Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-05-14

Hemisphere--United STATES Consul
Prentis, Ills Family, end vice-Consei
Tcstart Are Among ti,c Dead Eighteen
Vessels In the Harbor Destroycd-war-
ship Saved Thirty Lives, and These Are
the Only Known Survivors.
London. - The correspondent OF the
Times at st. Thomas. ID. W. l., states
that the town OF St Pierre. in the
French Island of Martinique, has been
totally destroyed hy 4 volcano. All the
inhabitants OF the town. says the corrc-
spondent, have lost their lives, and all
the shipping in the harbor has been de-
Stroyed
London.-A dispatch to ahe Daily
Mail from Point-a-Pitre, Island OF
Guadeloupe (French West Indiesl
says:
THE Mont Pelee (St. PIerre) crater
elected moltSn rocks ana ashes during
three minutes and completely destroyed
st. Pierre and the districts within n
four mile radius. All the inhabitants
were burned The darkness, except
where relieved by the burning city,
was impenetrnble. For five miles on
the landward sides of the city the
ground was covered TO n considerable
depth with hot ashes, which rendered
an approach to the city by land impos-
siblc."
st. Thomas, n. w 1t is now esti-
mated that 10000 person perishcd as =.
result OF the volcanic eruption in the
Island OF Martinique
The French cruiser Suchet arrived at
Point-a-Pitre, Island of Guadeloupe.
French West Indies. from Fort de
France, Martinique. bringing several
refugees. She confirmed the report
that the town OF ST Pierre was entire
ly destroyed by volcanic eruption. 1t
is supposed that the neighboring par
ishcs We're laid waste.
The commander of the Suchet report
ed that the entire town OF ST Pierre
was wrapped in flames. He endeav-
ored TO save about thirty persons. an
more or less burned from the vessels
in the harbor. His officers went ashore
In small boats seeking for survivors
but Were unable to penetrate into the
town. They saw heaps of bodies upon
the wharves, and ii is believed that
not single person in st. Pierre at the
moment of the catastrophe escaped
NJ. l. Mouttet, the Governor of the
colony. his wife, and his staff colonel.
Were In st. Pierre and probably per-
1shed. The extent of the catastrophe
cannot be imagined.
The British schooner Ocean Traveller
which arrived mt Dominica. was oppo-
site st. Pierre. She reported that when
she was about mile off the coast the
volcano of Mont Pelee exploded. and
fire from il swept the whole town of
ST. Pierre destroying the town and
shipping.
Paris France. - The commander of
the French cruiser Suchet has telc-
Graphed to the Minister of Marine. NJ
de Lanessan, from Fort de France
Martinique, rs follows:
Have just returned from st. Pierre
which has been completely DESTROYED
by an Immense mass of fire, which fell
on the town Mt about s in the morning
The entire population, about % 900
souls. Is supposed to have perished.
have brought back the few survivors
about thirty. All the shipping in the
harbor has been destroyed by fire. The
eruption continues
The Suchet was ordered to return To
st. Pierre with all the speed possible
and TO forward details of the disaster
10 the French Government
1t is feared that the Governor of
Martinique has perished
Washington, u. C.-The following
cablcSram has been received Mt the
State Department.:
Point-aPitrc. Guadeloupe.
Secretary of State. Washington:
"At o'clock a. m. on the Sth inst
storm of steam, mud and fire envel-
opcd the City of st. Pierre and com
munity. Not more than twenty Dev-
sons escaped with their lives. The
United States Consul and family are
reported among the victims
"AYME. Consul"
The Consul at Martinique was
Thomas +. PrentS lie was born I'm
Michigan. was appointed from Massa-
chusetts as Consul at Seychelles Isl
andS in 1871. and later served ms Con
sui ut Port Louis, NIauritius) Rouen
ana Batavia. He was appointed Con
sui at Martinique i'm 1900
The Nice-Consul at MARTINIQUE is
Amadee TeStart. who was appointed
from Louisiana in 1898.