The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-09
LOUD EXPLOSIONS MIXED WITH
TERRIBLE ROARING.
SOuFFRIERt IS ALSO ACTIVE
TWO Volcanoes @Erupt simultaneously
Causing Appalling Phenomenon,
Filling People With Terror.

Kingston, Island of St. Vincent,
Sept. 7.-Authentic reports received
here from various sources confirm the
statements that the eruption of Mount
Pelee during the night Of August 80
was the most terrible experienced.
The captain of the French transatlan-
tic steamer Salvador, which has ar
rived here, furnished the following:
7 left, Fort de France at 5 o'clock
in the afternoon of August 80. On
passing St. Pierre at Z O'Clock at
night Mount Pelee was in violent
eruption At a. M, August "a, on
approaching the islands of Les
Saintes, volcanic ashes began to fall.
arrived off Point Pietrie. Guada-
,loupe, at 5 a. M, but was unable to-
enter the harbor until IL o'clock, ev-
erything being obscured by falling
ashes.'' -
The people residing near the fire
zone have been notified by the admin
istration of the island to leave George
town, Chateau Bellair and the viii
lagos and estates in the northern por-l
ticn of the island were evacuated this;
afternoon. There is no telephone
connection with the affected district
the operators having left their posts
An appalling phenomenon was wit
messed last night. It lasted from 9
p. m. until 5 o'clock this morning. A
dreadful eruption Of the Scuffriere
volcono enveloped this whole island in
an electric cloud and smoke. At IL,
O'Clock this morning the atmosphere
isNstill unsettled, but the eruption is
apparently subsiding. The sun is OBJ
scured and oppressive heat prevails.
The sea is sligtly agitated. No sand
has fallen here. The northern cen
ters are deserted
Officials have been sent from here
by boat to visit the northern parishes,
and, if possible, to report on the de-
struction Of property and loss Of life.
The heat in Martinique is said to be
almost unbearable.
An official who has Just returned
here says that Chateau Belliar was
safe. Only small quantity CT sand
and stone fell there. The adjacent es-
tate Of Fitzhughes suffered greatly,
all cultivation being destroyed.
Georgetown is also safe. No one
ventured within the fire zone, the
Souffriere still being in eruption.
The destruction of the Carib coun-
try is presumably complete.
The eruption yesterday was longer
in duration and more violent than
the first outbreak Of May z
With a haunting recollection of the
fate of St. Pierre, Martinique and the
last distaster here. the people con-
verged on Kingston and ran to and
fro, seeking the safest shelters from
the electric cloud spreading over the
hills towards the town, while shocks
OF earthquake, though not severe, in
creased the panic.
At 2 O'Clock in the morning loud |
and rapid explosions were mixed with
a terrible roaring, Cimerian darkness
changed into a constantly glimmer-
ing armament, Illuminated by forked
lightning, balls of fire ascending from
the crater and bursting into meteor
like showers.
Such an awe-inspiring scene, the
widest flights of fancy could not havel
imagined. This lasted until 8 o'clock
in the morning.
The rumor that tidal wave was ex-
pected caused increased excitment
and hundreds of the people fed to
the hills. Superheated clouds rose to
an immense height and rain clouds
below sent down showers.
At 6 o'clock. silver clouds issued
from the craters and throughout the
lay they moved slowly northward.
The heat was itnense and there, were
indications of "a further out
break of the volcono
E Last night there were unmistak-
able signs of Mount Pelee being in
eruption simultaneously with the
Souffriere.
GuadaIoupe Safe.