The Delta independent., 1902-05-16

Castries. st. Lucia, British West In
dies, May 1l.-Mont Pelee, a volcanic
mountain some ten miles north of St
Pierre, the commercial capital of Mar
Unique. Is the mountain which made a
faint show of eruption fifty years ago.
May Bird last 1t began TO throw out
dense clouds of smoke. At midnight
the same day flames. accompanied
with rumbling noises. lighted the sky
over an immense area, causing wide
spread terror. May 4th hot ashes COW
cred the whole city quarter of st.
Pierre an inch thick and made Mont
Pelee invisible.
AT noon May 9th n stream OF burn
Ing lava rushed 400 feet down the
mountais side, following the dry bed
OF torrent, and reaching the sea, five
miles from the mountain In three min
utes. In its rush the fiery flood swept
from its path plantations, buildings.
factories, cattle and human beings
over breadth OF about half mile
At the rear OF the mouth of the Ri
Were Blanche stood the large Gueriu
sugar factory, one of the finest in the
island. 1t is now completely entombed
in lava. The tall chimney alone is Wis
ible. One hundred and fifty persons
are estimated TO have persisted there,
including the owners son.
As the lava rushed into the sea, the
latter reccded 800 feet all along the
west coast; returning with greater
strength. big wave covered the whole
sea front Of st. Pierre but did little
damage ashore or affoat
Terrible detonations. heard hundreds
of miles northward, followed at short.
irregular intervals and continued at
night. In the intense darkness the
electric lights failed but the town was
lii up by lurid flashes OF flame from
the mountain. The terror-stricken in
habitants rushed for the hills in their
night clothing. screaming. shouting
mud wailing-mad with terror.
The PlIssono family escaped to st.
Tura In n small steamer. T'hirty-fiv
persons, mostly women and children,
arrived here in the forenoon OF the 9Th
and furnished the above details. The
men remained at Martinique.
The same afternoon. later, telegraph.
ic communication was Interrupted with
both tbe islands Of Martinique and st.
Vincent
During the afternoon OF the S,h the
British steamer Roddam. which had
left ST Lucia at midnight on the eth
for Martinique crawled slowly into
the CastrIcS harbor unrecognizable
gray with ashes. her rigging dis
Cnantled and sheets and awnings hang
Ing about, torn and charred.
Captain Waiter reported that. having
Just cnst anchor OF St Pierre at $ n.
m. In fine weather succeeding an aw-
ful thunder storm during the night. he
was talking TO the ships agent. Joseph
u. La. ~. "A.
when he saw a tremendous cloud OF
smoke and glowing cinders rushing
with terrific rapidIty over the town and
port. completely. In an instant. erfvel-
oplng the former In sheet OF fame
and raining firc on board. The agent
had just time TO climb aboard when his
boat disappeared. Several OF the crew
were quickly scorched To death.
BY superhuman efforts. having
steam up. the cable was slipped and
the steamer backed away from the
shore, aud nine hours later managed TO
reach Castries. Ten OF the Roddom'S
men were lying dead. contoried and
burned out OF human sembinpce. ow-
ing to the black cindcrs which covered
the ships decks To a depth of six
inches. Two more OF the crew have
since died. Two OF the survivors of
the crew were loud In their praise OF
the heroic conduct OF she captain IN
steering their vessel away from de-
struction with his own hands. which
were badly burned by the rain OF fire
which kept falling on the ship for
miles after she got under way. Be
yond burns over his body the captain
Is safe. as is also the ships agent,
though he is badly .scorched.
Mr. Plissipo Is believed here 10 be
the sole survivor of the 10000 inhabi-
tan,s OF the town. and all the shipping
In the port has been utterly destroyed,
the West Indian X Panama Telegraph
Company's repairing vessel going
first. then the Quebec liner Roraima.
Captain Muggah of the latter waved
his hand in farewell TO the Roddam
as his vessel sank with a terrific ex-
plosion.