Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-13

it's inhabitants burned up. Provisions a,
Eminent nr Nine. and siae. BefSrsg yhe sa SSS,
Mayor Low gave out a statement today
in which he said; t.t
The appalling calamity at Martinique
and IN the neighboring Islands makes an
appeal to the generosity OF New York and
that New York will maintain its old-time
reputation for liberal giving.
Arrival Of Rescue Party.
FORT DE FRANCE. Island Of Martinique,
Sunday. May 1l.-several steamers. in
GLIDING the government vessel Rubis,
started from here yesterday for st. Pierre.
They had on board a government dele
gate, q number Of xendarmes. a detach-
ment Of regular Infantry and several
priests. The vessels also carried a guam
tity Of frewood, petroleum and quicklime
for use in the cremation OF the bodies OF
the victims Of the terrible yolanic out
break Of Thursday last. Large quantities
Of disinfectants and stocks Of clothing for
the refugees also were shipped to st.
Pierre. The refugees had, as a rule, as
sembled at LeCarba and Caz Pilote. not
far from st. Pierre, and, It is reported,
over 1000 OF them have died since the
fearful stream Of lava poured down Mount
Pelee.
The sea for miles around was covered
with the wreckagt OF the vessels sunk on
st. Pierre at the time Of the disaster.
The heat from the smoking. lava-covered
ruins at st. Pierre was suffocatins and
the stencil from The corps -strewn street
was awful and only . few walls were stand
ing. The report that the hospital clock
was found intact, With tie hands stopped
at 1850 was confirmed as Was the state
ment that the Offices Aot the cable COM
pany had entirely escaped. On all sides
were found portionR o. eeEpses, which were
gathered up by the soldiers And gendarmes
and burned on one OF tile public squares.
Not a drop Of water was procurable
ashore. The darkness caused by the clouds
Of volcanic dust shroudedN the town and
continuous subteTFaneAn rumbling added to
the horror Of the scene. .
The fort and central quarters OF the
town were RACED TO the ground and were
replaced by beds OF hot elndefs.
The iron grille work gate Of the govern
ment ofices was alone standing. There
was no trace OF the streets. Huge heaps
Of smoking ashes were to be seen on all
sides.
As IL by lightning Stroke.
At the landing some burned and ruined
walls indicated the spot where the custom
house formerly stood, and traces Of the
larger shops could be seen. In tina
neighborhood hundreds Of corpses were
found lying in all kinds Of attitudes, show
ing that the victims had met death as II
by lightning stroke. Every vestfge Of cloth
ing was burned away from the charred
bodies and in many cases the abdomens
had been burst open by the intense heat.
Curiously' enough. the features Of the
dead were generally calm and ~restful, al
though cases of terrible fright and agony
were depleted. Grim piles Of bodies were
stacked everywhere, showing that death
had stricken them while the crowds were
vainly seeking escape from the nery
deluge. On one spot q group OF nine chill.
dren were found locked In each others
arms.
The vaults Of the Bank Of Martinique, al
the head OF what had been. the Rue de
Hospital, were found intact. They con-
tanned 1000, 900 francs In specie, 1t was
specie and other securities which was sent
here for safekeeping.
The vaults Of the government treasury
are now being searched in the hope that q
large amount of money and other valuablea
deposited by the principal merchants Of the
city may be saved. "'I'
Nearly 1000 OF the refugees from the
vicinity Of the village Of La PrscheurI q
suburban village to the north OF st. Pierre,
were rescued by the French cruiser 'suchet
and the cable repair ship Foyer oueertier
and were brought here. AS a result of hfi
inspection the commander Of Suchei
reports that valleys are constantly forming
in the northern portion Of the island, where
the land is In a state OF perpetual change.
Fortunately, that part of the country was
evacuated in good time by the Inhabitants,
who fed to Fort de Ffahbe.
Lava continues to stream down the
mountain eide, accompanied by terrific
thunder and lightning.
The dearth Of provisions i5 Beginning ia
be felt throughout the Island Numerous
farms are completely ruined. and even
shelterless, while the means at the disposal
Of the authorities are much too inadequate
to cope with the distress. Communication
is practically cut OF from all the surround
ing islands, except by stray vessels, which
are seized upon by the inhabitants to fee
from Martinique. "
ROME, May 12Arhe pope today sum
moned the French ambassador to the vat
lean. NJ. Nlsard. and expressed to him hi.
keen sorrow on hearing of the st. Pierre
disaster. The pontif requested that he b
kept informed regarding the details of the
volcanic outbreaks.