Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1902-05-22
GOES FIFTY MILES THROUGH
A LAND MADE DESC
LATE.
A Correspondent Rides on Horse
back Through ST. Vincent and
Describes His Impression.
Gives a Full Account of
the Horrible Dis
aster there.

Kingstown, ST. Vincent, May 16.
Your correspondent has ridden for
fifty miles on horseback through the
devastated country. The land is en-
shrouded in a pail of smoke, and the
ground is buried in ashes and stone
to the depth of eighteen inches. The
crops and verdure have been laid
waste. The greatest destruction is in
the northeastern part of the island.
The Carib country has been obliter-
ated. The rain of ashes and stones
lasted two hours May Z, and was
followed by a rumble that was heard
in Barbados and ST. Thomas. Six
the mountain, burning the villages
of Wallibou and Richmond. A ra-
vine a hundred feet deep, the source
of Rabica, OF dry river, was filled
level with lava. The river will per-
haps be dry forever. Wallibou is
partly under the sea. The houses
in Richmond seem higher. Wallibou
was sunk and Richmond elevated
by a phenomenon that is inexplic-
able.
The villages of Rabica and Lot
Fourteen were wiped out. Orange
Hill, Tournama, Mount Bentick,
Lang and Bypark were partly de-
stroyed. Seventeen hundred persons
were burned to death by hot sand or
were killed by lightning. There was
no suffocation here as in st. Pierre.
Burial parties were formed and the
victims were inferred where they
were found in the roads, fields and
hills, acros which they had attempt
ed to fee il terror. Thus far, 1900
persons have been buried.
It is beginning to be impossible
to secure men to bury the dead.
These men earn a shilling daily, but
they are now refusing to work for
less than three shillings, and even
this amount does not seem to satisfy
them. The water in the ruined part
of the island is undrinkabie, and
supplies are being brought from
Kingstown to Georgetown. 1t is i'm
possible to obtain water carriers. The
laborers refuse to work and are ask
ing when rations are to be distribut-
eb.
Three hundred sufferers are in the
hospital at KingstoWn and 100 at
Georgetown. In the latter place the
hospital is a small one and thirty
six of the patients are lying on the
floor. Only two lamps are employed
to light the place where those with
out beds lie. At another hospital a
carpenter shop adjoins the buildings,
and here collins are being made. The
patients near the front windows can
see and hear the makingof the boxes
which will hold them when they
die.
The restitution is enormous. Five
thousand persons II without homes
or clothing. They r thronging into
Kingstown and Georgetown. Relief
stations have been established and
the other islands are sending sup
plies. The warship Indefatigable has
brought twenty-five tons of food.
stuffs contributed by Trinidad. The
schools and government building
are being used to house the refugees
Food is now plenty, but all the &C
commodations are Inadequate.
The buildings In Georgetown suf
fered severely though the place il
nine miles from Soufriere. The win
dows in houses facing the volcano
were pot touched, while those facing
the other way were smashed by the
rain of stones, the wind blowing
them towards the houses.
GREEN AND GAYNOR,