The Iola register., 1902-05-16


graphed to the minister of marine, M.
de Lanessan, from Port de France,
Island of Martinique, under date of
Thursday, May s, at 10 O'Clock, as
follows:
''Have justreturned from St. Pierre,
which has been completely destroyed
by an immense mass of volcano fire
which fell upon the town at about s
O'Clock in the morning. The entire
population, about $4,000 people, is
supposed to have perished. l have
brought back the few survivors, about
thirty. All the shipping in the harbor
has been destroyed by fire. The erup-
tion continues"
Captain Freeman of the Roddam re-
ports that almost all the inhabitants
of ST. Pierre are believed to have been
killed. All the shipping in the port
has also been destroyed.
The Quebec steamship company's
steamer Roraima, is mentioned as
lost with all on board. The Roraima,
Captain Muggah, left New York April
30 for st. Thomas, where she arrived
May 2, proceeding later to Martinique.
The Roddam was almost completely
wrecked. Her captain was seriously
burned and seventeen of her crew are
dead.
The area of voanic disturbance is
increasing southwark of the island of
St. Vincent. From the Windward
islands the volcanic wave has reached
the Leeward islands and the British
West Indian island of Dominica is
now involved, the craters OF the
Morne Diablotin range showing ac-
tivity. The inhabitants are greatly
alarmed.
The French cruiser Suchet arrived
at Point a-Pitro, island of Gaude-
loupe, French West Indies, from Port
de France, this morning, bringing
several refugees. The Suchet con-
firmed the report that the town of st.
Pierre, Martinique, was entirely de-
stroyed at o'clock Thursday morn
ing by volcanic eruption. 1t is sup
DOSeu tndJ InOSb Vi luo luuuDlNdhVo VI
St. Pierre we're killed, that the neigh
boring parishes were laid waste and
that the residue of the population of
St. Pierre is without food or shelter.
The British Royal Mail steamer
Esk, which arrived at st. Lucia this
morning reports having passed ST.
Pierre last night, The steamer was
covered with ashes though it was five
miles distant from the town was in
impenetabe, darkness. A boat was
sent in as near as possible to the
shore but not living person was
seen ashore, only llames. The Quebec
Steamship company's steamer Rora'
ina was seen to explode and disap
pear.
The commander of the Suchet re
ports that at l o'clock Thursday the
entire town of St. Pierre was wrapped
in Hames He endeavored to save
about thirty persons, more or les
burned, from the vessels in the har
Dor. These officersi went ashoreS IL
small boats seeking for survivors. bu
were unable to penetrate the town
They saw heaps of bodies upon tn
wharves and it is believed that not
resident in st. Pierre at the time @
the catastrophe escaped. The gov
ernor of the colony, his staff colone
and his wife were in st. Pierre an
probably perished. The extent of tn
catastrophe cannot be imagined.
Washington, May o. Louis T
Ayme United States consul at Guadi
loupe, telegraphed the Department
State yesterday that great consternt
ton prevails in that locality in cons'
quence of earthquakes and volcan
activity. Loud noises are heard col
tinuously. which are ascribed to vo
canic action, and telegraphic comml
nications with Martinique are broke
in every direction. He say that he
informed that many hundreds of pc,
pie have been killed in and abo
Martinique.
AMERICAN VICTIMS
Washington, May 9.-The followir
cablogram has just been received
the STATE department.
Pointe- A-Pitre, May g..
To the Secretary OF State, Washingto
Att O'Clock q. m. on the 9Th inst.
storm If steam, mud and fire envC
oped the city of st. Pierre and COZ
munity. Not more than twenty pc
sons escaped with their lives. Eighte
vessels we're burned and sunk, wi
all on board, including four Anne
lean vessels and q steamer frC
Quebec named Roraime The Unit
States consul and family are report