The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-05-29
FEAR TOSTAYLONGER
Frightened Residents Eager to Aban.
don Martinique.

Fort de France, Island Of Marti-
nique, May 23.-Streams Of fright
ened refugees have been pouring into
Fort de France from all the sur
rounding country. These people are
not destitute, but they are terrified.
They wan only one thing, and that
is to be taken far away from this
island, with which, they say, the
gods are angry, and which they will
destroy by fire before it sinks under
the sea.
The consuls here and the officers
of the wal vessels in the harbor are
waylaid by persons crazed with fear,
and begging to be carried away.
Tee weather is now calm and beau
tiful, but the mountain is yelled in
volcanic clouds, which often assume
a very threatening aspect, and occa-
sional rumblings are heard. Some
heavy and very welcome rain fell
Wednesday morning.
superstitious Terror of People.
The people + convinced that God
is angry with the island, and means
to scourge it with fire, and then
sink it in the pecan. Utter and UNI
reasoning fear possesses all souls.
Even Fort de France is believed to
be unsafe. The presence of the re-
lief ships, however, is helpful to the
people, who say "the American flag
makes safety"
"We want no food, but only to
leave" is the cry Of rich and poor.
The recent rains of ashes and vol
canic rocks, weighing as much as
rs grammes, which have fallen here,
caused so much CONSERVATION among
the inhabitants of Fort de France
that those who have not left the city
are anxious to do so, and large num-
bers are emigrating to the island of
Guadeloupe, where, it is now esti-
mated here, 1900 people from Marti-
nique have already sought shelter.
The French gunboat Joffroy took on
board about $50 of the inhabitants
of the neighborhood of lie Carbet.
1t is estimated that about 5000 per-
sons will, by to-day, have left Fort
de France for the extreme southern
part of the island.
During her last exploring trip about
the Island the French cruiser Suchet,
which did not stop at St. Pierre, no
ticed that all the formerly cultivated
land between Grand Revere and Mari
got mas been completely destroyed.
The inhabitants of those two towns
have suffered and are still suffering
a great deal, but they have not yet
determined to abandon those local.
ties, and efforts are being made To
supply them with provisions.
No Further Supplies Needed.
Washington, May 23.-John NJ. Will
son, vice president of the American
National Red Cross, has issued the fol-
lowing statement:
Information having been received,
through the department of state. from
the American consulates at Martinique
and st. Vincent, W. l., that the supplies
already furnished for the relief of suf-
ferers from the recent volcanic disturb
ances in the Islands are sufficient for
present necessities, that adequate meas
ures are being taken by the French, Eng
lish and local authorities for the supply
of future needs, and that further contri-
buttons by the people OF the United
States are unnecessary, the appeal Of the
American National Red Cross for aid
for the victims of the disaster is hereby
withdrawn. Donations for the purpose of
such relief already or hereafter received
will be held for use in any emergency
that may arise requiring action ON the
part of the organization"