Morris tribune., 1902-05-24
ECHOES OF THE EARTHQUAKE

Captain McIea Of the Unite4
States cruiser Cincinnati reports 5000
refugees at Fort de France and 5000
at Kingston.
The United States government has
forwarded to Martinique and st. Vim
cent large quantities Of ratiOns, med
ical supplies and clothing
United 2tates Consul Ayme, at Fort
de France, has cabled the state depart
ment that the supplies now afloat will
be sufficient for Martinique refugees.
M. Jules Cambon, the French am
bassador, has transmitted to Secretary
Hay a telegram from his government
expressing the gratitude of France for
the energetic efforts of this country to
relieve the suffering at Martinique. T
The first official estimate of the re-
suits of the explosion of Mont Pelee
have been announced. This gives 28,-
900 as the number OF people buried in
the ruins OF St. Pierre. Six thousand
persons were rescued by steamships
or fed to places Of safety. Three thou
sand probably were drowned.
The Souf~iere volcano on the island
of st. Vincent is still in destructive
eruption. A terrible cannonade can be
heard 100 miles away. The reports
are followed by columns Of smoke, ris-
ing miles in the air. Lightning is,
playing 4iercely in the Unp2r sky and
the whole northern Part Of the island
is one mass Of travelling flames.
A correspondent Of the Associated
Press has visited 81. Pierre and found
the destruction there appalling The
streets are two feet deep IN ashes and
cinders, which cover thousands Of dead
bodies, scorched black and shiny as if
they had been plunged into boiling
pitch. Many Of the dead were never
touched by the volcanic fire and some
Of the houses show no signs OF burn
ing.
: La Soufr5eres on st, Vincent, was in
fuA eruption May 10. It is estimated
that the total number Of deaths on ST.
Vincent reaches 1900. Most of the
seven estates on the island have been
burned to ashes and it is authentic
ally reported that two earthquakes
have occurred there. 1t is believed
the submarine cables at St. Vincent
have been broken by the disturbance.
The present volcanic eruption on St.
Vincent is the first since 1912.
AS the result of the measures taken
Iy the authorities access to st. Pierre
is now easier. The ruins of the town
have ceased smoking. Two thousand
cOrpse5 have been found in a carbon
Zed condition. Talk with survivors of
lie disaster confirms previous state
ments as to the awful suddenness of
he catastrophe. 1t is thought that an
enormous quantity Of gas was liberat-
ed, producing great atmospheric pres
3ure which overwhelmed everything
before it.
A dispatch has been received
rom the Island of ST. Lucia saying
nat the United States government
ug Potomac had returned there from
he Island of St. Vincent bringing u
'eport that La Soufriere was quiet.
The dust fall on st. Vincent is at pres
mt very slight, but terrible anxiety
PREVAILS, and it is feared that tile pres
mt lull in the eruptions is OILY ,liN.
jorary The Potomac rero"ts aiSJ
hat 1000 persons have perishC3 on s..
Vincent up to the present tiIc and
hat 5000 Of the islands Inhabitants
re destitute.
Investigations at ST. Pierre shoy
hat the most destruction was .Et">t@
cross that part Of town known -
he Fort, where even the foundations
i the buildings cannot be traced. A
ontrast to this is the district l:noWn
s Mouillage, which is recognizable
rom the walls that still stand. In the
'ort district the dead were utterly con-
uned, b,!t in MoUilIage there are bod
IS everywhere, GcnU5ed OF clothing
nd charr2d so that it is impossible -
istincElsh color Cr sex. al bodies
re ca2t CT the funeral ?!rrcs, hears CT
,ach ave saturated with kerosene as
2st IS they can be gathered.