The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-05-23
DEVASTATED ST. VINCENT.
A Correspondents Visit to the vi.
entity Of the Volcano La
Soufriere.
Nothing Green to he Seen In the EN-.
tire Northern Part OF the Island
Relief Supplies Arriving at
Observation-Disclosures Hundred
bodies Already hurled.


kingstown. Island Of St. Vincent
CIhursday afternoon), May ia
presscorrespondent has just returned
here from visit on horseback To the
devastated district Of this island,
during which he Travelled so miles and
penetrated 10 within five miles Of the
soufriere crater. The ash-covered
area Of st. Vincent exceeds that Of
Martinique, which the correspondent
has also explored. The most conserv-
atiye estimate of the death rate here
nowplaces the number at LOO. About
1900 bodies already have been in.
TERED.
Under = Blanket of Ashes.
The entire northern part of the 10
land is covered with ashes to an av-
erage depth of is inches, varying
from thin layer at Kingstown to
two feet or more at Georgetown. The
crops are ruined, nothing green can
be seen, the streets Of Georgetown
are numbered with heaps of ashes re-
sembling snow drifts. and ashes rest
SO heavily on the roofs that in several
cases they have caused them to fall
in. There soon will be 5000 destitute
persons in need Of assistance from
the government. which is already do
ing everything possible to relieve the
sufferers. There are hundred in
jured people in the hospital at George
town, gangs of men are searching for
the dead or rapidly burying them in
breaches.
Relief Supplies Coming In.
The British cruiser interchangeable
brought rs tons Of supplies here and
returned to the island Of Trinidad
for more. The governor of the Wind.
ward islands. Sir Robert Llewellyn, Is
here supervising the work of the au-
thorities.
While the outbreak of the Volcano
on the island of Martinique killed
more people outright, more territory
has been ruined in St. Vincent, hence
there is greater restitution here.
The injured persons were horribly
burned by the hot grit which was
driven along with tremendous We
locity. Twenty-six persons who
sought refuge in a room 10 feet by
IL were all killed. One person was
Drained with huge stone nine miles
from the crater.
Hospitals Fifled with the Dying.
Rough collins are being made to re-
ceive the remains of the victims.
The hospital here is filled with dying
people. Fifty injured persons are ly-
ing on the floor of that building, as
mediation. though cots are being
rapidly constructed of boards. This
and similar work has been in prog |
ress since Immediately after the dis
aster. Two days elapsed, however,
before there were any burials, as the
negroes refused to dig the necessary |
trenches. though they we're offered
local authorities. The nurses en-
ploved are incompetent, but they arc
willing 10 learn and are working |
hard. The negroes are indifferent to
all that is transpiring and TO what |
has taken place. They expect to re-
ccive government rations. but there |
have been instances where they have
refused To bury their own relatives.
The Death Rate Very High.
The death rate among the people |
in the hospitals lie still very high, in
spite Of the best medical efforts made |
in their behalf. All the neighboring
British colonies are evincing sym
pathy with the sufferers here. Sub
scription lists have been started and
food and clothing are being forward
ed 10 st. Vincent from all the British
islands.
While the entire community is
thankful for this help and sympathy
from British sources. on all sides are
heard grateful appreciation Of the
prompt aid furnished by the United
States. in sending the Potomac here
with provisions and other things for
the destitute people of st. Vincent.
The Heat IL Excessive.
As this dispatch is sent it is ex-
ccssivcly hot here. and the northern
hills retain their foggy appearance.
The sulphuric vapors which still
creasing the sickness and mortality
among the surviving inhabitants and
IRE causing suffering among the new
arrivals. The hospital stats are Civ
ing way TO overwork and are with
difficulty bearing up.
The stencil in the afflicted dis
tricts Is terrible beyond description.
Nearly all the huts left standing are
filled with dead bodies. In some
cases disinfectants and the usual
means Of disposing of the dead are
useless and cremation has been re-
A.