New-York tribune., 1902-06-13
MARTINIQUE DISASTER EFFECTS.
FELT ALL THROUGH THE WEST INDIES
AID NEEDED IN ST. THOMAS FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR SUPPORT.
nron1 an Occasional Correspondent Of The Treune0
e. trhor,as Danish West Indies. May n.

Crrom an Occasional Correspondent Of The Tribune0
ST Thomas. Danish West Indies. May q.
Tie charter of horrors which opened in Mar
tinuue extending itself to ST Vincent, has not yet
closed. if we may believe the recent kilograms ano
refugees from Fort France. Pillage and arson
are now added to the deplorabe calamity which
has devastated one of the fairest islands Of the
Antilles In Martinique rowing bands OF negroes
are said to be burning plantations. after lootlng
the homes from which their owners hed IN le4t
from the volcanic eruption. Crowds OF fusluVes
are fecking to neighboring islands, and their
stories are pitiabe 10 hear 1t is stated that many
lives were lost on the occasion Of the second erup-
tion which took place on the 18th inst
The captain of a Norwegian steamer which
reached this island on the 24th tells Of tidal
wave which nearly sent him ashore at Fort dc
France on that day. He has kept some OF the
stones which fell his vessel at the time ohe
of them weighs four and half pounds. 1t seems
incredible that this should have come from
Mont Pelee which twenty miles away. but
many such instances are recorded. That the erup-
ton yet continues in force may be gathered from
one of the last telegrams from Dominica. whicn
states that during the whole night Of the Zoth the
quantity of which fell far exceeded that or the
former eruption. 1t seems likely that ST. Pierre.
or what remains of It, will be totally buried, and
nothing will be left to tell the tale OF what was
PopHlous city but winding sheet OF ashes.
Some even go so far 10 say that Martinique
will be entirely deserted. But this is doubtful, in
lanities where after the first shock over and
things had settled down to a normal condition the
people returned to their shattered homes, rebuilt
them, and after few years were as prosperous
as before.
AT present the effects of the disaster felt in
every island in the West Indies. Many of their
principal merchants did business with St Pierre,
which famous for many native manufacturers
notably Iiqueurs, lemonade and eau de cologne.
There were few families in Guadeloupe, st. Fin-
G. 7 T-,cia -ha av-are mot
Of friendship or relationship with the people Of
Martinique, and the same might be said IN a
lesser degree of the smaller islands In ST
Thomas. for example young man lost his family
St Pierre, only sister, nun, escaping being
in convent in a neghboring parish. In this isl
and there are many broken hearts and distressed
families; those of the on the steamer Grappler
In particular.
And this suggests the thought IT, in the great
eutburst of sympathy in the ever generous Uniteo
States of America. some consideration has n9t
been given TO the widows ana eTphans OF , Ile % t
of existence in moment in the harboT OF 81
died heroieally either fighting the flames; saving
life their post of duty. Is II possible tna'
istence up TO now has been dependent on these
gallant bread ~ & & now rs1f ne 70 he these
sorrowing and distressed families In which case
tributers of the enormous fund raised by the sym
pathetic hearts in America TO their wants ] and 10
and orphans Of the ofcers and crews Of the ship
ping destroyed in the pay OF 81 EieIIe On 1ffe
In the mean time the outlook in this island and
st. Croix is very gloomy. The officers and crew
of the steamship Grappler spent a great deal OF
money in St Thomas. That is over. at least for
the present. A cable ship the Newington, is ex,
tected out, having been chartered by the w. l. and
p T CO to repair the cables which connect Us
with Martinique. st. Vincent, Barbados. Trinidad
and Demerara. This Will do the work until new
steamer is built
The sale question is spoken of here as hopeless
By many in spite OF news from Copenhagen tnat
the transfer will be accomplished before The year
Is out. In St. CroiX the delay in the settlement
Is considered TO be a serious matter. the holders
OF rnuscovado sugar being compelled to ship with
out further delay. such sugar will not bear
keeping for any considerable time, while those who
hold cryStalliZed sugar, which be kept, are
r1zZle3 as to how the sugar is to be stored. II
has been said that tho central factory will have
70 hire storage room in St Thomas and ship the
sugar here. and there are other knotty problems
TO solve which the friends of these Islands il
Copenhagen may find some difficulty in solving.