The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-10
Latest Estimate on the Disaster
in Martinique.
Catastrophe is Described by an
Eye Witness.
Whirlwind of Steam, Boiling
Mud and Fire.
PAVED WITH CORPSES.
Streets of st. Pierre ChOked
With Dead Bodies.
Ships in HarbOr, All but One,
Sank Instantly.
Much Damage and Loss of Life
Outside of st. Pierre.

Pointe-a-Pire. Guadeloupe. May 10
The first mate of the Roraima thus de-
scribes the disaster at ST Pierre:
Between $50 and o'clock in the
morning on Thursday, without warning.
there came sort of whirlwind Of
steam boiling mud and fire, which sud
denly swept the shipping and the road
stead. There were some Is vessels an
chored in the harbor, including the
Boraiua. the French sailing ship Ia
maya, four larger sailing ships and 9TH
ers. All five vessels Immediately canted
over and began to burn. The Tamaya
was a bark from Nantes, Capt. Mau-
rice, and was on her way to Pointe-a-
Pire All the boats except the Roraima
sank instantly and at the same mo-
ment
Every house ashore was utterly de-
stroyed and apparently burned under
the ashes and burning lava. An officer
who was sent ashore, penetrated but
short distance into the city. He found
only a few walls standing and the
streets literally paved with corpses- The
governor of the island, who had arrived
only few hours before the catastrophe,
was killed Both the English and
American consuls with their families
were reported to have perished- 1t is
certain that no more than 40 out of the
% 900 inhabitants could have escaped
The cruiser Suchet was here yester-
day buying provisions for the survivors
in the outlying districts. She sailed for
Fort de France last night with large
quantity of stores, which were immedi-
ately put under military guard Ne
groes are focking in vast numbers into
Fort de France from the surrounding
country demanding food.
A telegram from Fort de France says
that hot mud and cinders have been
falling all night throughout the island
and still continue doing great damage,
and that when the final reports are re-
ceived it Will be found that many peo-
pie have been killed or injured in other
parts of Martinique
The Quebec line steamship Korona
arrived at the island of Dominica yes
terday bringing a number Of survivors
from her sister ship. the Roraima- The
captain Of the Korona says that the
eruption at St Pierre was apparently
from new crater and that accompany
ing the eruption there seemed to be
tidal wave which overwhelmed the
shipping.
A message from the island of St Vim
cent says. The Soufriere has been in
state of eruption for nine consecutive
mornings On Thursday morning, the
day broke with heavy thunder and
lightning, which soon changed into q
continuous. tremendous roar. Vast col
umns of smoke rose over the mountain.
becoming denser and denser, and the
f-.A-
dust fell upon all the adjacent estates,
destroying vast amount of property.
At Chateau Belair the ashes were two
feet deep in the streets. In Kingston
they We're fully an inch deep, and many
large stones fell in the parish Of
Georgetown The earth shook violently,
and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon a mid
night darkness spread over the cOun-
try Thirty people are known to be
killed and the damage to property in
the WindWard district was very heavy.
The storm roared about Soufriere all
MgnJ without cessation, but on the fol-
lowing morning it became Intermittent
and fainter.
A report from Barbados says that on
the seventh the sky was heavily over
cast, the heat was excessive and there
was distant sound of thunder Later,
early in the afternoon dense darkness
set IN and a great quantity of vivid dust
fell and continued falling until a late
hour No damage is reported.
HOPES ARE RAISED
Fort de France, Martinique, May TO-
Hopes are raised here that more of
the population of st. Pierre than indi-
Gated IN the earlier dispatches have been
saved 1t is believed that a number of
people were rescued from the stricken
town by steamers running to Fort de
France
The work of clearing away the debris
In the city Of st. Pierre already has
commenced and even now some SEM
Dlance OF order has been restored The
smoking ruins have been partially
cleared It has been agreed by the rnu-
nlclpaI and other authorities to burn
all corpses found in the streets The
authorities Of Fort de France are send
ing all procurable necessaries for the
suHerers with medical aid for the in
1ured the food supplies of st. Pierre
being all destroyed. The cruiser Suchet
is re-victualling Martinique from Guade-
loupe.
ERUPTIONS CONTINUE.
Fort de France. Martinique MAY 10
1:4b P. M.-The earthquakes have ceas-
ed, but the volcanic eruDtions contin-
ue-
10000 DEAD
London, May 1O.-Lloyds' agent at St
Lucia, B. w. l., cables that later news
fully confirms the disaster at st Pierre
He says he cannot ascertain the names
of the vessels which have been lost
but they include one Italian baruue and
two steamers, one probably being the
GfraPplers the cable ship belonging to