The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
Thousands of Corpses Scattered About
Like sheaves I'm Productive
Wheat Field.
OUTBURSTs OF MONT PELEE
TERRIFYING EXHIBITIONS OF THE
WRATH OF THE VOLCANO.
Panicky Races for Safety by Men
and Stenmers-The Awe-Inspiring
Eruption of May 20.
Correspondence OF the Sunday Journal.

Correspondence OF the Sunday Journal
SAN JUAN. P. r.. May 2s.-The deport-
ment OF Mont Pelee the day we went into
St Pierre to recover and bring away the
remains Of Thomas T. Prentis. the Ameri-
can consul, was the most riotous and
threatening since the eruption of the morn
ing of May s, which had destroyed the
city with it's 5000 or 10000 population May
II was the date that had been planned orig
inaliy by Consul Ayme and Captain Nc
Lean, Of the United States cruiser Cincin-
natl for the recovery expedition, and we
we.e 20 nave gone to St. Pierre in the
steam launch of the Cincinnati. but in the
meantime the English cruiser Indefatiga-
BE had come into the harbor at Fort de
France. and there was delay of two days
over the details Of an arrangement that
contemplated also bringing away the re-
mains of the British consul We got away
from Fort de France at noon, May 19, not
on the steam launch OF the Cincinnati, as
ship Potomac. a powerful and swift tug,
under command Of Captain Mccormick,
which had brought the newspaper corre-
spondents from San Juan, p. r., a few DAYS
before The party that was to enter the
ruined city and recover the bodies of the
two consuls was under command OF Lieu
tenant Miller. OF the Cincinnati, who had
with him two other young officers of the
Cincinnati and enough sailors to carry the
two tin-lined boxes in which the bodies
were 10 be placed. Captain ]. T. Crabbs,
who had been sent from San Juan with the
United States ship Sterling in charge of the
distribution of the 100000 worth of cloth
ing and provisions from the military stores
at San Juan, was along with the party in
advisory capacity. The interchangeable.
with Captain Mclean. OF the Cincinnati,
as the guest of the commander Of the Brit
ish cruiser. followed the Potomac in order
20 be present in the event OF an emerg-
ency.
Half way up 10 st. Pierre we met the
dredger, which had been making daily
trips TO St. Pierre with a big force OF men
for the purpose of gathering, stacking and
burning the bodies of the dead. This was
taken as indicating that Mont Pelee might
be boiling over. AS the Potomac rounded
20 a quarter of a mile from shore in front
OF the ruins of St. Pierre the crater OF the
volcano a scant five miles away, was OBJ
scured in a cloud Of smoke. but there was
no other signs OF unusual activity. An
alarming phase OF the situation, however,
which had not hitherto appeared, was that
al the shore line. beginning perhaps a half
mile from the northern limits Of St. Pierre
and extending northward for probably a
mile. great clouds Of smoke or vapOr were
rising. There was light breeze from the
sea. and IL was plain that the water line
was the western limit OF this new disturb
ance Our first theory was that a new
opening had formed at the waters edge.
but subsequent events exploded this idea.
A boat was lowered and the two boxes
were placed in it and taken ashore. The
boat returned and the members of the ex-
pedition were landed. Captain McCor-
mick. of the Potomac. had warned US that
anything in the shape of loot brought
aboard would be confscated. We were
further warned that II we heard the Po-
tomacs whistle il was TO be taken as a
signal OF warning. and we were TO lose
no time in getting back to the ship.
ERUPTION or SMOKE.
Our Iancing point was well 10 the south
ern limits or the city and we proceeded
along the beach A quarter Of mile where
the party divided into two sections. pene-
trating thence into the interior OF the city,
one toward the American and the other
toward the British Consular headquarters.
I accompanied the party that went TO the
T2rftteh coDs,,I's bouSe Progress was slow
and difficult. for the streets were full OF
debris with a depth OF from four 10 ten
feet and care had 10 be taken TO avoid
treading on the corpses Of the many dead
The four sailors who carried the box, and
who were slightly in advance OF US, had
Just reached the British consulate when
Captain Mccormick yelled at the sailors
20 drop the box and run. \ glance at the
crater revealed the cause Of the panic.
From it sscended vast column OF smoke,
spreading as il ascended, and giving the
impression of a great pyramid inverted.
The panic was complete, and back we
raced to~ard the point where our boats
were beached. This eruption, however. was
not a serious one. and after a quarter of a
mile OF II we slowed up. and then halted
for further developments. A short council
Of war developed the unanimous opinion
that the immediate danger was over. and
the spirit OF investigation being strong in
Us we turned about and again entered the
city.
There were four OK US in this exploring
party. Captain crabbs. Lieutenants Kautz
and Phelps. of the Cincinnati. and myself.
Wreck more awfIl and complete than that
which We encountered were impossible to