The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-17
TIE TIMES: RIGRa1oND VA. SATURDAY., May Is. 1902.

EMOND, VA, SATJJRI
from the crater. 5# Isl
DYING sONsPLANK COTS.
Rough collins are being made to re.
ceive the remains Of the victims. The
hospital here Is filled with dying peo-
pie. Fifty injured persons are lying on
the floor Of that building, as there are
no beds for their accommodation, though
cots are being rapidly constructed of
in progress since Immediately after the
disaster. Two days elapsed. however.
before there were any buria2s as the
negroes refused to dig the necessary
trenches. though they were offered three
times the usual wages by the local au-
thorities. The negroes are indifferent
to all that is transpiring and to what
has taken place. They expect to receive
Government rations, but there have
been cases where they have refused TO
bury their own relatives.
LAND DROPS INTO SEA
It is estimated that the sea has en-
croached from ten feet to two miles
along the coast near Georgetown and
that a section on the north of the island
has dropped into the sea- This is APP
PdSSutIy VeElueQ Dy ,lue ASpOAe VI SAiS
French cable ship Poyer-Quertier that
soundings now show seven fathons
where there were SO fathoms OF water.
The atmosphere is dry, but somewhat
agttated. Rain would be welcome, as
there is great deal Of dust In the aif,
which is very disagreeable and Irritating
to threats and eyes and is causing the
merchants to put all their dry-goods un-
der cover. Some people anticipating
l1of p fe,1 nf fr1Yfhor volcanic
eruEtions are leaving the outlying towns
for this city. The negroes who have re-
manned on the estates are half starved
with the Carib survivors are leaving
their caves and occupying abandoned
dwelling houses and shops.
BODIES DRAGGED LIKE DOGS.
The hospital staffs are giving way to
overwork and are with difficulty bearing
up. The stencil in the afflicted districts
is terrible beyond description. Nearly
ell the huts left standing are filled with
dead bodies. In some cases disinfectant5
and the usual means Of disposiRs OF the
dead are useless. and crema ton has been
resorted to- When lit is possible the
bodies are dragged with ropes to the
trenches and are quickly covered up.
quiclklime being used when available.
Many of the dead bodies were SO covered
with dust that they were not discovered
until walked upon by visitors or by the
relieving officers or their assistants,
The scenes witnessed were unprece-
dented in the history Of this colony.
TENT HOSPITALS.
AS the Colonial Hospital here was found
inadequate to accommodate the sufferers,
large army tents have been erected for
the use of the patients who are being
constantly brought here from other towns
on the island. hut even these annex hos
pitfalls are overerowded. The local doc
tors have been reinforced by doctor
who arrived here from the Island of
Grenada, one of the British Windward
Islands. He brought with him a number
Of packages OF medical supplies, which
were extremely useful
The arrival here of the first detachment
Of the ambulance corps. which brought
sufferers from Georgetown. caused quite
sensation. This batch consisted of
hundred persons, whose charred bodies
exha1ed fetid odors and whose loathsome
faces made even the hospital attendants
shudder. 1t is doubtful whether one of
the whole party will recover. The death
rate among the people in the hospitals
is still very high in spite Of the best
medical efforts made in their behalf. All
the neghboring British colonies are eVlnc-
ing sympathy with the sufferers here.
Subscription lists have been started, and
food and clothing are being forwarded to
St Vincent from all the British Islands.
NEW CRATERS FORMED.
While the entire community is thank
full for this help and sympathy from
British sources, on all sides are heard
grateful appreciation Of the prompt aid
furnished by the United States in send
ing the Potomac here with PROVISIONS
and other things for the destitute people
Of ST. Vincent. The report that the vol
canic lake which occupied the top of the
mountain has disappeared appears to be
confirmed. A sea of lava, emitting sui
phurous fumes. now apparently occupies
it's place. and several new craters have
been formed. The last time the volcano
showed activity, Tuesday last, the era
tiers, old and new, and numerous assures
in the mountain side, discharged hot va
per, deep subterranean murmurings were
heard, the ground trembled and at times
from the center OF the volcano came vol
umes Of steam and rose like giant pine
trees towards the sky, and a dense smoke
n1ngling with the steam, issued from the
active crater, forming an immense pail
over the neighboring hills, extending into
the valley, then rising and spreading I'M
til it enveloped the whole island in
PECULIAR gray mist. Simultaneous action
upon the part of the volcanoes OF Maru-
nique and Dominica, and elsewhere,
seems to denote volcanic connection
between these Islands and appears to
verify the assumption Of the volcanic
origin Of the mountain chains running
parallel with the Soufriere in the Wind
ward districts.
UNITED STATES ARCHIl ES.
Much Importance is attached locally 70
the loss which the colony has SUSTAINED
in the injury Of the peasant proprietary,
a scheme for the development Of which
was lately inaugyrateu by the Imperial