New-York tribune., 1902-07-14
AFFAIRS IN ST. THOMAS.
HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHING
VOLCANIC DISTURBANCES MAY HAVE
AvERTED OTHER DANGERS.

Fron an Occasional Correspondent Of The TribuneJ
ST. Thomas. D. w. l.. July d. 1902
holy calm has settled over these communities
for the last few days. We are now approaching
the hurricane season, and many are wondering II
the eruptions of Mont Pelee and those OF the
Souffriere Of ST. Vincent will exempt US from
cyclones, earthquakes and tidal waves for some
time 20 come. Most geologists are OF opinion that
volcanic eruptions diminish the risk OF earth VI
brations. and it has been said by many of our
local quidnuncs who observers of seismic
phenomena that the Martinique and st. vincent
calamities have saved the rest Of the West lndles
from a cataclysm. Be It as Il may. every change
of the weather during the coming months will be
carefully. II not anxiously. watched.
Martinique newspapers which have lately reacheo
us are full Of pathetic details. 1t is evident that
the Inhabitants had presentiment OF the oreaoluI
fate which awaited them. Many private letters
which were written only few days prior 10 the
catastrophe, confirm this. One young girl writes
TO a friend In Paris: IF death awaits US, we
shall leave with numerous company VIII IL De
by fire or by asphyxiation? 1t will be as GOO
pleases- Our last thought will be Of you. ana
man writes TO his brother May 3: "What Is
reserved for tomorrow? river OF laVaF "A
rain of stones? A jet of suffocating gas? Or
cataclysn which will sink US all? No one knows
and yet we remain
That is the most extraordinary part OF lt-tneS
remained There plenty Of time TO get away
after the destruction of the Usne Guerin with leS
loss OF $50 lives. No seemed 10 redllIe MS N4
ger For instance, the Governor and his wife ana
the steamship Grappler arrived at st. Pierre ohly
the afternoon before, and though everything pres
aged destruction no one thought of leaving the
rlace even for a few hours. 1t seemed as II
Mont Pelee ike some horrible serpent tasclhaleu
thern held them there until ready to destroy tlein
II IS a sad story especially for those who nave
been well acquainted with ST. Pierre anu i'S t
an that was brightest and most oeautIul lls Ilost
ACCOMPLISHED men and women, swept away ~ d an
sfnstant And the Unsuitable mountain Is Eet Inele
ready Tor more victims. were there any IT, ,or,a
But the people of Martinique are returning noiLIe @
again. They longer panic stricken, Dul a. 9
firmly resolved build another city IN some OIL o
spot to take the place of st. Pierre ana mos W.
after the frightful fire of a few years ago 90 not
6oubt their ability TO accomplish II: - ,,.
The news that Minister BrUn has Ie1t " dsIlnS
for Denmark and Will not return until a. teI 1 @ H1ir
eIecricDs has occasion for conjecture among
those of our local politicians who are now oohIns
Forward 10 a quick settlement OF the sale queSuol
What the anti-sale party In copenhagen VIII pIlIs
forward to Justify all they have done 10 oppose II
Is dificult to say Now that the committee OF m
olyiry al Washington has reported against the aiS
cations OF bribery brought forward py Ihe baIlls
fsonssryatiyes and declared their untruth II is
fikely that they may discreetly retire or; from
ysry shame may adopt other and more legltlmate
nIeved and one which does honor to any party. IL
never REQUIRES question: bic means 10 support 1t
but even in Denmark politicians are aple 10 De leu
FIRES have started already in St. Croix. though
these are attributed to accident one, the seconu
FOR the season broke out Estate Paradise about
shoirs II destroyed between twenty and twenty
five acres of cane and the reflection was seen over
e great part of the island. - -.
-rhings are looking badly in THE Garden Of the
West indies" Sugar is now about $50 or IIue
over 81 cents a hundred pounds OF cane, or Sl0 -
hogshead Of sugar