The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-20
SAW A WARNING
IN The FLAMES
Fire Which Lit Up the Sky
Alarmed Residents.
MARVEL THAT THEY STAYED
WHEN THE SIGNS WERE SEEN
IN THE HEAVENS.

] 4 u
forwarded just prior to the recent
disaster arrived here yesterday.
The most interesting letter is from a
young lady who was among the vic
tins. 1t was dated May 3. After de-
scribing the aspect Of st. Pierre before
dawn, the town being lit up with flames
from the volcano, everything covered
with ashes and the people greatly ex-
cited. yet not panic-stricken, she said:
My calmness astOnishes me. 1 am
awaiting the event TRANQUILITY. My only
suffering is from the dust which pen
etrates everywhere, even through
closed windows and doors. A flow of
lava, rain of stones or a cataclysm
from the sea- Who can tell? Will give
you my last thought if I must die"
Still another letter says: st. Pierre
presents an aspect unknown to the ma
tiyes. 1t is a city sprinkled with gray
/ snow, winter scene without cold The
| inhabitants of the neighbOrhOOd are
abandoning their houses, villas and
cottages, and are focking to the city.
II is a curious pell nell of women,
children and barefOoted peasants, big
black fellows loaded with household
goods. The air is oppressive; your nose
burns. Are we going to die asphyxi-
ated? What has tomorrow in store for
I US? We are all calm. Mamma is not
bit anxious
Edith alone is frightened. If death
awaits us there will be numerous com
pany to leave the world. Will it be by
IRE or asphyxiation? 1t will be what
God wills. You viii have our last
thoughts. Tell brother Robert that we
are still alive. This viii, perhaps, be no
longer true when this letter reaches
you"
Presentiment of Danger.
The Edith mentioned was lady Wis
itor who was among the rescued. This
and other letters enclosed samples of
the ashes which fell over the doomed
town. The ashes are a blush gray, i'm
palpable powder. resembling newly
ground flour and slightly smelling of
sulphur.
Another letter, written during the
afternoon of May 3, says:
The population of the neighbOrhood
Of the top Of the mountain is fiOcking
to the city. Business is suspended, the
Inhabitants are panic-stricken and the
firemen are sprinkling the streets and
roofs to settle the ashes, which are
filling the air."
These and other evidences seem to IN
dictate that evidences of the impending
disaster were numerous five days be-
fore 1T occurred.
A st. Pierre paper Of May 3 an
nounces that an excursion arranged
for the next day to Mont Pelee had
been postponed. as the crater was in
cd
be issued when the excursion would
take place. Although Whitmonday is
a public holiday. the ministry of the
colonies was open as usual and all the
officials were at their posts. The ad-
vices received from Martinique this
morning indicate that the local author
tiles are no longer anxious regarding
food and other supplies, which are
now reaching Fort de France in suffi-
cient quantities to meet all demands
until the arrival Of supplies which are
now on their way to the island and
those preparing 10 sail. The govern
ment believes that the emergency is
over.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that the ministry of the
colonies totally discredits the report Of
the destruction of ST. Marie. Martin
ique, by fire, which has reached here,
as today's dispatches do not mention
the fact, which they certainly would
have done if the town had been burned.
Mass For the Dead.
The congregation completely filed
the fashionable church of st. Angus
tine this morning on the occasion of
the solemn service organized by the
league of French women in memory of
the victims Of the Martinique disaster.
Bishop COrmon. assisted by the clergy
Of the parish, celebrated the mass and
pronounced the absOlutiOn. This was
the first memorial service for the dead
of Martinique held in Paris. Another
viii be held in the new Casilica Of the
Sacred Heart tomorrow, at which
Bishop Cormon will again Oficiate.
The officials say the reports OF the
French embassies and legations at the
various capitals show that the sym
pathy with France abroad is increas-
ing. The latest subscription is that
of the former queen regent Of Spain,
who has given 1000 francs 10 the fund
which now amounts 70 over 1901 900
francs. NJ. L'Huerre. the governor Of
Martinique, has sent the following
telegram TO NJ Decrais, the colonial
minister, dated Fort de France,
May IS:
Il have informed the population that
supplies by the United States naval
vessel Dixie and the steamers Fonta-
bella and Madiana will arrive here to-
day. The cargoes of these vessels win
be exempted from all duties and other
charges. This is done on all food sup
plies reaching US.
Commander MeRtz and Captain
Crabb Of the quartermaster's depart
ment have just arrived here on the
United States collier Sterling with the
food presented by the government Of
Porto Rico"
VOLCANO LIKE A FURNACE.