The National tribune., 1902-05-15
WEST INDIAN DISASTER.
Volcanic Eruptions Wipe Out Saint Pierr,
Island OF Martinique, and Deyassate IL
British Island of St. Vincent.


During the latter part of last week meal
ger reports were received of the volcanic
disaster in the French West Indies, and
later dispatches only tend 10 confirm the
worst apprehensions. 1t seems that the
disturbances in the West Indies are 4 part
Of general disturbance of the carthS crust
which has been going on for two weeks.
Reports were received Of an earthquake
on the 18th of April in Guatemala, result
ing in large loss of life, but the particulars
Of which have not yet come. About the
same time earthquakes at st. Vincent. an
English Island, and Martinique. a French
colony, began. y volcanic disturbance OF
some sort the particulars OF which are I'M
known, is reported from the Aeutian
Island, of Unalaska.
SO far as known the Island OF Marti-
nique has been the chief sufferer, although
several hundred people have lost their
lives upon the Island of ST. Vincent. All
northern cable connections with the Wind
ward Islands was broken by the disturb
anceS. so that definite news has been slow
in coming to hand. So far as is known up
to date the disaster occurred III this way:
On the Sd of May a smoke-cap appeared
upon Mount Pelee, in the nOthern part of
Martinique, near the city of st. Pierre,
and on Monday, the 9TH. there was an out
break of lava. which flowed down Il val
ley destroying several plantations and kill
ing p to 30 people. A commission was
sent up to investigate, and reported on
Wednesday evening that there was no
danger. At s o'clock on the following
morning. Thursday, the Sth. without u
moments warning, the top of Mount Pelee
seems to have been literally blown off and
the city of St. Pierre. with its $4,000 in
habitantS, was instantly buried in a deluge
of red-hOt cinders. hot water and mud.
There were seven ships, most of them
French and Italian, lying in the harbor,
and they were instantly set on fire by the
lying cinders. all being destroyed except
one, the British steamer "ROddam.' which
escaped with a loss of 10 of her crew. She
carried the news to Fort De France, upon
the other side of the island. Among those
lost was the Quebec Steamship Company's
vessel "Roraima." 1t is said that several
American sailing ships were also burned.
Mount Pelee had been extinct since
1872, and the old crater was occupied by a
lake of fresh water, the mountain being
regarded as perfectly harmless. The peo-
pie being slow to believe that anything
serious would happen, were surprised and
overwhelmed in an instant.
1t is believed that no less than 10000
people lost their lives, and according to
The latest reports the entire northern por-
ton Of Martinique has been turned into
rocky waste, every vestige of vegetation
having been buried in the hot ashes. The
eruption was accompanied by terrific thun-
der and lightning.
The report of the explosion of the noun
tain was distinctly heard at Barbados,
100 miles to the east. The latter island,
t is said, has been buried several inches
deep in ashes from the eruption.
At the same time this was going on at
Martinique the British island of St. Vim
cent had been having series of earth
quakes, and on Monday, the 9Th, the vol
cano Soufriere, in the northern part OF the
island, exploded, lava and mud deluging
the northern portion of the island and kill
ing. according to the last announcement,
about 800 people. The island up to Sun
day was said to be enveloped in a cloud Of
smoke and ashes, and it is believed that
the worst is not known as yet.
Among those lost at st. Pierre is be-
lieved to be the American Consul, Mr..
Prentiss, and family, and the British Con-
sui and family.
On Saturday the Senate appropriated
100000, to be used at the discretion of
the President, and the cruiser Cincinnati
was ordered to proceed at once to Martin
ique from Santo Domingo, where she had
just arrived.