The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-27
French NObIenlen De
scribe the Awful Vol
CanO Disaster.
IN FISHING BOAT 1t TEE THE
BeheId Steamer OrappIer
Lifted From Water,
Then Sink.
RUMBLINGS AND EXPLOSION

cannon Followed by Death and Desc
latiOn n Wake cf Eruptioa-Scenes
in Inflated City Afte-ward.
NEW YORK. Nav z--Passengers ar
riTins here from Martinique bring some
details of the Mont PcIce eruption which
were not included in the cable reports
Among those who came on the Red
D Line steamship Caracas. which SCI
in yesterday, were the Comte F5tzjamez.
Baron FonteuiIiiac. and T Max smith.
OF this city The Ccrate Ff-zfau.es said
that he had been stopping at ST. Pierre
on his way here from French Guiana and
that he was waiting for a steamer TO
bring him on northward. On the dav of
the eruption he and the Baron de Foare-
nil!iat went out fishing in q small boat.
and were about TWO miles of shore when
the eruption came
Explosion of Cone.
From the top of the cone. he said
there was burst OF white smoke SINH
lar TO that at the explosion OF can
followed by rapid outspreadinE pail Of
heavy black smoke. everything a dense
yellOwish cloud, which settled raDf5Iv
over ST Pierre Almost Immediately the
air became exceedingly hot and stihiuE
and soon ashes began TO fall
The spreading cloud of black was in
penetTa1Ie &c the eye and presently it
brought q considerable degree Of dark
ness The town was obscured com
pIeJely, buried II the black mist Then
the black cloud gradually rose. and as
II was dIssjoated the yeIIowish mist
melted into the atmosphere also. As il
vanished there Ieaped into the air me
flames Of ST Pierre burning. The fire
burned for four or five hours and ST
Pierre was no more
SpeCtacIe's Impression
The count said that IL was quite i'm
possible TO impart the impression the
awful spectacle made upon a witness
Of IL
To see ships IN the air said he. T
was 10 be stunned at the forces PLAYING
before ones eyes. I happened 10 lei
looking directly at the cable ship Crap 4
pier when the turmoil reached the water .
and I saw her raised clear of the waves.
! should say fifteen feet. and then come /
down and sink Immediately
The ROTai1a vas overcome and
burned at anchor The Ro6dam. triGe
more fortunate, was able to escape like
q stricken moth which cTawls from a
fame that has burned its wings and left
II cripple 10 suffer until death re
Ieves.
Our own danger was great. and had
II not been for the bravery and the
courage Of the baron would have per
ished as niserably as did the thousands
Of W-etches ashore I was stunned. IN
able 10 lift a hand TO save myself Baron
de FCnteniIliat dragged me from the
boat into the water. where he supported
me until 7 was 50 far recovered as TO be
able 10 care fer myself.
An Early Start Saved Their Lives /
Baron de FonteruIfat and I had been
IL French Guiana OF a business trip re
lating 10 some mining property IN
which We were Interested. We learned
upon Our arrival ct Carbet that an
Of Mount Pelee had destroyed
a part Of the village Of Prccheu~. Oh
tee other side Of the harbor. That was I
TIE eruption Of May 9. ". --aGc z1me-
date arrangements 10 TisIt .e scene Of Il
the disaster Two negro bcGruen were
employed 10 take US across the bay
and ii vas the fact that we made IN Z
early start the next morning that saved G
our Ives. O.
As We made our way across the wa sd
ter We more than half faced Mount Pc
lee, which was throwing CT heavy
cloud Of smoke. steam and ashes 10 %
flames were 10 &c seen.
-OE shore The Inhabitants could be o
seen making their way about the water 2
'front.' The city was TO OUT right Small q
raft piled abCur The Lar50-. some trad
rg with the ships that were at anchor D.
FhlIe 10 some fishermen were going out ( !.
70 the fishing grounds just OF Carha- I b
should have said that the calm or the d
morning was almost abnormal not q
.ipDIe was 10 ha seen Oh the face Of The D.
lea
Majestic Rubbing Of the Volcano. u.
.-The rumblings from the bowels Of the 81
were majestic ia tone. Z can -
lot tell you just now how they sounded.
iuL perhaps you can imagine q MIGHTY d
.and playing upon the strings OF a harp II
reater than ali the world. The z8-es ..
rodueed were deep and E-I OF threat 81
Ei1E=- There EaE O. EARRING sensation . r.
I'D every loE and then there was q Pm
0DmOUgu oil the waters tE4t caused q . -.
Il ell without M king Tho surface break ~
'0ur from the shore puc small
1uncl. carrying the ueulart OF ggg-
r1or LOutrer. The Governor ar the Ias-
-oueIr had realized that the situation 81.
as filed with terrible danger He "a
a. attempting 10 escape with his fam 10
g ana le" friends. I had commented ca
, Baron de F0ntelilIiar upon the aa- 90
earance o. the governors craft Al
.either o. Us gave 10 the incident its. 49,