Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-22
PEOPLE TERROR|zED
Clamoring to Get Away From
Martinique.
PELEE STILL SMOKING
THE DIXIE LANDS SUPPLIES AT
FORT DE FRANCE.
The People Do Not Need More Food,
but Only Want to
Escape.
PELEE STILL SMOKING

FORT DE FRANCE, Island of Martinique,
Wednesday, May 81. p.m.-Streams of
frightened refugees have been pouring into
Fort de France from all the surrounding
country. These people are not destitute
but they are terrified. They want only one
thing. and that is to be taken away from
this island.
The consuls here and the officers of the
war vessels in the harbor are waylaid by
scores of persons crazed with fear and beg
ging to be carried away.
The weather is calm and beautiful,
but the mountain is veiled in volcanic
Clouds which often assume very threat
ening aspect and occasional rumblings are
heard. Some heavy and very welcome rain
fell this morning.
The United States steamer Dixie, Captain
Berry from New York, arrived today, after
a quick and safe passage. Her passengers
include many world-famous scientists. Prof
Robert T. Hill, government geologist; Prof
C. Z. Borchgrevink, the Antarctic explorer
NesSrs George Curtis and George kennan,
and many magazine writers and correspond
ents are also among those who arrived on
the steamer.
Dixie Lands Supplies.
TheeDixie began landing her enormous
cargo of supplies early and the storehouses
on shore soon became congested. This Is
the greatest difficulty of the administration
This morning the United States steamer
Potomac, with the commanders of the war
vessels now here, went to inspect St Pierre.
With the greatest difficulty the party sue
Ceeded in making a landing Inc enects
of the outburst of yesterday were tremen-
dOus The huge basalt towers of the cathe-
dral were pulveriZed and the walls were
hurled fiat to the earth. The bombardment
OF volcanic stones not sufficient to ac-
count for this, and all evidences point to
the passage of a furious blast of blazing
gas. travelling at enormous speed and with
incalculable force The deposit of boulders.
ashes and angular stones is enormous Not
a living human beng saw what happened
at St Pierre yesterday morning.
This second eruption was many times
more violent than that which effaced St.
Pierre and swept it's people from the earth.
Nor has all volcanic activity ceased. Vast
columns of smoke and gas still pour from the
great crater. New fissures have opened on
the mountain sides and are vomiting yellow
whirlwinds, which rush intermittently now
from one point. and now from another
Boiling mud is also thrown out at times in
torrents that reach the sea and produce
small tidal waves.
Somber, Silent City of Death.
From somber. silent city of death and
desolation, St. Pierre has become hideous
ampitheatre of fiery, roaring destruction.
The people are convinced that God is
angry with the island and means to scourge
it with fire and then sink it in the ocean.
Utter and UnreasOning fear possesses all
souls. Even Fort de France is believed to
be unsafe The presence of the relief ships,
however. is helpful to the people. who say
the American flag makes safety
The Potomac could not approach close to
St. Pierre. The Dixie will sail tomorrow
for St Vincent but the other vessels will
remain here. -..~- --rt'a
The scientists who nave arrived will ex-
anime into the question of. the danger of
the peaks of Carbet. near Fort de France,
becoming active volcanoes The outburst
of yesterday probably means ruined is
land as all confidence is lost.
We want not food, but only to leave is
the cry of all, rich and poor alike.