The age-herald., 1902-05-11
ALL APPROACH TO ST. PIERRE
 IS BARRED BY BLAZING FIRE
Continued from First Page)

the island of Gualeloupe, French West Indies, but the news is congested owing to the confusion prevailing in the cable | system and the. numerous official mes sages filed The receipt of the first direct | cable news from Martinique depends on how long the French company will take in repairing their cable to Fort De France, capital of the island on which they are now working.
 The British Admiral is communicating with the commander-in-chief of the Brit ish naval station, and a war vessel will be directed to go to Martinique.
 It is apparent from the cable dispatches received that the eruption of the volcano on Mount Pelee will not do much dam age to the summer crop which is chiefly confined to the southern part of the islend, and the gathering of which is now two-thirds over. However, the wiping out of the moneyed population of the island centered at St. Pierre, is bound to pro- duce the most serious commercial effect. Nor one of the business houses in Lon don has heard a word of its agents in Martinique.
 A partner of the principal English firm dealing with Martinique, said to a rep resentative of the Associated Press: .I suppose all of our agents are dead. Not much business is transacted between England and Martinique. Almost every thing thence Is shipped direct to Bor- deaux, which suffers the most. I know Martinique well. The last time I was there, a few years ago. there were only two Englishmen and no American resi- dents at St. Pierre, thonugh that town did q good business with America in food stuffs. large portion of the white pop ulation belong to old French families, who preferred St. Pierre to any other part of the island. We never for mo- nsent o-eaired that Mount Pelee would prove Pdangerous. Fifty years ago some steam issued from its crevices, hut no attention was raid to it.'
 Paris Gives Aid. | Paris, May 10.-At a meeting of the | French cabinet this morning the minister l of finance, M. Cailleaux, was authorized ! to eXpend all the money necessary to suc- cor the sufferers by the Martinique dis aster An official of the colonial office sailed from BIest for Martinique this morning with half a million francs (S100,- 000) ir cash.
 The cabinet further ordered the half masting of the flags over all public build ings for three days, ard the minister of the colonies. M. de Crais, was instructed to telegraph to the government of Mar unique the condolences of France.
 The Patrie says the wife of Senator hHlSHl HdS TCCelNNu d CdDle CISpltcn from her husband, dated Fort De France Mar Unique, at p. m. yesterday, saying: Well; property safe"
 450 Persons Saved. | New York, May l0.-The French Com pany's offices in this city were advised that their repair steamer, Houyer Quen-
 tieer, has arrived at Fort De France,
 having rescued 45O persons from St. | Pierre. She has returned immediately
 to the scene of the disaster to search for further vurvivors.
 Cannot Understand Damage. 1 Galveston, May 10.-A. Drouilhel, who is native of the town of Castries Island of St. Lucia, and who is now a resident of this city, Is much concerned for the l, safety of four sisters who live at St. | Pierre.
 Mir. Drouilheu is loath to believe the l report of the disaster to that city in full | He has teen there several times, having spent hree years in school inst Pierre. He says that if the damage is as great | as reported, 1t must have been caused | by the eruption of some fresh volcano nearer to the city than is Mount Pelee, accompanied by an earthquake. He can not understand the reported damage by