The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-13
WILMINGTON N. c., MAY 13, 1902

the island of St. Vincent Thursday night
her deck was covered to a depth OF two
inches with ashes and her passengers
were nearly suffocated with the smell
of sulphur.
During Thursday all along the coast,
especially in the gulf Of Paria, subter-
ranean noise were heard. The Indians
were terrorized-
New York, May 10.-The French ca
BILE company's offices in this city were
advised today that their repair steamer
Pouyer Queentier has arrived at Fort
de France. having rescued $50 persons
from st. Pierre. She has returned i'm
mediately to the scene OF the disaster
to search for further survivors.
Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe. May 10
Saturday morning-The first mate OF
the Roraima thus describes the disaster
at ST. Pierre.
Between $50 and Z o'clock in tho
morning on Thursday without warning
there came a sort of whirlwind Of
steam, boiling mud and fire, which sud-
denly swept the city and the roadstead.
There were some eighteen vessels an
chored in the htrbor, including the Ro-
raima, the French sailing ship Tamaya,
four larger sailing ships and others.
All of the vessels Immediately canted
over and began to burn. The Tamaya
was a bark from Nantes, Captain Nau-
rice, and was on her way to Pointe-a-
Pitre. All the boats except the Ro-
raima sank instantly and at the same
moment.
Every house ashore was utterly de
stroyed and apparently buried under
the ashes and burning lava. An officer
who was sent ashore penetrated but =
short distance into the city. He found
only q few walls standing and the
The governor of the island, who had
| arrived only few hours before the
| catastrophe, was killed. Both the Eng
| lish and American consuls, with their
| families, were reported to have perish
| ed. 1t is certain that no more than
| forty out Of the 25, 900 people could have
escaped
The cruiser Suchet was here yesterday
| buying provisions for the survivors IN
| the outlying districts. She sailed for
| Fort de France last night with large
| quantity of stores, which were immc-
! 1iately put under military guard. Ne
| groes are fiocking in vast numbers into
| Fort de France.
Pointe A Feter, Guadalupe, May
| 10-The morning of May 5th Guada-
loupe learned that the Mont Pelee vol
| cano, in Martinique, had been in a state
| of eruption since Saturday, May 3rd,
| throwing out ashes. The same day
| violent thunder storms began here.
Tuesday very heavy storm occurred
| and loud decorations were heard. At
| noon came a Tumor that lava was flow-
| ing from Mont Pelee and that 300 lives
| had been lost 1T st. Pierre. All that
| day were heard here loud noises, like
| the discharge of heavy artillery far
| off. 1t is now known that those noises
| were from the Martinique volcano. In
| the afternoon the cable connections
| with Martinique all disappeared. A
4
| over Guadaloupe and lasted for a con-
siderable time and rumors were cur
| rent that the Souffierre volano in
| Guadalupe was more active. The
earth was trembling at Basseterre and
volcanic rumblings were heard.
News Of the disaster in Martinique
| reached here by the French war vessel
Suchet Friday morning. Nearly every
| one here has relatives in Martinique
and intense sorrow prevails. All the
| stores here are closed and the flags are
| flying at half mast. The mountains of
| Guadalupe are shrouded in thick
clouds and frequent heavy storms oc-
Cured. The people are on edege with
| anxiety, fearing that Souffriere may
become active. A light earthquake
shock or a slight increase in the usual
smoking of Souffriere wauld precipitate
a panic here. 1t is believed, however
that there is no olcal danger.