The Washington times., 1902-05-11
WORD FROM MARTINIQUE
REACHES NEW YORK
Prominent Merchants of St. Pierre
Among the Dead-Cable Steamers
Rescue Work.

| NEW YORK. May -I1-Three import
ant pieces of information, all of slightly
baleful cast, today reached business con-
Germs and private persons here interested
in Martinique. One was that at last direct
cable communication with the devastated
island had been re-established.
Another told OF the rescue and safe
landing at Fort de France. the second
largest town of Martinique. fourteen miles
from ill-fated St. Pfere. of i5o people who
were picked up by the French cable
steamer Pouyer- Quertier
Still another bit of news that had n
ray OF comfort in 1t was that the little
hamlet of Morne Rouge, a suburb three
miles from St. Pierre. and actually nearer
the volcano than fSn, Pierre itself, was
not destroyed, and that several families
who had taken refuge there in their Hight
from st. Pierre were saved.
A Private Dispatch.
This last dispatch was a private one
received from Bordeaux, France, at 1:25
this afternoon. It was in French and its
abbreviated form was regarded as open
to at least two different interpretations
Read one way it was plain enough that it
was the intention to say that Morne
Rouge was saved.
AS to the remainder of the cablegram
there was no room for misinterpretation.
In St. Pierre there were three prominent
merchants named Caminade. All were
killed. as was Louis Hayot, who was
large property owner in st. Pierre.
How Morne Rouge being nearer Mount
Pelee than St. Pierre itself, could escape
was explained by the fact that it was on
another side of the mountain from st.
Pierre and that it was separated from the
volcano by a gorge and high cliffs. II is
supposed that not the ancient crater at
the top of Pelee. but some weaker point
on the side of the mountain was torn out
by the force of the explosion and that it
shot out its appalling charge Of fire.
white hot lava and shattered and pulver-
lied rocks not skyward, but like an
enormous cannon aimed at an elevation
to lombard St Pierre and all the sea and
territory about it.
II great streams Of lava also famed
down the sides of the volcano. the deep
gorge and high cliffs between it and Morne
Rouge would be sufficient to protect the
latter from peril,
Cable Steamers Work.
The local manager of the French Cable
Company said this afternoon that the re-
pair steamer which on Friday it was fear
ed was lost was not only safe. but doing
excellent service in rescue work This
was the Pouyer- -Quertier, above mentioned
as having landed 450 survivors at Fort DE
France. The telegram received at the cable
f.ftt ,IaV
was from the Pouyer- -Quertier's comman-
der. Captain Therier. II read:
Arrived Fort De France, $50 persons
on board. All we'll. Preparing to return"
The Pouyer-Querter was supposed at
the cable Office here TO have been In dry
dock at Fort De France. Either she al
ready was ahoat or was rushed into the
water as soon as the catastrophe occur
red. St. Pierre is only fourteen miles by
water from Fort De France. 1t is sup
posed that the steamer started up the
coast in the direction OF the afflicted city.
and that the people she took on board
were rescued from the beach by sending
boats ashore
Several Small Settlements.
There are several small settlements
along the shore all the way up TO St.
Pierre. all the Inhabitants of which would
naturally be half frcnzied with terror.
and at the sight of the steamer in the
oiiing 1t is supposed that they rushed
10 the waters edge. imploring by shouts
and frantic gestures to be taken OF.
II is believed, when Captain TEerier
said he was going to return, that he
meant that he WIS going to rescue an
other ehiploaG of these people, approach
ing as near st. Pierre as possible. That !
his vessel or any other has actually
reached St Pierre is not believed.
Tie cable company this morning sent n
chartered steamer from 81. Lucia to st. /
and in the afternoon sent Il
chartered schooner from the same place I
10 the same destination. What tale OF /
horror Is to come to st. Vincent is yet I
10 be known. and 1t is hoped that these /
-wo expeditions by tomorrow or Monday |
viii bring back some definite tidings.
Word of the Roraima
A. L. Outerbrdge & &C., agents OF the /
Quebec Steamship Company. received to- /
lay positive information of the destruc- I
ion OF their steamer Roraima. which was
Il st. Pierre at the time of the explosion.
This Information came in a dispatch
rom Captain Gordon of the Quebec Line
teamer Korona. 1t was dated Dominica,
'here the Korona touched yesterday
morning. 1t read as follows. omitted
'ords being supplied:
The survivors of the Roraima on the
corona are First Officer Scott and As
istant Purser Thompson; left In the hos