The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-05-15
100000 PEOPLE Persisted
prRN1NG LAVA COVERED ALL.
city of St. Pierre. the Capitai Of
Martinique, Entirely Wiped Away
very Few saved-Ffery Metal
u.,s w,,a WiLe-Tidal Wave.

Castries. St. Lucia. B. w. l.. May IL.
Mount Pelee, q volcanic mountain
acme 10 miles north of st. Pierre. the
commercial capital of Martinique. is
rbe mountain which made faint show
of eruption SO years ago. On May 3
last it began to throw out dense clouds
If smoke. At midnight the same day
flames, accompanied by rumbling
noises. lighted the sky over an i'm
mense area, causing widespread terror
Nav hot ashes covered the whole
citv quarter Of st. Pierre an inch thick
and made Mount Pelee invisible. At
noon May stream of burning lava
rushed 44O0 feet down the mountain
side. following the dry bed Of tor
rent and reaching the sea. five miles
from the mountain, in three minutes.
In it's rush the fiery flood swept from
its path plantations. buildings. factor
les. cattle and human beings over a
breadth of about half mile.
At the rear of the mouth of the
Riyiere Blanche stood the large Guerin
sugar factory, one Of the finest in the
island. 1t is now completely entombed
in lava. The tall chimney alone is
visible. One hundred and fifty per-
sons are estimated to have persisted
there, including the owners son.
AS the lava rushed into the sea the
latter receded 400 feet all along the
ives. coast, returning with greater
strength, big wave covering the
whole sea front of st. Pierre, but doing
little damage ashore or afoat.
Terrible detonations. heard humid
reds of miles northward. followed at
short, irregular intervals, and contin-
ued at night. In the intense darkness
the electric lights failed. but the town
was lit up by lurid flashes Of flame
from the mountain. The terror strick'
en- inhabitants rushed for the hills in
thedral. All appeared to have been
their night clothes, shouting and wall
ing, mad with terror.
The Plissono family escaped to St
Lucia in a small steamer. Thirty-five
persons, mostly women and children
arrived here in the forenoon of the
9Th and furnished the above details
The men remained in Martinique. The
same afternoon. later, Geographic
communication was interrupted with
both the islands of Martinique and st
Vincent.
M. Plissono is believed here to be
the sole survivor of the 10000 inhab
itants of the town and all the shipping
in the port has been utterly destroyed
the West Indian & Panama Telegraph
'company's repairing vessel going first
then the Quebec liner Roraima. Cap
tain Muggah of the latter waved his
hand in farewell to the Roddam al
his vessel sank with a terrific explos
ion.
In the afternoon a French coastinl
steamer arrived here from Fort d.
France seeking assistance. as all thu
country was burned up. the stock wal
dying, all the plantations were char
red the country people were dockint
into the towns and famine was feared
The steamer was loaded with food o
all sorts and was sent back to Mar
Unique at p. m. The captain of THU
vessel reported that some 80 persons
left St. Pierre by the o'clock boa
Thursday marning for Fort de France
and consequently were saved.
Worst Possible Day.
Bordeaux. France, May 11.-Only
few replies have been received to mes
sages of inquiry from host Of Boz
~deaux merchants having business cor
nections in st. Pierre. A small mum
Der of messages chronicle the savin
of private families and individuals
but most of the dispatches are merel
announcements that big business Ell
Adjustments have been wiped out.
1t has been developed that the ca
tastrophe in Martinique occurred o.
the worst possible day. namely. tn
day of the arrival OF the French an
the departure of the English ma
steamers. In consequence of this fac
many business men were in the cit
Of st. Pierre instead of at their couI
try places.
Fire Still Continues.
Paris. May 1.-THE minister of ms
rine. NJ. Delassen, has received tn
following from Fort de France. Ma
Unique, under date OF May 10, 4 p. m.
Arrived at Fort de France with prt
visions, passing close to st. Pierr'
Fire continues, volcano still emittin
ashes. with less density.
"SUCHET."
Fort de France. Island Of Martil
ique. May 12.--Advices received her
from the vicinity Of st. Pierre.
miles from here, contain further d.