do- mingo City and If Captain Mclean re- ports that If the normal conditions have been restored after the revolution at that place, the Cincinnati will become avail able as relief ship, though 1t would con- sume between three and four days to reach the scene.
 CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
 WITH MARTINIQUE CUT OFF.
 London, May 10.-Cable communication between London and the Island of Mar unique Is cut off. The direct West In- dian Cable Company received at 1 80 this afternoon cable dispatch from St. Lucia saying:
 ''Sloop just leaving for St. Vincent pre- sumably with the object of ascertaining what has happened on that island. Pos eih I