New-York tribune., 1902-06-04
BORCHGREVLNK RETURNS.
SAYS THERE Is NO IMMEDIATE DANGER
FROM PELEE NOVA SUR
VITOR'S EXPERIENCE.

The steamship Madiana of the Quebec Steamship
Company. which arrived from Martinique last
night. had among her passengers {. F. Boron
grevink explorer who was one OF three
scientists 10 visit St Pierre on the Dixie; Edouard
Reynal de Saint Michel. a French resident Of St
Pierre who Was made penniless by the eruption;
Benjamin Benrentsen. carpenter, and messboy
formerly on the i'll fated steamship Roraima, which
was sunk in the bay Of ST. Pierre.
Mr.. Saint Michel. besides losing all his property
in ST Pierre. suffered the loss of four sisters and
his mother His escape from the town was miracu-
Ious His wife and son had left the town the day
before
= was born and brought up in ST. Pierre" said
the French merchant on the steamship. and I
have not in the world. On May :. the day
before the eruption. sent my wife and baby son 20
Fort de France stay with friends for couple Of
days. The morning at $50 O'Clock set out to
Join them. taking a little ferryboat that makes
trips from end Of the island 10 the other. When
I arrived at Fort de France. exactly two hours
later. ! told that communication could he
had from ST. Pierre and that it feared some
thing terrible had happened
Although I was somewhat worried. l had no idea
that anything serious had taken place That night
when some native runners came into the town with
the news that the town had been destroyed no one
would believe it. and il until the French
warship. the suchet. arrived with the survivors
that the report was accepted true
I and several other persons tried 20 put back
TO St. Pierre the next day in the ferryboat but We
coO0 not WITHIN several miles OF tIe IoHl ll4c
waves SO high and the air so fun Of ashes, 1t
until six days after the eruption that sue
ceeded in getting TO 81. Pierre. and when saw
what had really happened tainted.
Although I had lived for nearly fifty years in
St Pierre I could not tell on- spot from another
when I TO look for the place where my house
had been. I finally settled on q place which
thought would be about the location Of the house,
but II did me little good Everything was the same
"a hot. dusty. dreary waste, and I was glad 10
get away.
When I returned to Fort de France and broke
the my wife that her mother and sister
had. beyond doubt. pershed in the awful flame
she was so affected that thought she would die
and it took several weeks in the hospital to set her
right again. OF course I ought TO be thankful 70
think that I have my life and that my wife and
son saved, but I think it would have been
better for Us all dead. for am penTiless
and do not know which way TO turn"
Mr ST Michel will stay with his two cousins in
this city who are employed by the firm Of Flint,
Eddy CO
Mr.. Borchgrevink said he had returned with
valuable information on the subject of volcanic
er,,ptions and that he would go at once TO Wash
ington. where he would present his report 10 the
National Geographical Society, which he repre-
sents.
of course. my going in an official capacity pre-
vents me- from saying much until after ! have
made my report al Washington" he said. but I
iI be data which think viii enable scientists in the
- do not think that you viii hear of any more
trouble on the islands for some time
Mount Pelee, when l sailed perfectly quiet,
and the inhabitants OF the island seem TO have re-
covered from their panic do not think that ST
Pierre will be inhabited again. Every one
seems TO shun it. and then again. all vegetation
has been destroyed leaving that end OF the island
a barren waste
When the explorer asked what he thought
oF Professor Ffeprins reported ascent 70 the
cra-er Of Mount PeIee. he said:
If the report is true II brave act done by
one know TO be a very brave man. but it IS OF
ttle practical use. II would have been much better
if the crater had been inspected before the erup-
ton took place. --- g.. .,-..,
too one day while walking around at the foot
~ The mountain a jet of steam came out or a
Tiaca IN TIE ground over which had just passed.
f. n had struck any Of US we would nave been
eraIdAd TO death. IL the Vapor blew all
around us so that could not see where We were
Captain Frazer. Of the MADAME went ashore at
S- Pierre and walked all through the town
1T is Impossible describe the scene OF deSoia-
tim that the town presents, Said tne cdplItii,
s.SI,. IN looks as If some with giant scytIe
had come and swept everything away me sIate
colcrad dusf which covers everything, gives the
town the appearance OF a sanny plsiIh "4lilou' d
ebrrIh or hush to relieve the nonotony- .-,, 49,
What survivors there are have praclcd!+S psei s
raJiave5 Of anv immediate want In fact the us
aster LEFT so few that they were easily cared io'