Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-05-12
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Correspondence of the Alezandris Gazette.

washington, ~. u, may IL.
The Secretary of State today re
eeived from Louis H. Ayme, U. g.
Consul at Point a Pitre, Gusdeloupe,
who went to Martinique with instruc-
tions from this government, the follow
ing dispatch dated Fort de France,
Nav 1.-THE disaster Is complete.
ST. Pierre il wiped out. Corsul Prentis
and his family are dead. Tie Cover
nor says $4,000 have persisted; 10000
are homeless and hungry. He sug-
| guests that the Red Cross be asked TO
send Goldfish, -four, beans, rice, salt
meats and biscuits as quickly az pos
sble." War department officials are
making arrangements for the purchase
and transportation OF supplies TO Mar
Unique in accordance with the Senate
resolutions appropriatiDg 100000 for
that purpose aud which is expected to
be adopted by the House promptly.
The supplies, consisting Of food and
clothing, wlllsprobnbly be collected at
New York and forwarded by the naval
training ship Dixie which will be ready
to sail Tuesday 10 order to sfiord
shelter to those whose homes nave
been destroyed it Is likely that large
number OF tents will be sent as we'll
as lumber for the erection OF tampor.
airy buildings. 1t is expected that the
Senate resolution will be- 80 amended
as to include the British island of st.
Vincent. where several hundred per.
sous were killed by the eruption of the
Soufriere volcano, and thousands rend-
cred homeless.
President Roosevelt sent special
message to Congress this afternoon ask
iDg for an appropriation ofhalf million
dollars for the relief OF the volcano suf-
ferers 10 Martinique and st. Vincent.
The President also recommends that
this couotry institute means to rescue
the survivors, as the entire island is
threatsne with destruction.
The news from ST. Pierre, conveyed
in Consul Ayme's message to the State
Department, was communicated to
Representative Overstreet, OF Indiana,
who has in charge the bill by Senator
Fairbanks, approprlstlug 100000 for
the immediate needs of the sufferers.
The bill passed the Senate Saturday,
but Representative Underwood, OF
Alabama, objected to its immediate
consideration in the House, because, be
said, the reports might me exaggerated.
Mr.. OVerstreet at once communicated
With assistant Secretary Of State Hill,
then conferred with the leaders OF the
House. He will before the close OF to-
DAYS proceedings endeAvor to secure
action by the House. The House
committee Cd appropriations has been
called to meet In special session at 2 o.
N. to take up the Fairbanks bill.
The committee later ordered a favor
able report on the resolution. The
amount 100000 carried by the resolu-
ton as it passed the Senate was increas-
ed to $200,0 The Presidents recon-
mendstion for an appropriation Of $780,
600 was considered by the committee
before action was taken.
President Roosevelt today sent
telegram to President Loubet of France
expressing the sympathy of the United
states for the sufferers at Martinique.
President LouOet has sent a reply 10
which he returns the thanks OF the
french people.
Secretary Moody has cabled the
commandsnt at San Juan, Porto Rico.
to fit out the collier Sterling with ann.
plies for the sufferers 10 NJ Artinioue.
and to dispatch her to Fort de France
as quickly as possible.
Harvard University. the New York
Museum OF OF National History, and
the National Geographic Society have
each applied to the Navy Department
for permission to send a representa-
tive on the Dixie to Martinique to OBJ
serve phenomena connected with the
volcanic eruption.
An Interchange OF opinion between
the democrats and republicans of the
Senate Philippine committee during 40
executive session this morning, as to
the probable duration OF the Philippine
debate In the Senate resulted in gen.
al understanding that 1t would come