Bismarck daily tribune., 1902-05-13
IN THE DESTROYED CITY.
Thousands Of Corpses Being Burned
at st. Pierre, to Prevent Con-
tagion Of Disease.
Death in Most Cases Believed to Have
Been Sudden and Apparently
Without Suffering.
Heat and Stencil are Terrible and
Measures Being Taken to Prevent
Spread Of Disease.

Spread Of Disease.
Fort de France, Martinique, May 13.
Several steamers, including the gov
ernment vessel RuDis, started from
here Saturday for St. Pierre. They
bad on board a government delegate,
number of gendarmes, detachment of
regular infantry and several priests.
The vessels also carried a quantity of
firewood, petroleum and quicklime, for
use in the cremation of the bodies of
the victims of the terrible volcanic
outbreak 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 Car
bet and Case Pilote, not far from st.
Pierre, and it is reported over a thou
sand Of them have died since the fear
full stream Of lava poured down from
Mont Pelee.
The sea for miles round was cov-
cred with the wreckage of the vessels
sunk off st. Pierre at the time of the
disaster and ashore only a few trees,
all bent seaward by the force of the
volcanic shower, were left standing.
When nearing st. Pierre the Rubis
met a number of tugs towing lighters
filled with refugees.
The heat from the smoking, lava
covered ruins at st. Pierre was suf-
locating and the stencil from the
corpse-streWn streets was awful Only
a few walls were standing The report
that the hospital clock was found in
tact, with it's hands stopped at 1850,
was confirmed, as was the statement
that the offices 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 public squares.
subterranean Rumblings Continue.
Not drop of water was procurable
ashore. The darkness caused by the
clouds of volcanic dust shrouded the
town and continuous subterranean
rumbling added to the horror of the
scene.
The fort and central quarters of the
town were razed to the ground and
were replaced by beds of hot cinders.
The iron grille-work gate alone of
the government Offices was standing.
There was no trace of the streets.
Huge heaps OF smoking ashes were to
be seen on all sides. g
At the landing place some burned
and ruined walls Indicated the spot
where the customhouse 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, showing that
the victims had met death as if by a
lightning stroke. Every vestige of
clothing was burned away from the
charred bodies and in many cases the
abdomens had burst open, by the in
tense heat. Curiously enough the
features Of the dead were generally
calm and reposeful, although in some
cases terrible fright and agony were
depicted. Grim piles Of bodies were
stacked everywhere, showing that
death had stricken them while the
crowds were vainly seeking escape
from the fiery deluge. On one spot a
group of nine children were found
locked in each others arms.
Bank Vaults found intact.
& The vaults of the Bank of Martin
ique, at the head Of what had been
the Rue de LHospital, were found in-
tact. They contained 100000 francs
in specie and other securities, which
was sent here for safe keeping.
The vaults of the government treas
sury are now being searched in the
hope that large amount OF money
and other valuables deposited by the
principal merchants OF the city may
be saved. 3.
| Nearly 1000 Of the refugees from
the vicinity Of the village of LIE Pre-
scheur, a suburban village to the north
of st. Pierre, were rescued by the
French cruiser Suchet and the ca
BILE repair ship Pouyer Quertier and
were brought here.
As a result of his inspection the
commander 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.
Lava continues to stream down the
mountain side, accompanied by ter
rifle thunder and lightning.
The dearth OF provisions is begin
ming to be felt throughout the island.
Numerous families are completely
ruined and even shelterless. while the
means at the disposal of the authori-
ties are much too inadequate to cope
with the distress.
Communication is practically cut OF