The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-05-16


,.ss.I Rubis started from here Sat
urday for st. Pierre. They had on
hoard government delegate, mum
her Of gendarmes, detachment OF
regular infantry and several priests.
,rhc vessels also carried quantity Oh
6rewood. 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
,tocks Of clothing for the refugees
also were shipped to st. Pierre. Inc
refugees had, as rule. assembled al
lie Carbet and Case Piiote, not Tar
from ST. Pierre. and. il is reported
over a thousand Of them have died
since the fearful stream OF lava
poured down Mont Pelee.
Sea Covered with Wreckage.
The sea for miles around was COW
cred with the wreckage of the YES
.els sunk of st. Pierre ut the time
of the disaster. and on shore only the
trees, all bent seward by the force
of the volcanic shower, were LETT
standing. When nearing ST. Pierre
the Hubis met tugs towing lighters
filed with refugees. The stencil from
the corpse-strewn streets was awiui.
Only few walls were standing. The
report that the hospital clock was
found intact, with its hands stopped
,t 7:5O. was confirmed, as was the
statement that the offices Of the ca
bic company had entirely disap-
peared. !.
On all sides were found portions of
corpses. which were gathered up by
the soldiers and gendarnes and
burned on one of the public squares.
Not y Drop Of Water.
Not a drink of water was procura-
ble ashore. Darkness. caused by the
clouds OF volcanic dust. shrouded the
Town. and continuous subterranean
rumblinp added to the horror of the
scene. The fort and central quarters
of the town we're RACED to the ground
and were replaced by beds OF hot
cinders.
The iron grille-work gate OF the
government Offices was alone stand
ing. There was no trace OF the streets
Huge heaps Of smoking ashes were 70
lie seen on all sides.
At the landing place some burned
and ruined walls indicated the spot
where the customhouse formerl,
stood. and traces of the larger shops
could he seen.
Corpses In All Attitudes.
In that neighborhood hundreds OF
corpses were found lying in all kinds
of attitudes, showing that the victims
had met death as if by Lightning
stroke. Every vestige of clothing
was burned away from tic cMarr,'
bodies. and in many cases the all
domens had been burst open by tn
intense heat. Curionsly enough. III
features Of the dead were general
calm and rcposcfnl. although in som
eases terrible fright and agony wer
Denoted. Grim piles Of bodies wer
stacked everywhere, showing tina
death had stricken them while tn
crowds were vanly seeking escar
from the fiery dclnge. On one spt
n group of nine children were foun
locked in each Others arms
Treasure Found Intact.
The vaults OF the Isanh VI ""' ~
ioue. at the head of what had bee
the Rue De L'IIopital. were found Il
tact. They contained 2.0O0.ooo franz
in specie and securities, which WI
sent here for safekeeping.
The vaults of the government trea
ury are now being searched, in u
hope that large amount Of mon'
al hX III
principal merchants Of the city mi
be saved
Many Refugees Rescued.
Nearly 1000 Of the refugees ire
the vicinity Of the village Of lie n
cheur. a suburban village to the nor
of st. Pierre, were rescued by !
French cruiser Suchct and the cal
repair ship Pouyer-Quertier, and we
brought here.
A. a result of his inspection. !
commander of the Suchet repo
that crevices and valleys are G
stantly forming in the northern p
ton 81 the island, where the land
in state of perpetual change. r
tunately, that part Of the count
was evacuated in good time by the
habitants. who fed to Fort-De-Fran
Lava Continues 20 Flow.
Lava continues to stream down
nountainside, accompanied by teri
thunder and lightning.
The dearth Of provisions Is bee
ming TO be felt throughout the isla
Numerous families are compIet
ruined and even shelterless. WI
the means at the disposal OF the
thorities are much too inadequate
cope with the distress.
Communication IL particularly
of from all the surrounding isla
except by stray vessels, which
seized upon by the inhabitants TO
from Martinique.
IT GROWS MORE TERRIBLE.
Large Areas In the North Of Nd
nIaue Submerged ny Rissng
Rivers.
rho rA1nnfnl n