Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-21
Confirmation OF the Reports
That the Whole Island Is
Threatened.
Pelee's Mutterings Presage An
other Outbreak Like That
Destroying st. Pierre.
People OF Fort de France are
Fleeing From the Impend-
ing Disaster.

st. Augustine, Fla, May 21.-Buuetl
Almost continuous shocks, presuma
bly, earthquake, were felt here from
pollock until midnight last night.
Fort de France. May 2O.-Yesterday'
4 eruption from Mont Pelee was violen
4 In the extreme. Colossal columns o
volcanic matter We're elected from th
2 volcano, which rained huge, red-ho
& boulders, many feet in diameter, on th
y ruins of st. Pierre and the country nea
y 1t. from an enormous elevation ant
s with q fearful velocity The volcani,
clouds advanced until they reached
Fort de France. The spectacle was ap'
paIling beyond description. The whole
population of Fort de France wa:
thrown into frenzy of panic, during
which the soldiers, police. men ant
women We're all terrified. Frantic
weeping and praying, they rushed thr,
the streets, while overhead, glowing
fiery clouds rolled relentlessly anc
rained down stones. still hot, amid the
+
swirling ashes.
A steam launch Of the cruiser Gin
cinnati took some refugees to the cruis-
er Suchet, and nearly 100 persons
sought refuge on the Cincinnati and
Potomac.
At 10 o'clock the Potomac went to
Investigate matters. All reports agree
that Lieut.. Benjamin B. Mccormick
commander of the steamer did great
work. He went in close to st. Pierre
and found the city had been bombarded
The ruins left standing after the first
great disaster have been nearly razed
Millions of tons of ashes then covered
the ruined city.
Further south smaller stones had
destroyed the houses OF the brave viii
layers who had stuck to their homes.
Mccormick took on board the Poto-
mate $50 refugees, the Oldest Of whom
was 72 years and the youngest three
days old. The lieutenant fed them and
brought the party to Fort de France.
The work Of rescue was difficult and
dangerous. It is reported the whole
population of the island is fleeing to-
wards Fort de France. The conster-
nation prevailing was understandable.
Mont Pelee is still very threatening.
Governor L. Heurre is on board the
French cruiser Suchet. Comparative
quiet is restored, but everyone is try
ing to leave the island, which the in
habitants believe to be doomed.
Should the volcano again resume ac-
tivity scenes of panic and horror will
surely occur. Under the frightful strain,
the crowds are losing their nerve and
even foreigners on relief and other duty
are nearly worn out with the ceaseless
vigils, day and night.
Nevertheless, no further relief seems
to be needed. The people do not re-
quire food. They want to get away en-
tirely from this place: Funeral ser
vices over the remains of Thomas T.
Prentiss, late United States consul at
st. Pierre, were held today. Conman-
der Mclean, of the cruiser Cincinnati,
off1ciated, officers of the war vessels in
port, marines and sailors, and many cit
izens were present The funeral cor
+ lCSG pdoSCd pGtWSCA iONS VI pGopiS,
who barred the ir heads to the flag-cov-
cred coffin. The remains of the consul
are now buried under AN acacia tree, in
the cemetery here.
Paris. May 21.-Governor Lhuerre, of
Martinique, in a cable dispatch from
Fort de France, confirms the Associated
Press dispatches of yesterday, saying,
ut 5:15 yesterday morning the same
phenomena appeared as on the morn
ing of May s, a rain of stones, flashes
of light and sounds of explosions in the
direction of Mont Pelee. Later dis
patches say fire was falling at Lecar-
bet and that the inhabitants and troops
had evacuated the place. No further
fatalities had occurred.
The dispatches refer to the depart
ure of Governor Lhuerre, accompanied
by Senator Knight, president of the
legislature of Martinique, on the French
cruiser Suchet. to reconnoiter in the di-
rection Of the volcano. They thought
the worst was over, but the cable mes
sages seem to indicate another catas-
trophe is impending.
No confirmation had been received
here of the dispatches, reporting that
Fort de France is being evacuated.
Castries. May 21.-Reports received
here today confirm the dispatches an
nouncing that panic prevailed at Fort
de France, yesterday. The town was
covered with ashes, stones We're falling
and a tidal wave added to the terror of
the population, which was flying TO the
hills. Three hundred refugees have
just arrived here and thousands have
embarked for the neighboring islands.
Two Roraina Survivors.
New York. May 21.-The steamer
Korena has arrived from Fort de /
France, Martinique. having on board
two survivors of the steamer Roraima,
lest in the st. Pierre disaster These
are Ellery Scott, chief engineer, Charles
Thompson (colored), assistant purses.
Both declined to discuss their expert
cnces. Neither shows much evidence of
hard usage.
Haytien Rebels.
Port au Prince, Hayti, May 21.-The |
army of the north numbering about
1000 men, commanded by General Fir
min. the most powerful candidate for