The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-20
Southern Districts of the Island Of
Martinique Now Being Covered by
the Volcanoes Eraptions.
WARNINGS WERE NOT NEEDED
LETTERS THAT INDICATE ST.
PIERRE EXPECTED A DISASTER.
Twenty-Eight Thousand Lives Lost
About Six Thousand Rescued by
Steamships.

PARIS. MAY l9-Governor L'Huerrere OF
Martinique has cabled to the colonial min
lister, NJ. De Craiz announcing that Mont
Pelee continues to throw up immense guam
titles of cinders, which. owing to change
in the direction OF the wind, are now COW
ering the southern districts of the island.
Violent explosions have been heard at lie
Carbet. The Governor further declared
there is no danger of an outbreak on the
part of the population of the northern dis
tricts of the island, as alleged, in conse-
quence of the people being out of work.
Martinique mails forwarded just prior to
the disaster arrived here yesterday. The
newspapers print number of private let
tiers from St. Pierre giving many details
of events Immediately preceding the catas-
trophe. The most interesting of these is a
letter from young lady who was among
the victims, dated May 3. After describing
the aspect of st. Pierre. briefly drawn. the
town being lit UP with flames from the
volcano, everything being covered with
ashes, the people greatly excited, yet not
panicstricken, she said: My calmness as
tonishes me. L am awaiting the event tran
GULLY. My only suffering is from the dust.
which penetrates everywhere, even through
closed windows and doors. We are all
calm Mamma is not a bit anxious. Edith
alone is frightened. If death awaits US
there will be a number in the company to
leave the world. Win it be by FIRE or as
phyXia? 1t will be what God wills. You
will have our last thoughts Tell brother
Robert that we are still alive. This will
perhaps be no longer true when this letter
reaches YOU"
The Edith mentioned was a lady visitor
who was among the rescued. This and
other letters inclosed samples of the ashes
which fell over the doomed town The
ashes are blush gray powder, resem-
bling new ground flour and slightly smell
ing of sulphur.
Another letter written during the after
noon OF May says: The population of
the neighborhood of the mountain is flock
ing TO the city. Business is suspended, the
inha bitants are panicstricken and the fire.
men are sprinkling the streets and roofs
TO settle the ashes which are filling the
air.
These and other letters seem to indi-
cate that evidences of the impending disas-
ter were numerous five days before il oc-
Cured.
1t is difficult to understand how it was
that general exodus of the population of
St. Pierre did not take place before May
s. Still, another letter says: st. Pierre
presents an aspect unknown TO the natives
1T is a city sprinkled with gray snow. a
winter scene without cold. The Inhabitants
of the neighbOrhood are abandoning their
houses, villas and cottages. and are flock
ing to the city. 1t is a curious pell-mell
of women, children and barefooted peas
ants, big, bla TX fellows, loaded with house
hold goods. The air is oppressive; your
nose burns; are we going to be asphyXi-
ateG? What has tomorrow in store for
us? A flow of lava, rain or stones, or a
cataclysm from the sea? Who can tell?
VIII give you my last thought if l must
die"
A st. Pierre paper of May 8 announces
that an excursion, arranged for the next
day, 10 Mont Pelee, had been postponed,
as the crater was inaccessible. adding that
notice would be issued when the excur-
sion would take place
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that the Ministry of the Colo,
MES totally discredits the report OF the
destruction of ST. Marie, Martinique, by
fire, which has reached here, to-day S
dispatches do not mention the fact, which
they certainly would have done If the town
had been burned.
The officials say the reports of the
French embassies and legations at the
various capitals show that the sympathy
with France abroad is increasing. The
latest royal subscription is that of the
| former Queen Regent of Spain, who has
given 10000 francs to the fund, which now
amounts to over 10000 francs.
NJ. l. Huerre, the Governor Of Martinique,
has sent the following cablegram TO NJ.
| Decrais, the colonial minister, dated Fort
de France, May Is: II have informed the
population that supplies by the United
| States naval vessel Dixie and the steamers
| to-day. The cargoes of these vessels will be
| exempted from all duties and other
| charges. This is done on all food supplies
| reaching us. Commander c. w. Lentz and
] Captain Crabb, of the quartermaster's dc
| partment, have Just arrived here on the
! United States collier Sterling with the food
Rico