Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-24
PEOPLE LEAVE The ISLAND
Inhabitants Of Martinique Are Seeking
Safety In Other Localities.
MANY OF THEM co TO FRENCH GUIANA
sky lie Again clear at Fort de France,
but Change Does Not Anay
the Fears Of the
Citizens. go.

FORT DE FRANCE, Island Of Martinique,
Thursday, May 22.-At 5 o'clock this after
noon the sky was clear and the population
was calm. but despite this favorable change
In the situation many families left. Fort de
France by the French vessels Versailles
and the Vile de Tangsr for the Island Of
Trinidad and for Cayenne. French Guiana.
This, with the 200 9ersons who have gone
TO the Island OF Guadeloupe, and many 9th.
ers who have sought refuge at st Lucia and
other islands, has lessened the population
considerably. Bts.des these some 1000 peo-
pie have left for the southern parts Of the
island Of Martinique. where 5000 refugees
have now assembled.
The desertion Of Fort De France has re-
suited In the disorganization Of many trades.
A number Of bakers have been compelled to
close their stores, owing to the fact that
their employees are among those who have
fed. 49, = 90.
The French cruiser Tase, having Admiral
seyan on board, atrivO1 this evening. II
reported that Mount Pelee now presents a
more Assuring aspect. The clouds Of smoke
leaving the crater mingle with the clouds
In the Sky and do not have the threatening
look they formerly had. The crater has
formed in the vicinity Of Adjoupa Bouillon.
a locality known as Camae Trlanon il
causing a good deal Of anxiety at present.
The Capote Is running with hot water.
Inc French cruiser d'Assas has arrived
mere from Brest, having on board the
french government relief and large sums
OF money and provisions. g.;
A torrential downpour Of rain in the
morning washed OF the ashes from the veg
citation on the mountain. : 80
The United States steamer Potomac made
its usual trip 10 st. Pierre today with an
other party OF scientists. It found the con.
ditions there unchanged from yesterday.
The top Of the mountain was clearly visible
Tor a considerable time. Captain Mclean
OF the United states cruiser Cincinnati. who
has carefully observed Mont Pelee, agrees
with other experts in reporting that a new
crater has been formed below the old one.
In the new crater there il a great cinder
cone more than 100 feet high, from which
steam and volcanic matter is constantly
pouring.
1t is now the unanimous opinion OF the
scientists that this Is an explosive volcano,
no real lava or moga rock material having
been emitted, only mud, steam, gases and
fragments Of the old crater beds. The
scientists compare the mountains outthrow
to the steam OF a boiler in which the pres
sure rises to bursting point, and they think
II possible that a more violent outbreak
may occur.
They remark that the explosions have &C.
CURED at progressively longer intervals
\ and that they also have been progressively
more violent. Thus there has been three
light eruptions of ashes.
On May 5 there was an overflow Of mud
which caused the destruction of the Uslne
Gverin; on May s there was the outbursi
which destroyed st. Pierre, and on May 20
or after an interval OF twelve days, tn,
last, tremendous outburst occurred. A new
period Of rest is now on, and one Of tive
things may .h~appen-the pressure may b,
confined for a still longer period, and Il
explode with greater violence. spreadin,
destruction over a vast area, or the noun,
tain may remain quiescent for another hal
century.
PARIS. May ga dispatch received
here from the governor OF Martinique. M
IHeuerr. yesterday reads as follows:
, have consulted with the consuls OF tn,
colony on the subject of total. or partia
evacuation OF the island. They are unani
nous in declaring hat such a measure II
not ~Jnstinahle at present. A transatlantic
line steamship, now undergoing repairs
here, might be~utilized to transport thos,
who are DESTROYS OF emigrating. Abour
1000 persons are leaving by the steamer
Versailles and others are sailing on tn,
There have been no new fatalities.