The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-13

Paris, May 9-The comma der OF the
French cruiser Suchet has telegraphed
Ito the minister OF marine. NJ de Lanes
san. from Fort de France, Island Of
Martinique. under date OF Thursday.
May s.th. at Ia y. m. as follows:
Have just returned from ST. Pierre.
which has been completely destroyed by
IAN immense mass OF fire. which fell
on the town at about : in The morning.
1.-THE entire population (about 25.eoo
Esouls) IS supposed to have persisted. l
have brought back the few survivors,.
about thirty. An the shipping in the
harbor has been destroyed by fire. The
Eeruption continues.
The colonial minister received at 6
O'Clock this evening two cablegrams
from the secretary general OF the gov
ernment of Martinique. J.. +. L'Huerre.
dated respectively at ) p. m, and 10: 50
ID. m, yesterday.
The earlier cable reported tina the
wires were broken between Fort de
France and st. Pierre but II was added
i'm view OF the report that Inc eruption
of Mount Pelee a wiped out the town
OF st. Pierre, all the boat available at
Fort de france were dispatched TO the
assistance OF the inhabitants OF that
lplace.
The second dispatch confirmed the re-
port OF the disaster at st. Pierre and it's
environment and shipping by n rain Of
fire and said II was supposed that the
whole population had been annihilated
with the exception OF a few injured res
lcued by the cruised SLchet
Immediately after the recent OF the
labove dispatches the flag over the col
Ionial office was draped with Grape and
Ihoisted at half mast.
The commander OF the French cruiser
lSuchet. recently at Fort de France. has
lbeen ordered to return to st. Pierre.
Martinique. with all the speed possible
land to forward details Of the disaster
to the French government.
1t is feared hat NJ. LMoutte. the
governor of Martinique. has persisted.
He telegraphed May Eth that he was
proceeding to ST Pierre. Senator
knight is also supposed to have been at
lSt. Pierre.
St. Thomas. D.. W. l., May st is
now estimated that $1,000 persons per-
tished as a result OF the volcanic eruption
lin the island OF Martinique.
Washington, May 9.-The followin
lcablegram has been received at the
lstate department.:
Point a Pitrc. May 3.
t"Secretary OF state, Washington
AT o'clock a. m. Oh the sth instant
"a storm Of steam. mud and fire envei-
loped the city and Ioadstead OF st.
Pierre, destroying every house in the
lcity and community. Not more than
Twenty persons escaped with their lives.
Eighteen vessels were burned and sunk
with all on board. including four Amer
iican vessels n u steamer from Quebec
named Roraima. The United States
tnorS,,I ana fa~ily ra rannrfed Among
1.-THE victims. A war vessel has come TO
lGuadeloupe for provisions and viii
leave at 6 o'clock to morrow.
"AYME, Consul
The state department has been re-
t~ceiving dispatches from commercial
houses In New York asking that a war
ship be sent at once 10 Martinique I'd
lanord relief. The matter is under con-
isideration.
The latest available figures show that
THE total poulation OF the island OF Mar
Unique is 1851 900 people. of whom 25.O0s
lived at st. Pierre. and. according to
!Mr. Ayme. have nearly Eli persisted.
st. Thomas. d w l., May $3.50 a. m.
THE French cruiser Suchet arrived at
Point a Pitre, island of Guadeioupe.
French West Indies. from Fort de
France. island OF Martinique. this
morning. bringing several refugees.
lShe confirmed the report that the town
Iof st. Pierre. Martinique. was entirely
destroyed at s o'clock on Thursday
morning by a volcani eruption. II In
supposed that most OF the Inhabitants
Iof st. Pierre were killed hat the
~lneighboring parishes were laid waste
land that the residue of the population
lof st. Pierre are without food or shelter
The British royal mail steamer Esk,
which arrived at st. Lucia this morn
ling, reports having passed st. Pierre
Hast NIGHT Tho steamer was covered
with ashes. though she was five miles
=, distant from the town which Is in i'm
: ipenetrable darkness. A boat was sent
in as near as Postil shore, but not q
; living soul was seen ashore. only flames
: THE Quebec steamship company
!. steamer Roranine vas seen to eIplod.
|, land disappear.
The commander Of tie Suchet reports
that at 1 O'Clock on Thursday the entfrs
I town OF St. Pierre was wrapped N
, flames. He e~ndeavored TO save abou'
thirty persons. more or less burned
: from the vessels in tn" harbor. His OF
/, Ifcers went ashore in small boats seek
, ing for survivors. but were unable u
;. penetrate the town They saw heaps o
! bodies upon the wharyes and IL IL be
d llieved that not a. single person residen
: lin 81. Pierre at the moment OF the ca
: ltsstrophe escaped.
The governor of the colony and hi
= staff colonel and wife we're in St Pierr
? land porbably p~erisheG- h extent o
the catastrophe cannot be imagined
= The captain OF the British steane
lRoddam was very seriously injured am
T is now in the hospital At st. Lucia. Al
I lof his officers and engineers are dea1
: Ior dying. Nearly every emb OF TN
icrew Is dead. Supercargo Campbel
:. tand ten of the crew OF the Roddan
b Jumped overheard al St Pierre ans
4 were lost.