Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-29
PRIEST STAYS At HIS POST
Refuses to Leave Moms Rouge Though II il
~ il Danger of Destruction,
'0NDENTs FROM DEATH
Fer-de-l. M sdItest Of All
Snakes, y Ia, 9rror Of
the HOmelo .sIand
of MARTINI
Fer-de-l.

NEW YORK, May 2S.-Mount Pelee, from
which there was another eruption on Mon
day, was quiet again Tuesday night, ac-
cordinB to a dispatch from Fort de France,
but. the dispatch adds, the Inhabitants Of
the island are in terrified state.
The volcano is puzzlng all the scientists
most Of whom say that the mountain has
thus far made only a beginning
Morne Rouge was saved from destruction
last night only by miracle, says a priest
who was there.
Two correspondents, believing the vol
cano had for time at least subsided
planned an expedition to the mountain for
the purpose Of securing photographs. Sew
eral natives we're employed as guides.
After a weary march, which took most
OF Monday, Morne Rouge was reached about
1880 in the evening The correspondents
we're received by a kindly disposed priest,
who gave such information as was in his
possession. He insisted upon a pause being
made for refreshments and In his humble
home food was prepared. II was this gem
erous courtesy Of the priest that saved the
expedition from destruction. The original
plan was that the visit should be made to
the crater as soon as possible and quick
return be made to Fort de France to avoid
all danger.
Saved by the Delay.
While the evening meal was being pre-
pared the priest pointed out the work Of
ruin that had been accomplished. He said
he had refused to leave his post, though
he was not at all certain Morne Rouge
would not be swept from existence as was
St Pierre. 1t was while he was talking
that the explosion came.
From their homes the Inhabitants ran in
panic, Some did not wait to see what
was happening, but hurried over the noun
tains in the direction Of Fort de France
Scores went into the church and fell upon
their knees, but by far the greater number
ran without daring to look behind. The
display of lightning was terrific and awe
inspiring.
When the start was made on the return
trip to Fort de France the. guides and
servants were gone. The correspondents
had to find their way across the hills as
best they could. Behind Mount Pelee con-
tinued to belch fire, ashes, smoke and mud.
The detonatlons were of sufficient strength
to make the ground tremble. 1t seemed to
the weary travellers as II the mountain tops
swayed above their heads.
Snakes Add to the Horror.
To add to the horror Of the situation
they encountered every now and then a fer
SCAT
tered specimens of these snakes, of which
thousands have been killed by the erup-
tions, were seen amid the glare from the
volcano and the flashes of lightning, gliding
over the rocks and hurrying away, as IL
they, too, had learned that their mountain
home was no longer safe place.
On all sides were the natives praying and
cursing in turn. Many, exhausted, fell by
the way and were unable to continue.
From Morne Rouge to Fort de France by
the devious path that was Travelled was al
most forty miles. That distance was COW
cred before dawn Tuesday morning.
Later arrivals reported that Morne Rouge
had not been destroyed, as the force OF the
explosion was exerted in the direction of
the sea.
ID Robert T. Hill Of the United States
Geological survey, who left for Mount Pelee
this afternoon, has not yet returned nor
has he been heard from. He planned to
visit the crater from Morne Rouge,
George Kennan, the noted explorer, has
been absent in the north for FIVE days and
has not been heard from.
Governor AbGndOns Trip.
PARIS, May 2S.--The governor of Mar
Unique, M. L'Huerre, cabled from Fort de
France, under date Of today, May 2S, con-
uTHlluB inc AbSOCldteu fTeSS ulSpatcneS an
nouncing that a fresh eruption Of Mount
Pelee occurred during the evening Of Mon
day. May &C. causing a great panic at Fort
de France The clnders and scoria, how
ever the governor added. did not touch the
town, falling entirely on the north Of the
island. Calm ia now restored at Fort de
France,
The governor abandoned his proposed
visit to the devastated places on the island
owing to the torrsntial rainfall and rough
sea.
Several craters, the governor further re-
ported. were vomiting thick smoke.
Another eruption of Mount Pelee occurred
as the French cruiser Tage passed St.
Pierre recently, resulting in a sudden flow
of mud from the bed of the river Blanche.
The governor concludes that his latest
visit to st. Pierre confirms the previous re-
ports that the southern pNrtion OF that town
was apparently destroyed by an inexplicable
phenomena, resembling a frightful hurrl-
cane, which swept from north to south.
The fall OF scoria formed e layer a foot
deep. The northern part OF the town is
buried under q bed Of mud. 1t is impos-
eli ~ odaoua al daccrfha fha do.oN.4to,