The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-13
BURNED.
Funeral Pyres Built i'm the streets of
the Ruined City.

FORT DE FRANCE. Island of Mar
Unique, Sunday, May n.-Several steam
ers. including the government vessel Rubis,
started from here yesterday for st. Pierre.
They had on board a government delegate.
a number of gendarmes, a detach-
ment of regular infantry and several
priests. The vessel also carried a guam
tity of frewood, petroleum and quick lime,
for use in the cremation of the bodies of
the victims of the terrible volcanic out
break of Thursday last. Large quantities
of disinfectants, and stocks of clothing
for the refugees, were also shipped to
ST. Pierre. The refugees had, as a rule,
assembled at LIE Carbet and Case Pilote,
not far from St. Pierre, and it is reported,
over a thousand of them have died since
the fearful stream of lava poured down
Mont Pelee. The sea for miles around was
covered with the wreckage of the vessels
sunk off st. Pierre at the time of the dis
aster, and ashore only a few trees, all
bent seward by the force Of the vol
canic shower, were left standing.
When nearing st. Pierre the Rubis met
a number of tugs towing lighters, filled
with refugees. The heat from the smok-
ing, lava-covered ruins at st. Pierre was
suffocating and the stencil from the corpse
strewn streets was awful. Only a few
walls were standing. The report that the
hospital clock was found intact, with it's
hands stopped at 1850. was confirmed, as
was the statement that the officers of the
cable company had entirely disappeared.
on all sides were found portions of corpses,
which were gathered up by the soldiers and
gendarmes and burned on one of the pub
lie squares
Not a drop of water was procurable
ashore. The darkness caused by the
clouds of volcanic dust shrouded the town
and continuous subterranean rumbIIng
added to the horror Of the scene. The fort
and central quarter of the town were RACED
of hot cinderS. The iron grille work Of
the government alone was standing. There
was no trace of the streets. Huge heaps of
smoking ashes were TO be seen on all sides.
AT the landing place some burned and
ruined walls indicated the spot where the
formerly stood, and traces of
the larger shops could be seen. In that
neighborhood hundreds of corpses were
found lying in all kinds of attitudes, show
ing that the victims had met death as if
by a lightning stroke. Every vestige of
charred bodies, and in many cases the
abdomens had been burst open Dy the in
tense heat. Curiously enough the features
of the dead were generally calm and re-
poseful, although In some cases terrible
fright and agony were depicted. Grim piles
of bodies were stacked eryw show
ing that death had stricken them while
the crowdes were vainly seeking escape
from the fiery deluge. On one spot a
group of nine children were found locked
in each others arms.
The vaults of the bank of Martinique.
at the head of what had been the Rue de
rHopital, were found intact. They con-
tanned 1000. 200 francs in specie and other
securities, which was sent here for safe
keeping. The vaults Of the government
treasury are now being searched in the
hope that a large amount of money and
other valuables deposited by the principal
merchants of the city may be saved.
Nearly 1000 of the refugees from the
vicinity of LIE Precheur, a suburban village
TO the north of St. Pierre, were rescued
by the French cruiser Suchet and the
cable repair ship Pouyer Quertier and
were brought here.
AS a result of this inspection the COM
mander of the Suchet reports that crevices
and valleys are constantly forming in the
northern portion of the island, where the
land is in a state of perpetual change.
Fortunately, that part OF the country was
evacuated in good time by the inhabitants,
who fled to Fort de France. Lava CON
tinues to stream down the mountain side,
accompanied by terrific thunder and
lightning.
The dearth of provisions is beginning to
be felt throughout the island. Numerous
families are completely ruined. and even
shelterless. while the means at the dis
posal of the authorities are much too in
adequate to cope with the distress.
Communication is practically cut off from
all the surrounding islands, except by
stray vessels. which are seized upon by
the inhabitants to flee from Martinique.