Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-05-12
THE MARTINIQUE HORROR.


property on the bland OF st. Vincent
Oy the eruption Of the volcano Souf-
riere may not he as great as the fright
l full ruin caused by the torrents OF lava
from Mount Pelee ia the Islaud OF
| Martinique, II is now Known that the
northwestern section OF st. Vincent is
| devastated and t1at hundreds OF
| people have persisted. IL will never be
known TO en- exact figure how many
lives have been loft 10 this terrible
| double disaster, as hundreds OF the
dead are buried beneath the masses Of
lava and ashes. Rough estimates
now number the victims on the two
islands at 200 to $4,000 and when
the full extent Of the catastrophe is
known the death roll may exceed 3d.
600. The rush OF molten lava from
Soufriere appears to have been greater
than the fiery food from Mount Pelee.
On last Wednesday the old crater, three
miles in circumference, and the new
crater formed by the last eruption
burst forth with awful explosions which
| were heard Ia neighboriDg islaDds 200
miles away. Molten lava flowed IN
six streams down the mountain, while
Just and ashes darkened the sky.
Miles Of country were devssted, and
the ruined section 10 unapproachable, as
the crstsrs are still active. A food
aud water famine is threatened on
the island, although supplies are
being hurried to the sufferers.
Many refugees we're drowned while
crossing to Dominica from the ISLAND OF
Martinique. Mount Pelee continues to
send out streams OF lava, which are
flowing mort lRard, and the entire
noItneru pArs Of Martinique is now a
waste, ali vegetation as we'll as proper
~ heviug been destroyed. 1t now
appears that n commission appointed
by the governor TO investigate the first
outbreak OF Mount Pelee brought back
to ST, Pierre a reassuring report, 30
that the inhabitants OF that city were
unprepared fol- the terrible disaster
that soon followed. Ia addition to 81.
Pierre, LIE Carbet, with a population OF
6,000, and LIE Precheur, with 1000 in
nabitants. were eEgulfed by the fiery
food, but It 10 reported many OF the
people escaped 10 the hills. The city
OF St. Pierre is a waste of ashes, and
under the smoking MACS are supposed
to lie 10000 oorpses. British steamers
are Transporting phJ sicians, nurses
and provisions from the otaer Islands
to st. Vincent aud Martinique. Paris
advlees from Martinique confirm the
reports the American and British con-
suls and their families persisted. Gov
ernor MoTittet and Colonel DAin, COM
mander OF tbs troops at st. Pierre, and
NM. Percin and LIE Clere, candidates
for election to the French Chamber oil
Deputies. also perished. President
Roosevelt sent a cable TO President
Loubet expressing the regret OF the
American people for the disaster at
Martinique.
The first relief party has entered st.
Pierre. They found a city Of awe and
horror-a city OF the dead. 10 the
streets they lay where the awful whirl'
wind OF volcanic fire. with its inter.
mingled high flames and gases, had
overwhelmed them. To many the end
came without warning. They lay with
calm peaceful faces. On other counten-
anoes the stamp of terror was imprint
ed. Many died ss they pursued their
daily toll. o. the cathedral site three
thousand had persisted. All the bodies
were 10 q fearful condition from the in-
tense heat. The work ofburniDg them |
to prevent plague was at once begun.
Later dipaiches SAY that about 5000 pso- |
pie escaped from the city Of st. Pierre, and, |
poverty-stTicken and hungry, are in terrible |
plg ht in the mountains overlooking the desc |
late spot where their city was. 1t is said that |
the volcano Of Mont Pelee, which was pre-
viously 1 $50 metres high, Is nov only 45O. |
The wealth Of the city Of st. Pierre alone
was estimated at from 500, 100000 to 600.
100000 francs. Throughout the Lesser
Antilles the people are in state OF panic, but
scientists believe that the volcanoes have |
been relieved OF their dangerous pressure,
and that no more eruptiors are to be looked
for.