Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-15
THE HORROR GROWS
The Island Of ST.. Vincent Devas.
tated BY an Eruption.
Two THOUSAND LIVES LOST THERE,
Words Fall to Describe the Present situs.
tion 1t IT. Pierre Looting Of the Ruins
Already Bsgun-Loading supplies 1t
New York for Sufferers.

1.-THE United States government
tug Potomac, which came to Mar
Unique from San Juan, Porto Rico
crulsed along the coast of this is
land Monday afternoon. She en-
countered an inky black column OF
smoke which made it necessary TO,
her to go five miles out of hel
course.
Words fail to describe the present
situation at st. Pierre. A small de.
tachment of French troops is making
EFFORTS to inter the dead, although
the government seems to be strik.
lngly unconcerned as to what is done
In this direction. The looting OF
the ruins has begun already. While
coming to Fort de France the Pc.
tomac picked up a boat containing
five colored men and one white man.
whose pockets were filed with coin
and jewelry, the latter evidently
stripped from the fingers Of the dead.
Lieut.. B. B. Mccormick, the com
mander Of the Potomac, arrested
these men and turned them over to
the commander Of the French cruiser
Suchet for punishment. The Poto.
mac also brought ton of supplies
to Martinique, consisting in part Of
Goldfish and -four. A famine here is
imminent. The northern section Of
the island is depopulated. Provisions
are needed here Immediately for 100.
900 people. A shipload Of lime is also
needed at. St. Pierre for sanitary
purposes. The stencil there from the
lead bodies is overpowering.
Mont Pelee was still eruptine
smoke and fire at late hour last
night. The French cruiser Suchet 10
here and the city of Fort de France
Is quiet Business is suspended. Tho
people of the city have assembled
in the churches and the cathedral.
where special services are being held
tor the st. Pierre dead, has been
thronged since daylight.
The United States government tug
Potomac left here last night for the
Island OF st. Vincent, where condi.
hons are reported to be worse. La
Soufriere on st. Vincent was in full
eruption May 10. A stream of stone
md mud half a mile wide was then
ssning from the volcano. Stones
Two inches in diameter fell 10 miles
away. AT Kingston, the capital of
the island, the ashes were two inches
icep. Seven hundred dead were re-
ported Sunday, May II. 1t is esti-
mated that the total number of
1eaths in st. Vincent reaches 1000.
Most of the seven estates on the is
lend have been burned to ashes and
i Is automatically reported that two
earthquakes occurred there. 1t is
believed the submarine cables in st.
Vincent have been broken by the dis
turbance. The present volcanic erup-
ton of st. Vincent is the first since
lsl2.
Gov. Hunt, of Porto Rico, has |
asked Louis II. Ayme, the United
States consul at Guadeloupe, who is
now here, what assistance he could
render. Gov. Hunts offer has been
to the government,
which will gladly accept it.
win Receive Funds for the Sufferers
Washington, May 14.-President
Roosevelt has appointed a commit
tee to receive funds for the relief of
the sufferers from the recent catas-
frophe in Martinique and st. Vim
cent. The gentlemen appointed
from each city will be asked to col
ect and receive the funds from their
ocalities and neighborhoods as ex-
Deditiously as possible and forward
hem to Cornelius N. Bliss, treasurer
IT the New York committee, which
committee will act as central dis
'ributing point for the country. The
PRESIDENT directs all the postmasters
throughout the country and requests
he presidents of all the national
ranks to act as agents for the collec-
ion of contributions and to forward
he same at once to Mr.. Bliss at
lew York.
Loading Supplies ct Nsw York. !
New York, May 1.-THE work Of
oading the United States steamer 4
Dixie with stores for the Martin
que sufferers is proceeding as rapid
Y as possible. Most Of the $4,000
llotted to the quartermaster's de-
artment was spent for women's and ',
hildren's clothing and for tents.
iaj. D. L. Brainard, of the subsist- '
nee department, has expended the ="
$4,000 given to his department for "
God supplies. There will be over 400
ons, consisting Of tea, rice, coffee,
od6sh, hard bread, chicken soup, a.
milk, bacon, salt, sugar, :,
,negar, ham and pepper. About S. II
90 worth of medicines from the 8
,edical department also will be q
AIKEN. o
A Roy Killed by n Wagon.