New-York tribune., 1902-05-10
Rain OF Fire Blotted Out st. Pierre,
Martinique, in Three Minutes.
FRENCH WARSHIP VISITS THE SCENE
WHAT THE SUCHET SAW.
HEAPS OF BODIES on THE WHARvES-
UNABLE To ENTER THE
BURNING CITY.

San Juan, Porto Rico. MAY 9-The cabls
officials here have received advices from ths
island Of Dominica that schooner. which had
arrived there from the island of Martinique
ports that forty thousand people are sup
posed to have perished during the volcanic dis
turbance in Martinique. The cable repair
steamer Grappier. belonging to the West India
and Panama Telegraph Company. of London.
was lost with all hands during the eruption Of
Mont Pelee. at ST. Pierre. Martinique The
Grappler was one of the first ships to disappear.
ST. Thomas D. W, L. May 9--The French
cruiser Suchet arrived at -Pitre. island
Of Guadeloupe. French West Indies from Fort
de France. island Of Martinique. this morning.
bringing several refugees. She confirmed the re-
port that the town of ST Pierre was entirely de-
stroyed at O'Clock Thursday morning by
volcanic eruption. 1t is supposed that most OF
the inhabitants OF st. Pierre were killed. that
the neighboring parishes were laid waste and
that the residue Of the population of St Pierre
is without foot or shelter.
The commander Of the Suchet reports that at
O'Clock on Thursday the entire town Of 81.
Pierre was wrapped in flames. He endeavored
to save about thirty persons. more or less
burned from the vessels in the harb0r. His off,
GERS went ashore in small boats seeking for sur
vivors. but were unable to penetrate the town.
They saw heaps of bodies upon the wharves.
and it is believed that not a single person resi-
dent in St Pierre at the moment of the catas-
trophe escaped
The Governor Of the colony and his staff
colonel and wife were in st. Pierre. and probably
perished The extent Of the catastrophe cannot
he imagined.
The captain of the British steamer Roddam
was seriously injured, and is in the hospital
at st. Lucia All of his officers and engineers
are dead or dying. Nearly every member OF
the crew is dead. Supercargo Campbell and ten
of the crew OF the Roddam jumped overheard
at st. Pierre and were lost
The British Royal Mail steamer Esk. which
arrived at St Lucia this morning. reports hav-
ing passed St. Pierre last night. The steamer
was covered with ashes, though she was hve
miles distant from the town. which was in i'm
penetrable darkness. y boat was sent in as
near as possible to the shore, bat not living
soul was seen-only flames
The Quebec Steamship Companys steamer Ro-
raima was seen to explode and disappear
The British schooner Ocean Traveller. OF ST.
John N B. arrived at the island of Dominica.
British West Indies. at : o'clock this afternoon.
She reported having been obliged to flee from
the island of St Vincent British West Indies.
| during the afternoon of Wednesday. May 4. in
| consequence of heavy fall of sand from vol
cano, which was eruptins there. She tried to
reach the island of St. Lucia, British West In
dies, but adverse currents prevented her from
so doing. The schooner arrived opposite ST.
Pierre. Martinique. Thursday morning: May 5.
While about a mile Off the volcano Mont
Pei - exploded. and fre from it swept the
whole town of st. Pierre, destroying the town
and the shipping there. including the cable re-
pair ship Grarpler. which was engaged in re-
pairing the cable near the Guerin factory. The