The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-13
THE CITY OF KINGSTON ON THE ISLAND OF ST. VINCENT.

10 eesseeseoess sss eessss
and wanted to jump into the sea. tried
to make him take a life preseryer. The |
captain. who was undressed, jumped over
board and hung onto line for awhile
Then he disappeared"
Gus Llnder. the quartermastT OF the |
steamer, who is horribly burned and can
talk, confirmed this
Joseph Beckels, seaman who is 50 years
Of age and is SO frghtfully burned that he
can not live, having inhaled flames, said
In weak tones that he was the last man to
see the captain The captain was then
trying to reach floating mattress.
Louis Prudent, saved from the italian
ship Teresa L.ovco. says there was hrst nm
awful noise OF explosion, and then right
away n cyclone Of smoke and IRE. but such
was the poisonous, choking nature OF the
smoke that II burned worse than the Are
When il struck people they fell dead. The
cyclone Of gas tore the masts out of ships
blew others up and sunk some of them
soon afterwards came a wave Of hre bigger
than the smoke cloud.
Fort De France. Island Of Martinique,
Sunday, May 1t-Several steamers. In
Guiding the government vessel, Rubis,
started from here yesterday for 81 Pierre.
They had on board government delegate
number Of gcndarmes, detachment OF
regular infantry and several priests. The
vessels also carried quantity Of hrewood,
petroleum and quickimc far use in the
cremation Of the bodies Of the victims OF
the terrific volcanic outbreak OF Thursday
last. Large quantities Of disinfectants and
stocks of clothing for the refugees. were
also shipped to st. Pierre. Tho refugees
had, as ii 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 wrcckago OF the vessels sunk on
| st. Pierre at the time Of the disaster. and
ashore only a few trees all bent seayard
by the force OF the volcanic showers, were
left standing.
! when nearing st. Pierre the RubiS met
! with refugees.
| The heat from the smoking, iava-coycred
ruins at st. Pierre was surocating, and
! the stencil from the corpse strewn streets
were awful. Only few walls we're stand.
| Ing.
The report that the hospital clock was
found intact with It's hands stopped at
1850 o'clock was confirmed, as was the
statement that the Offices Of the cable com
pany had entirely disappeared.
on all sides were found portions OF
corpscs, which were gathered up by the
soldiers and gendarmes and burned on one
OF the public squares.
Not n drop OF water was proCurabl'
ashore. The darkness caused by the cloud,
Of volcanic dust shrouded the town, anC
continuous subterranean rumblings added
10 the horror OF the scene.
The fort and central quarter OF the towI
were RACED to the ground, and were re
placed by beds OF hot cinders, The irel
grille work gate of the government OF
fees was alone standing. There was N
trace of the streets. Huge heaps Of smok
ing ashes were to be seen on all sides.
At tho iauding place some burned an
ruined walls indicated the spot where III
customs house formerly stood, and trace
of the larger shops could be seen In tina
. nclghborhood hundreds Of corpses wer
= found lying In all kinds OF attitudes, SHOW
IT,; ing that the people had met death as II b
q
was burned away from the chaTed Uodie
J., and in many cases the abdomcns had burr
| open by the intense heat Curiousiy onougl
d the features OF the dead were general
L calm and reposeful, although la some cast
terrleie fright aud agony were dcpicte
e Grim plies of bodies were stacked ever
r where, showing that death had strlck'
y them while the crowds were valny seekiI
$ escape from the fiery deluge. on one sp
IS a group of nine children were found lock-
n, In each others arms.
The vaults of the bank Of Martinique,
the head of what had been the Rue
L'Hospltal, were found Intact. They co
tanned 100000 francs In specie and 9th
securities, which was sent here for SAT
Keeping.
The vaults Of the government treasu
are now being searched In the hope that
large amount Of money and other valuabl
deposited by the principal merchants Of q
city may be saved.