Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-20
o.,,Ie Of ST. Pierre Warned Of
impending Catastrophe
,yrTERs ESTABLISH THIS.
....,vsd from Residents OF Island
',.,,,ero Expected 10 Remain Ac-
o,o-subscrip,lons Suspended

paris May 19--Martinique mans lot
-.rded lust prior to the recent disaster
lived here yesterday. The most In
lasting letter is from young lady
'.ho was among the victims. 1t was
sa,oa May 8. After describing the
ssoect Of st. Pierre before dawn, the
,owu being lit up with flames from the
volcano everything covered with ashes
ana the people greatly excited yet not
panic stricken, she said;
uAtv calmness astonlshes me. ! am
,rai;inp the event TRANQUILITY. My
orlv suffering is from the dust when
Wv" everywhere, even through
p,osed windows and doors, We are all
calm. Mamma Is not bit anxious
aFdIth alone Is frightened. III death
awaits us there viii be numerous
company to leave the world. WIN II be
S~ Gre or asphyxiatlon2 II will be what
cod wills. You will have our last
,boughts Tell brother Robert that we
sre stlll alive This will, perhaps, be no
longer true when this letter reaches
The Edith mentioned was lady visl-
Tor who was among the rescued.
This and other letters enclosed samples
NJ the ashes which fell over the doomed
town. The ashes are blush gray, i'm
nalpable powder, resembling newly
fround -four and slightly smelling of
sulphur
afternoon of May 3, says; 1.-THE
population of the nelghborhood of the
lon Of the mountain is ilocking to the
civ. Business Is suspended, the In
habltants are panic stricken, and the
apmen are sprinkllng the streets and
roofs, to settle the ashes, which are I'LL
Ing the air" These and other letters
seem to indicate that evidences of the
impending disaster were numerous five
days before II occurred.
strl another letter says: "St Pierre
presents an aspect unknown to the
natives. II is O city sprinkled with gray
tnow, winter scene without cold. The
inhabitants Of the neighborhood are
abandoning their houses, villas and cot
tages and are nocking to the city. II Is
q curious pell nell Of women, children
and barefoot peasants, big black fellows
loaded with household goods The air
Is oppressive; your nose burns. Are we
going to be asphyYlated2 What has to-
morrow In store for us--a flow OF lava,
rain Of stones or cataclysm from the
sea? Who can tell? VIII give you my
last thought II must die"
A 81. Pierre paper Of May 3 an
nounces that an excursion arranged for
the next day to Mont Pelee had been
postponed as the crater was inacces-
slble, adding that notice would be Is
sued when the excursion would take
place.
Although Whitmonday Is a public
holiday, the ministry OF the colonies
was open as usual, and all the officials
were al their posts.
The advices received from Martinique
this morning indicate that the local
authorities are no longer anxious re-
sardlng food and other supplies, which
are now reaching Fort de France In
SUFFICIENT quantities to meet all demands
until the arrival Of supplies which are
now on their way TO the island and
those preparing TO sail. The govern
ment believes that the emergency is
over.
The correspondent Of the Associated
Press learns that the ministry of the
colonies totally disoredited the report
Of the destruction Of ST. Marie. Martin
ique, by fire. which has reached here,
as today's dispatches do not mention
NE fact. which they certainly would
hsve cone II the town had been burned.
Inc congregation completely filed the
fashionable church OF st.Augustine this
morning on the occasion OF the solemn
service organized by the league OF
french women In memory Of the vic.
U Uns OF the Martinique disaster. Bishop
norman, assisted by the clergy OF the
PARISH celebrated the mass and pro-
.ouhced the absoution. This was the
sIsl memorial service for the dead of
Aatlnique held In Paris. Another will
Os held In the basIlica OF the Sacred
heart tomorrow, al which Bishop Cor
man VIII again officiate.
:, Inc officials say the reports OF the
french embassies and legations ut the
various capitals show that the SYM
paIny with France abroad Is increas-
ns, The latest subscription is that
o. the former Queen Regent OF Spain
syain' who has given 1000 francs TO the
'unu' winch now amounts to over $780,