New-York tribune., 1902-05-20
PATHETIC LETTERS FROM ST. PIERRE
WRITTEN JUST BEFORE THE CITY WAS AN
INITIATED

Paris. May 19-The congregation completely filed
the fashionable Church OF ST. Augustin this morn
ing, on the occasion OF the solemn service organ
ized by the League Of French Women in memory
OF the victims of the Martinique disaster. Bishop
Cormon assisted by the clergy of the parish. cele-
brated mass and pronounced the absolution. This
was the first memorial service for the dead of
Martinique held in Paris. Another will be held IN
the new Basica of the Sacred Heart tomorrow,
at which Bishop Cormon will again ofic!ate.
The officials say the reports OF the French en-
bassies and legations at the various capitals show
that the sympathy with France abroad is increas-
ing. The latest royal subscription is that OF the
former Queen Regent Of Spain, who has given
10000 francs to the fund. which now amounts to
over 10000 francs.
Martinique mails forwarded just prior to the dis
aster. arrived here yesterday. The newspapers
print a number Of private letters from st. Pierre,
giving many details Of occurrences impediately
preceding the catastrophe The most interesting OF
these is a letter from a young who
among the victims, dated May g. After describing
the aspect Of St Pierre before dawn, the town be
ing lit up with flames from the volcano. everything
covered with ashes and the people greatly ex-
cited yet not panic-stricken, she said:
Ny calmness astonishes me I am awaiting the
event TRANQUILITY Ny only suffering is from the
dust, which penetrate5 everywhere, even through
is a bit anxious Edlth alone is frightened. If
death awaits US there will be a numerous company
II win be what God wills. You Will have our last
thoughts. Tell brother Robert that still
alive This viii perhaps be longer true when
this letter reaches you
The Edith mentioned a visitor who
among the rescued This and other letters incosed
samples of the ashes which fell the doomed
town. They blush gray, impalpable powder,
resembling newly ground flour and slightly smell
ing Of sulphur.
Another letter written during the afternoon OF
May 3. says:
The population Of the nelghborhood Of the
tain is Hooking TO the city Business is suspended,
the Inhabitants panic-stricken, and the fire
sprnkling the streets and roofs, settle
the ashes. which are filling the air.
These and other letters to indicate that
evidences of the impending disaster numer-
five days before il occurred.
II is difficult understand how it that a
general exodus Of the population OF st. Pierre did
not take place before May s.
Sun another letter says:
St Pierre presents an aspect unknown to the
natives 1t is a city sprinkled with gray snow
winter scene without cold. The inhabitants of
villas and cottages. and are focking TO the city
II IS a curious pellmen of women, children and
barefooted peasants-big, black fellows, loaded with
household goods The air is oppressive; your
burns. Are going TO die asphyxiated? What
has tomorrow IN for US? a flow OF lava
rain of stones cataclysm from the sea? Who
tell? VIII give you my last thought il 1
die.
A St Pierre paper of May announces that an
excursion arranged for the next day to Mont Pelee
had been postponed the crater inaccessible
adding that notice would be issued when the
cursion would take place.