The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-10
NOW MENACED BY MINE
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DEPENDED
ON ST. PIERRE FOR FOOD.
london Has Received Only Vague Re-
ports Of the Terrible Disaster, as the
Cable Service Is Interrupted

London, Nav with the exception Of
dispatch repeating the news brought 10
the island Of St. Lucia yesterday after
noon by the British steamer Roddam,
which announced the total destruction Of
the town Of ST. Pierre, island OF Martinique
by a volcanic eruption, the English meH
chants and shippers here having trade re-
iatous with Martinique have received no
direct news Of the catastrophe. Even the
owners of the Reddam. which was forced
10 slip her anchor at St. Pierre in order
TO escape and which was badly damaged
seventeen Of her crew being kllcl have
not heard from the vessels captain.
A former resident Of St. Pierre now ia
this city says there were about 1000 white
peopie among the Inhabitants OF the dc
stroycd toRn.
At 6.25 ?. N. London Is quite cut of
from communication with the island Of
Martinique. The cable companies have re.
ceiTed nothing except vague messages say
ing the cable is interrupted owing 10 the
volcanic disturbances. The colonial OF.
fee is without word from Martinique OK.
cept that a grave disaster. the extent Of
which is not mentioned. has occurred and
the receipt Of repetition Of the steamer
Ro1dam's news. The belief now exists that
the British West Indian islands OF Domin.
ics and ST. Vincent have also suffered SEA
verely. All messages to these islands are
sent at lenders risk and no cipher dis
patches are accepted.
1t Is expected that possibly news viii
reach England tonight through steamers ar.
irving at ports in the other West Indians.
A dispatch to the Reuter- Telegram com.
pany from Kingston. jamaica. after giving
the details Of the Martinique disaster al
ready known says; Thousands were killed
al St Pie%e. where a terrible panic pre-
vailed. The eruption began May 3. when
81. Pierre was covered with ashes and
appeared to be onyeloned in fog. The flow
OF lava continued until wednesday. May Z"
The message adds: In the Islands OF
81. Vincent, the Soufriere tvolcanol is ar.
tive and earthquakes are frequent. But
so far no damage has been done"
In response TO the request Of Governor
Llewelyn Of the windward Islands, the
British second class cruiser Indefatiss6ls
has been dispatched from the Island OF
Trinidad 10 the island Of st. Vincent By
way OF st. Lucia.
dispatch to the Daily Mail from Point
Pitre. island Of Guadaloupe. French West
Indies, dated yesterday. says: "The Mont
Pe4ee (st. Pierre crater elected yesterday
molten rock and ashes during three minutes
and completely destroyed St. Pierre va the
districts within four-mile radius. All the
inhabitants were burned.
About eight passengers from the Ro-
rama OF the Quebec steamship line, were
saved by the French cruiser suchet. The
Inhabitants Of the southern districts OF the
island who were dependent o. St Pierre
for provisions. are menaeed by famine"
dispatch to the Daily Mail from ia.
maica says: THE first intlmstion OF q
disaster lat Martinique was the breaking
OF the cables on Tuesday. The French ca.
bic at Martinique from Puerto Plata was
broken Wednesday. Cable communication
with all the northern islands is stopped
The survivors of the British steamer Rod
| dam describe the scene at St Pierre as
/ being 'glimpses OF hell beggaring descrip
| ton. The Roralma was wrecked In a ter.
4 rible upheaval of land and sea. The whole
/ crew perished.
1.-TWO ships were lost with all on board
| in an attempt TO approach Martinique