Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-05-21
SITUATION AT
ST. PIERRE
Much Pillaging Has Been Done and
Forty Looters Have Been Cap.
tured and Sentenced.
STILL CAUSE FOR ALARN
Mont Pelee is Still Active and the
Residents in Outlying Districts
are Panic Stricken.

Port De France, May 16.-From un.
der the violent pail of smoke still is.
suing from Mount Pelee. the deadly
fumes of plague are descending upon
the stricken island.
The noisome vapors rising from the
thousands of unburled dead in 81.
Pierre are unable to escape from the
overhanging cloud and in the utter all.
sence of wind during yesterday and
today a stencil almost uudurabe has
rendered the lives both Of refugees
and rescuers Of uncertain tenure
The gangs OF men which have been
making daily trips into ST. Pierre for
the purpose of burying or cremating
the corpses have been forced TO cease
work. for il is scarcely possible tc
walk through the lava-iilled streets
without suffocation from the fearful
odors of decomposition.
All Hospitals Filled.
The gangs returning last night
brought with them many of the men
who had been sent out in the morninp
deathly i'll from spending the day in
the vicinity of the heaps of decayins
corpses. Unless a strong wind arises
within a day or two. a postlence o.
unparalleled and irrepressibIe power
will sweep away all those the volcanic
disaster has spared.
The hospitals of the city are filled
to overfowing with sufferers from
burns and similar injuries and should
plague arise there will be no means
of caring for the sufferers. The fam
inc has been ayerted by the timely
arrival of supplies from adjacent is
lands. but no supplies can stay the
pestilence should It break forth In all
its fury.
Looters in Evidence.
st. Pierre is at the mercy Of the
looters. A Gordon of soldiers has beer
placed about the city and the police
specially sworn in, do all possiS.c Il
avoid plumber, but the conditions arc
30 fearful that no sentries can remain
long at their posts, while many of tho
negroes who are skulking in the ruins
foI loot are overcome and suffccate'
in their ghoulish work.
No less than forty-three men anC
women were brought in under chains
today from st. Pierre and policena:
was seriously wounded while atterpt
ing to arrest a young girl who wal
with the band.
Nor are the poor negroes the onl!
ones who are responsible for the loot
ing which is going on. Captain d.
Parry, attached to the st. Lucia gov
ernment, who was visiting Fort d
France. was arrested today, charge,
with carrying away the golden alt
vessels from one of the ruined church
es. He left for st. Lucia on the Cir
cinnati and there will be handed Jyc
to the British authorities.
consuI's Body Identified.
Among the identified victims whicI
have been brought to this ely ar
those of Consul Prentiss and one 0
his children. There are no remain
Of any of the other members of th
consulate. but the documents hay
been recovered, being found in a SAT
which had successfully resisted IN
effects of the terrific heat.
There is some talk on the part q
the French authorities of bombardn
the ruins in an effort to cover up a
the bodies which are now decayiri
Decision would be taken on this br
for the fact II is feared such bon
bardment would uncover as many boz
les as are now exposed and this woul
defeat its own ends,
/ New Alarm Is Felt.
Fort De France, Martinique, Ma
1S.-Mount Pelee was In so muc
more violent eruption yesterday tha
fresh alarm is felt here. The new a.
tivity began Thursday night betwee
10 and II o'clock when great hashe
OF very bright light were visible an
lit the whole sky.
i Yesterday morning the whole EN-
H. vas seen in the frIm OF CLOWN
rel G, lors. from which flashes
lights we're emitted. Showers OF eli
ders fell in this city for twenty mil
utes when the clouds were the thicl
est. The people in the districts I
Lorrain. Marinot. st. Marie and l.
lrinite are panic stricken.
| In the face OF this increasing dang'
the local authorities are about
make a careful investigation Of tt
situation in the coast districts mort
OF st. Pierre. The Suchet will leaN