davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

the cracking of burning build. ,gs and
the roar of the volcano. There was no
time for those alive to look back. Ii par
ent or child was behind it was left in
the wild rush to escape what seemed the
opening of hell upon earth, and of those
who sought escape many were stricken
10y bolts of qu'yering fame which came
down apart from the general mass.
1t was evident that most of them had
not been merely suffocated. but burned
to death in a lake OF fire precipitated
upon them. The corpses showed signs
of terrible agony. While the streets
were full Of dead, whole families persisted
in their houses. which caught fire. the
inmates being roasted inside the dwell
lings.
Eighteen Ocean Ships Destroyed.
There were eighteen ocean steamers
aud vessels in the harbor and all were
overwhelmed by the downpour of fire
from the volcano. 1t is from these
eighteen vessels that the Suchet picked
up the thirty survivors.
There is no cable G. mnlunication with
st. Pierre. The repa:.' steamers sent to
restore the line which was broken earlier
in the week were destroyed in the gen
eral catastrophe.
At last reports the eruption from Mount
Pelee continued without interruption.
The clouds of ashes and smoke which
poured from the crater of Mount Pelee
covered the sea for distance of four
or five miles from shore. The town of
st. Pierre itself. as well as the sur
rounding country, was shrouded in al
most impenetrable darkness.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
ems filed with smoke, vapor and ashes.
Quiet ensued. A city had persisted.
Series of Eruptions.

ems filed with smoke, vapor and ashes.
Quiet ensued. A city had persisted.
Series of Eruptions.
The FIRST disturbance occurred in
Guatemala four or ive weeks ago and
was IF a seismic nature. Although the
loss of life was comparatively small, the
earthquake was one Of u:Isual severity,
extending over a considerable area OF
the country, running large numbers OF
coffee plantations. doing much damage to
property in the cities, and killing nearly
1000 persons. 500 of whom persisted at
QuezaItenaEgo, the second city of Guate-
mala. At the same time an extinct vol
cano in Salvador broke out again. but
without doing any damage at last ac-
counts. Upon the heels of this news
came the reports of earthquakes and vol
canic disturbances at St. Vincent in the
British West Indies, which were so
alarming that the people were fleeing for
shelter in all directions. The flow of lava
from Mount Pelee volcano began on Sat
afday aud on Monday 20G persons lost
their lives in the vicinity Of st. Pierre.
Later the eruption increased in violence.
ending in the destruction 90 the city and
leaving but thirty persons alive
That the eruption WIS one OF almost
unprecedented severity and destructive
ness is shown by the fact that even the
vessels in the harbor could not get away
from the storm of FIRE and ashes which
descended upon them from the volcano.
II was the story of Herculaneum and
Pompeii over again And this may be
only the beginning OF the end. Alarming
rumors come from Guadaloupe Dominica
and other islands in the Antilles where
volcanoes. supposed to be extinct. are
beginning 10 be active again. That there
Is some connection between the seismic
Disturbances in Central America and
those among the islands along the east
ern limit Of the Caribbean Sea is IN
doubtedly true We can regard destrue-
ton Of this kind in PARKWAY Asia or
Africa With complacency. but the near
ness Of the horror, at our very doors
even. cannot bus be regarded with appre-
hensiOn.
Among the survivors are eight passen-
gers from the steamer Roraima,. all Of
the rest having persisted when the vessel
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
HAS AN ACTIVE HISTORY.
Martinique Under Various Domino
tions in Past Two Centuries.

Martinique Under Various Domino
tions in Past Two Centuries.
Martinique has had more vicissitudes
Of ownership than any one spot of land
III the West Indies. During the great
wars Of the last century between Eng
land ant France 1t was four times taken
by the English. being seized in 1852,
1871, 1904 and 1909, and finally restored
by the treaty of 1S14, only after the
most urgent representations on the part
of the French that not for commercial
nor military purposes, but solely for a
sentimental consideration. the island
should be returned; that the French peo-
pie desired above all things to own the
little island which had given them their
beloved empress. England yielded the
point with diplomatic courtesy, and since
1914 the tricolor has hoated over Mar
Unique.
Like st. Helena, it is far from the
beaten routes OF tourist travel; like Elba
and the lonely rock on which Napoleon
Bonaparte died. it would not be known
at all save from the fact OF having been
made famous by historic character,
who attracted the attention of the civil
lied world, and after death was the OBJ
ject Of lavish sympathy and is still the
idol of a nation.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

went down. They are horribly burned
with molten lava that fell on the steamer
in showers. The Roraima's survivors
say that there had been earthquake
shocks for days, and that the volcano
was sending up clouds of steam and ashes
for some time. The great disaster did
not come until Thursday morning, May s.
Volcano Seems to Explode,
They say that between Z and o'clock
the volcano, Mount Pelee, seemed to ex-
plode. There was q terrible convulsion
of land and sea. The upheayal of the
waters seemed to pick the steamer up.
throw it at the sky, and then drop it into
the seethiHg waters of the bay. The
steamer was dashed to pieces, only eight
persons surviving. They chung to pieces
of wreckage in the water Until they were
picked up by the cruiser Suchet.
From the crater of Mount Pelee the
survivors of the Roraima say molten
rocks and ashes belched out for about
three minutes. The great mass of burn
ing lava poured out directly over the
town and covered the surrounding dis
tricts for radius of four miles.
The Roddam only escaped by cutting
its cables and steaming away at full
speed. The captain was severely burn
ed The chief engineer Is dead Al
the officers and engineers were dead or
dying. Nearly every member of the crew
is dead. Supercargo Campbell and ten
of the GREY of the Roddam jumped over
board at st. Pierre and were lost.
at / O'Clock Thursday afternoon, when
the Suchet sailed away to carry the news
of the disaster to the nearest cable Office
and to get assistance, the town of St.
Pierre was enc mass of roaring fame.
The first eruption from Mount Pelee
came SatUi day, accompanied by a series
of earthquake shocks. The cable lines
were destroyed early in the week, but the
inhabitants of neighboring islands heard
the reverberations from frequent explo-
sions Still the inhabitants of st. Pierre
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
THE APPALLING DISASTER AT ST. PIERRE.

S7S7 inadequate express impotence
I the appalling calamity that which
feeble of human sympathy large enough
a
the distress incident Johns
a hurricane. o
drowning mdocean children being
eternity by windstorm
the twinklng o
visitation all the wide could be
terrible this The the literally
buried lurd
The of fire the Pee
with such terrific suddenness and fury give
As
ah obhteration OF
completely
fell miles the
Dominica Vincent heavily
probable that eruption
of
pang loss of human lives
peeness all drefu
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

An appalling catastrophe has over
whelmed the Island of Martinique, one
that will go DOWN in history among the
worlds greatest disasters. In this little
island there has been volcanic erup-
ton, followed by an earthquake, which
has destroyed St. Pierre, its principal
city, and all of the towns inhabitants.
1t was one OF those terrible outbreaks
Of natures forces which cannot be anti
cipated and which leave widespread death
and desolation behind them. Such ca
lamity might come upon any of the ada
cent islands in the long chain which
stretches in a southeasterly course from
Porto Rico well-nigh to the coast of Ven
ezuela. beginning with Guadaloupe aud
ending with Trinidad.
Dc stroyed Like Pompeli.
More than 10000 persons persisted at
st. Pierre beneath the avalanche of hre,
cinders and mon lave belched forth by
the volcano Mount Pelee. st. Pierre
and its environs are buried beneath a
crust of seething, melted rock which sud
denly overwhelmed that portion of the
island. Since the days of Pompeii no
more horrible volcanic disaster is re-
corded. Mount Etna. in Sicily, in 1884,
killed $4,000 persons, and between 60
coo and 100000 persons persisted in the
earthquakes that followed At leddo,
Japan, 100000 persisted by the earth
quakes in 1903, and at Pekin, in 1908,
10000 met death. But the st. Pierre
horror was so sudden, so awful, that it
will go down in history linked with the
destruction of Pompeii, Stabae and Her
culaneum. in A d. 90.
In all essential points they were alike
Mount Pelee suddenly belched forth
thousands of tons of liquid lava, which
buried st. Pierre and miles of territory
beneath bed of fire. Then the earth
quaked. opened an awful chasm. and
swallowed thousands of persons. The
sea receded and then a mighty tidal
wave swept over the harbor, engulfng
the ships and their crews. A great cloud
Of steam arose. tons of FIRE descended
from the sky, the waters of the hay min
Cling with the hot lava roared. the beav-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
HORROR TOLD IN A NUTSHELL.

St Pierre, Martinique totally de-
stroyed by fire, caused by terrible
volcanic eruption May &.
All shipping in port destroyed.
Entire population % 10000 per-
ished, including the Governor and his
wife.
Steamer Roraima and cable ship
Grappler, with all on board. lost,
Steamer Roddam narrowly escaped
to ST. Lucia; captain badly burned.
Nearly all officers and crew sue
cumbed.
South Of island safe, but all vege-
tation destroyed people and stock
perishing for water; rivers blocked
with ashes: food scarce.
St Vincent crater in full activity;
can be seen fifty miles away.
Steamers report thick ashes two
hundred miles from island: dangerous
TO approach.
Loss Of life great.
Gables broken.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
ST. PIERRE A BUSY CITY.
Town Which Is Destroyed Was Chic
Port of Island.


The principal towns OF Martinique are
Fort de France. the political center OF
the island. and st. Pierre the principal
port. Fort de France, formerly Fort
Royal. was a hundred years ago the lead.
ing port Of entry, bat has been supplant-
cd by It's more enterprising neighbor a
few miles away.
St Pierre had an individuality OF its
own. Its houses were painted yellow.
their shutters blue. their tiled roofs were
red. SO with red, yellow and blue on the
deep green background Of tropical yege~
tation one Of the most startling combi-
nations that the eye of the artist could
desire was noticeable. Like all tropical
towns. ST. Pierre was dead in the mid
die of the day. all business and pleas
IRE being suspended from o to o'clock
during the hot season. and In these hours
everybody kept indoors and slept.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

bin appropriating 100000 for the re-
lief of the citizens of Martinique.
The bill authorizes the President to
purchase provisions, clothing, medicines
and other necessaries and tender them
IL. the name of the government of the
United States, 10 the French govern
NE mt for the relief of her terribly af-
fiicted people and authorizes the Secre
tary of War to use such vessels as are
necessary for the quick transportation
of the same.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
ST. VINCENT ALSO in RUINS.
North Half of Island Laid Waste b,
HaVoc-5OO Are Dead.

As was expected, news now comes
from the British Island OF st. Vincent,
which lies directly south Of Martinique.
being separated from it by the Island
OF St. Lucia, that there has been a
violent volcanic outbreak, that the entire
northern end Of the island is being de-
vastated, and that it is cut off from the
southern end by streams OF lava. 1t is
certain that more than 200 persons have
already persisted in the rain Of lava from
the craters OF the volcano in the north
west part Of the island. Streams are
dried up and in many places food and
water famine is threatened. All the
plantations have been destroyed and the
ashes are two feet deep.
The force Of the volcanic eruption it
shown by dispatches from Barbados.
which lies one hundred miles east Of
St. Vincent. reporting a shower Of dust
and ashes for several hours.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
Dead Left Nude.

Some persons were literally cremated
as they walked the streets. Others out
Of the direct path of the central stream
OF lava were stricken by the fire that
fell from the heavens, many Of the
corpses found showing horrible mutila-
lions. The corpses that lie in heaps in
st. Pierre are totally nude, the clothing
having been burned off.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
IsIand Fnces Fnmine.

Added to the terror that arises with
the receipt Of information of more vol
canic violence comes the possibility Of
starvation. This threatens the whole liy-
ing populace OF the island. The entire
northern portion is already a complete
waste, scanned with rivers Of boiling
lava. Not a vestige of vegetation sur
wives the molten mass, the showers of
rock and ashes.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21


took no alarm, and only a few OF the
white people of means left the city for
safer places down the coast.
Comes without Warming.
| The eliminating disaster seems to have
come without warning. There was an
explosion. which threw an immense vol
ume of molten rock, dust, ashes and
black smoke thousands of feet into the
air. Then, almost instantly, the rain Of
| fire descended upon the city The show
er of lava and ashes extended for 1--WE
miles out to sea and presumably as far
inland. Ships in the harbor were tossed
and pitched about by the upheaval accom-
panying the explosion, and most of them
were shattered into wreckage. Those
not destroyed in this manner were almost
instantly set on fire by the burning lava.
from which there was no escape.
Sailors on the different vessels, crazed
by fear and suffering. leaped into the
sea in a vain endeavor to escape the pitt
less rain of fire; but of all that took
refuge in the water only thirty were
picked mp by the boats lowered by the
cruiser Sucbet, which arrived after the
explosion Oh the volcano.
From the number Of dead bodies seen
on the wharyes, which completely encir-
Gle the water front of st. Pierre. it is
believed that when the rain of fire be-
gan TO descend upon the city from Mount
Peiee the inhabitants rushed to the
shore hoping to escape death by taking
to the sea. But everything in the shape
Of a boat must have been consumed In
the flames. and the unfortunate people
persisted on the spot they had sought for
refuge.
The water in St. Pierre harbor is 50
, deep that ocean vessels Of the deepest
draft are able to discharge cargoes d.
rectly on the wharTes This being the
case. many who sought refuge in the
water are believed TO have been drown
Cd.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
ne soto station

Leave St. p. Exp. except Sunday: 1893 n
Going3 La Crosse Exp. ex. Sunday, AZ p NJ
North Accommodation tex. sun } 1855 D n
Leave tChi. & st. Louis Expd tex. SUM- 100 y q
Going Dubuque FAD. ts@capt SUM- 1880 "a
s#- For tickets, rates. maps, etc. apply to.
Local agents at above stations.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
Genoa station

Leave 81 2. Exp except Sunday 7;2e a fE.s
Going La Crosse EXP. lex. Sunday sou y 70
North Accommodationiex Sunday 4;aO y 10
Leave Chi. g. St Louis Exptsx. Sun 1917 p M.
Going Dubuque ExD. except SuD.l 2:ly y r.
South Accommod ationtex. Sunday 1913 ~.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
buried BY LAVA.
An Awful Volcanic Eruption in
Island OF Martinique.
WORSE THAN POMPElI
City of st. Pierre Destroyed and $4,000
Persons Reported Dead.

Town Under Rain of Molten Lava
and Ashes-Eighteen Vessels in the
Harbor Are Burned or Sunk-Neigh-
the Shock-Large Area of destruction
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
Epidemic Threatened.

The captain Of the cruiser Suchet re-
ports that St Pierre is nothing but 8
city Of smoking ruins. lie has re-
ceiyed information from exploring par
ties that have managed t. enter the city
and this shows that decomposition Of
the remains Of the 10000 suman be
ings who lost their lives there has set
in to such an extent that the odors arts
ing almost surpass the sulphur flames.
This condition OF affairs threatens an
e,-.;dau~sS. 81 ssm.a~a
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
A FERMENT OF TERROR.
Inhabitants of tho Whole West Indian
Group Terror-Stricken.

Inhabitants of tho Whole West Indian
Group Terror-Stricken.
The whole of the West Indies is in a
ferment of terror. The inhabitants have
given way TO insensate panic. fearing
eruptions OF many of the volcanoes which
have been supposed to be extinct. The
crater of Mont Pelee, in Martinique, had
been extinct for fifty years. and the peo-
pie ia adjoining islands believe that II
the Martinique volcano became active
ali the others will also. Grief and ter
ror have seized the people where earth
qnakes have begun. Deaths in fifty
families, as a result Of earthquakes. have
already occurred at St. Thomas.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
UNCLE SAN TAKES ACTION.

Congress Appropriates 100000 to
Aid Sufferers in Martinique.
The United States was the first nation
to appropriate money for the relief Of
the sufferers in the French West India.
Under a suspension of the Jules Satur-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
Victory Station

Leave st. p Exp. except Sunday fil6 a m
Going La Crosse Exp. lex Sunday $3.50 y ~,
North Accommodation lex. Sunday Stib . Re-
Leave Obi. q st. louis Exptex. SUM- 1858 D n
Going Dubuque Exp. texcep5 sum- 1873 y ~
South Accommodation lex. sunday s;As a ~
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

According TO eye witnesses the Whole
Of st. Pierre seemed suddenly 10 become
a fiery furnace. while awful shrieks n
agony rose in an instant from thousands
Of victims wrapped in liquid fame. and
then there was 10 further noise except
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21
a. p PROCTOR, 81. e. PACKARD
President Caahi~E
VERNON COUNTY BANK.
$4,000 CPITAL~
Does a General Banking and Fire
Insurance Business.
4 Per Cent. Interest Paid on Tim a.
Deposits.
a. P. PROCTOR, c. s. SMITH.
R. J. RosENFELD, a. L. REED
Directors
RAILROAD TINE TABLES.
c B. & ORR. TIME CARD.
stoddard station

Leave ST. p, Exp Except Sunday,l 7;al a K-e
Going : La Crosse EXP. lex. Sunday 6;12 n.
North Accommodation lex. sum- STA , Ezl
Leave Chi. a. st. Louis Exp.tex SUM 1874 xas
Going Dubuque Exp. lex. Sunday 7.02 y re-
South Accommodationtex sunday ASA y Esp
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

took no alarm. and only a few OF the
white people of means left the city for
safer places down the coast.
Cn.,.oa NNrifI,nrrt Wnrnirr-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

This large four-story building ia adj
mirably fitted and furnished for the care
of the sick. No loathsome or conts giOus
diseases admitted, but all other diseases
that are usually treated at hospitals are
successfully treated here. including
Whisky. Cocaine and Morphine Habits.
absolutely guaranteed. Womea. married
or single, can find a safe retreat here
during confinement, and home IN every
case found for the child II required A
home for the poor and rich alike. as all
operations and medical treatment are
free, and the only charge that Is made IS
the ordinary hospital fee. which is just
enough 10 pay the running expenses Of
the institution. The best OF references
given when required. Write for circular
to the Martha Washington Home"
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

'u sher4 was sno-he- reason. snr
c-1lariy ette1 Io- th~ <rs -
Tae IS l-vs Ii ra.1s
So, sead. Ezcenent routes. psfasns
couatss hls - county perhaps tr-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

R-presenrat.v B'wersock spent several
days II Caiea95 tais week ~ business.
His absence. wi,l that ~ Reeder and
1iller. who returned 70 haasss. was the
e7iF one - the members of thc Kansas
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

Pensions have been granted ~ Joseph
WuEat Hutchinson. ana George 81
anart lis sm.a.
= q. FANON-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

County service means that every man
Ia the county where this sort Of ser
vice IS established can have his mail at
or near his door every day in the year.
sundays excepted. 1t means something
more than ordinary rural free delivery.
where some locations are favored and
others are not, even though equally or
nearly as deserving. It means a boon to
the farmer. and it is a great thing. This
IS what Sumner county IS about to get.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
Especial Correspondence Of the Fagle)

Especial Correspondence Of the I9agle)
Washington. Jan. 4.-The greatest gov
ernmentaI institution of modern times is
rural free delivery. The greatest thing
in rural free delivery is county service.
There is not a single county service es-
tablished and in good working order
west Of the Missouri river. But Repre-
sentative Chester L Long has secured it
for Sumner county, Kansas, and it viii
be in operation within two months time
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

It is this continuous service that makes
Iowa powerful in congress and in Iegisla-
ton. and gives it prestige The state
has kept its representatives here until
they have been able to secure the choicest
committees and anything their state de-
sires.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

IN tho counties where this county ser
vice has been established. the congress
sional district is represented by a mem
Der Of influence For instance. Hardin
county, Iowa, is IN the district of the
speaker OF the house. Mr. Henderson.
Santa Clara county. California. is in the
district of Mr.. Loud, chairman Of he
house committee Of postonees and post
roads. Washington county. Tennessee.
IS in the district OF Walter p. Brown
low. etc. And Sumner county. Kansas. IS
in the district of Chester l. Long.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05

Agent 4 7 & s. 2. Ry, Wichitz. Kan.
Or CHAS. r. GATES. Toi-6o. OHio.