The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-23
FLIGHT FROM MARTINIQUE
ANXIOUS TO BE
 TAKEN AIVAY.

The Governor Informed by the FrencI Government to Make Known If tn
 Situation seems to Necessttate Part O
 TotaI Evacuation of the Island, th
 Means at His Disposal or Those H
 May Need
 Fort de France, Island of Martinique l Wednesday, May 2l-4 p. m.-Streams lof frightened refugees have been pour ing into Fort de France from all the surrounding country. These people arc not destitute, but they are terrified
 They want only one thing, and that is
 to be taken far away from this island with which, they say, the gods are an
 gry and which they will destroy by fire
 before it sinks under the sea. l The consuls here and the officers of
 the war vessels in the harbor are way | laid by scores of persons crazed with fear and begging to be carried away i immediately.
 The weather is now calm and beauti- ful, but the mountain is yelled in vol canic clouds which often assume very threatening aspect and occasional rum blings are heard. Some heavy and very welcome rain fell this morning, The United States steamer Dixie, Captain Berry, from New York, arriv- ed to-day after quick and safe pass age. Her passengers include many world-famous scientists. Professor Robert T. Hill, government geologist; Professor c. E. Borchgrevink, the Ant arctic explorer; George Curtis and George Kennan, and many magazine writers and correspondents are also among those who arrived on the steamer.
 The Dixie began landing her enor- nous cargo of supplies early, and the storehouses on shore soon became con- gested This is the greatest difficulty of the administration.
 This morning the United States steamer Potomac, with the command CTS of the war vessels now here, went to inspect St. Pierre. With the great est difficulty the party succeeded in making a landing. The effects of the outburst of yesterday were tremend- ous. The huge basalt towers of the cathedral were pulverized and the walls were hurled flat to the earth. The bombardment of volcanr stones is not sufficient to account for this. and all evidences point to the passage of a furious blast of blazing gas, travelling at enormous speed and with incalcula- ble force The deposit of boulders, ashes and angular stones is enormous Not a living human being saw what at St Pierre yesterday morn- ing.
 The second eruption was many more time more violent than that which ef faced St. Pierre and swept its people from the earth. Nor has all volcanic activity ceased Vast columns of smoke and gas still pour from the great crater. New Assures have opened on the mountain sides and are vomiting yellow whirlwinds, which rush intermit- tently now from one point and now from another. Boiling mud is thrown also out at times in torrents that reach the sea and produce small tidal waves
 From a sombre, silent city of death and desolation, St. Pierre has become hideous amphitheater of fiery roaring destruction.
 The people are convinced that God is angry with the island and means to scourge it with fire and then sink 1t into the ocean. Utter and unreasonlng fear possesses all souls. Even For de France Is believed to be unsafe The presence of the relief ships, however, is helpful to the people, who say The American flag makes safety"
 The Potomac could not approach close to St Pierre. The Dixie win sail tomorrow for St. Vincent, but the oth- ar vessels will remain here,
 The scientists who have arrived will | examine into the question of danger of | he peaks of Carbet, near Fort de | France, becoming active volcanos. The l of yesterday probably means a | 'uined island, as all confidence is lost
 We want not food but only to | cave is the single and unanimous cry | If all, rich and poor alike.
 Paris, May 22-The ministry of the olonies has communicated to the Asso- iated Press the following ca ble mes- age sent to Governor L'Huerre yester- lay:
 Make known if the situation seems O you to necessitate part or total evac- ation of the island, the means at your fsposal or those you may need"
 No reply has yet been received.