New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
CONSUL SA WTER'S STORY.
NARROWLY MISSED TAKING PASSAGE
on THE ILL FATED RORAIuA.
IRY TELEGRAPH To THE Tn1pr.SE1


Washington May I2-George Sawter United
States Consul at Antigua. British West Indies.
which Is less than twenty hours by ordinary steamer
from ST. Pierre, arrived in Washington this morn
ing on leave Of absence. having made a narrow
escape from being passenger on the I'll fated
steamer Roraima. which down in the harbor
OF st Pierre. Mr Sawter left Antigua on MAY
on one OF the Quebec liners. He was accompanIed
by his wife. whose rapidly failing health was the
cause Of his leaving Antigua at this time. lie had
engaged passage the Roraima FOR himself and
Mrs. Snwter I'm the hope that a trip around the
Islands would benefit her health but his physicians
urged him to bring his wife the United States
MI Sawter sa"s that earthquakes Of more or less
severity are OF such frequent occurrence ali
through the Lesser Antilles that the series of
shocks experienced on the island OF Antigua two
or three weeks before he left there caused no par
ucular alarm. though he has no doubt that
they were the direct precursors Of the terrible
affair in Martinique. He had heard no talk OF
danger at st. Pierre. communication between
the French and British islands forming the chain
known the Lesser Antilles is not regular or
intimate He believes however that even II news
OF Mont Pelee's threatening rumhles had been
brought to Antigua the inhabitants would have
paid little attention to II. because they have he
come accustomed 10 reports of impending danger
OF violent hurricanes and other deadly disturb
ances Of nature. While Mr.. Sawter is not enam-
CURED of life In the terribly enervating climate of
Antigua. he stands ready TO return to his post
perhaps the most unpleasant in the entire Consular
service OF the united states. whenever the State
Department may think II advisable for him 10 do
But for the Illness of his wife he would not
have left his post when he did as he feels that
his services may be needed In the relief work
undertaken by this government
Mr. Sawter is we'll acquainted with all the islands
in the group not actually suffering or Threatened
with cataclysms like that which overwhelr
Martinique. ST. Vincent, of those islands
where the earth tremors have been particularly
severe since Mount Pelee's awful performance Is a
British possession. II is eighteen miles long bv
eleven broad. and according TO Consul Sawter
possesses all the delightful attributes belonging To
the islands Of volcanic formation. 1t is also the
home of about two hundred Caribs the last sur
vivors OF the that inhabited the entire
archipelago. A ridge OF mountains passes along
the middle OF the island, the highest peak La
Soufriere which is reported to be in eruption
being three thousand feet high. ST Vincent ,s
famous for its ferns. The chief town, Kingston IA
a pretty little city. Its houses along the shore
painted blue, yellow and pink. and with red tiled
roofs and foliage coming down to the waters
edge. give II charming aspect as seen from the
Dominica. another member of the group which is
seeking refuge from Martinique is one OF
the finest OF the Caribbean Islands Mr. Sawter
says. II belongs TO Great Britain. and is about
twenty-nine miles long and sixteen miles wide. The
formation is volcanic and mountainous The high
est peak, Mount Diabotn. is 5Sl4 feet high. being
the loftest mountain in the Lesser Antilles
Mr.. Sawter speaks enthusiastically OF the Danish
West Indies. which recently were ceded to the