Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-22
VOLCANO RESUMES ACTIVITY
Indications Point to Second Eruption Of
Terrible Mount Pelee,
FORT De FRANCE is PANIC STRICKEN
People in other lsIsnas of the West
Indian Group Begin 20 Take
Alarm and Fear Impend-
ing Catastrophe.

ST. THOMAS, D. w. l., May 2l.-It has
been reported from st. Kits. in the Lee
ward ISLANDS, that on Monday night and
Tuesday morning noises similar to those
heard May s were again heard. but louder.
The earth was slightly shaken by the con-
cusslon. From the British island of An
tigua and the French island of Guadeloupe
loud detonations from the southeast are
reported.
Another report which has reached here
from the British island Of Dominica is to
the effect that at $50 o'clock Tuesday an
awe-inspiring. fiery cloud surmounted by
a heecy white cap, resembling polished
silver, was seen from Roseau Ton the west
coast of Dominica), in the south. The
sight caused alarm in Dominica, especially
as lightning followed in the wake of the
cloud.
CAsTINB, leland Of st. Lucia, May a.
Reports received here today confirm the
dispatches announcing that a panic pre-
vailed at Fore de France, Martinique, yes
terday. The town was covered with ashes,
stones were falling and a tidal wave added
to the terror of the population, which was
flying to the hills Three hundred refugees
have Just arrived here and thousands have
embarked for Ithe neighboring islands.
Volcano Again in Action.
PARIS. May Ex-Governor fHuerre OF
the island of Martinique, in a cable dispatch
from Fort de France, dated Tuesday, May
20, confirms the Associated. Press dispatches
Of yesterday, saying that at 5:15 o'clock
yesterday morning the same phenomena
appeared as Oh the morning Of May 8--a
rain Of stones, flashes of light and sounds
Of explosions in the direction of Mount
Pelee. The population Of Fort de France
was panic-stricken
Later dispatches, under yesterdays date,
say that fire was falling at lie Carbet and
that the inhabitants and troops had evacu-
ated the place. No further fatalities had
occurred.
The dispatches received here also refer
to the departure Of Governor PHuerre, ac-
eompanied by Senator Knight, president Of
the legislature Of Martinique. yesterday
morning, on the French cruiser. Suchet, to
reconnoitre in the direction of the volcano.
The officials of the ministry Of the
colonies were much disturbed by this morn
ing's dispatches from Fort de France.
They thought the worst was over, but the
cable messages seem to indicate that
another catastrophe is impending.
No confirmation had been received here
Of the dispatches reporting that Fort de
France is being evacuated.
Survivor Tells story of Disaster.
NEW YORK. May 21.-The steamer
Korona has arrived from Fort de France.
Martinique, having on board two survivors
Of the steamer 'Roraima, lost in the st.
Pierre disaster. These are Ellery Scott,
chief officer, and Charles Thompson (col-
ored), assistant purser.
o the way up" said Captain John w.
Carey Of Korona, -"Scott told me the story
OF their terrible experience. He said Ro-
raima got into the harbor about $3.50 a. m.
on the 8th.. When the catastrophe oc-
Cured a terrible explosion came from the
mountain. In an instant it began to rain
FIRE and mud over the harbor. A great
river of burning lava rushed down the
mountain side and plunged into the bay. 1t
showed back the water out OF the harbor
and simply hurled the ship over on it's side.
Captain Muggah was on the bridge at the
time.
with the rush Of water the ships decks
were swept clean. All its superstructure,
masts, funnel, boats and upper works were
torn away and went overheard. Scott,
|, seeing Captain Muggah swept away with
; the wreck Of the bridge, leaped from the
, forecastle head and tried TO run aft through
the steerage. The crew, panic-stricken
dashed him to the deck and trampled him
under their feet in their mad flight, and
but for the action of two of the steerage
passengers. colored men from st. Kits, he
/ would have persisted with the others, who
were burned to death by the lava, which
} poured in on the vessels decks. These
men seized him and dragged him into the
} steerage, where he stayed with them, and
by wrapping their heads in blankets sue
ceeded in escaping serious injury.
Meanwhile Thompson, the assistant pur-
ser, who was on deck when the first out
burst came, succeeded In reaching his room
and closing the door, where he stayed until
the worst Of the first shock was over. An
open ventilator let the flames reach him
and he was badly burned about the neck
and lost one ear. When the first shock
had passed he managed to make his way "a
the steerage, where he Joined Scott and
the two st. Kits men in saving the pas
sengers and members OF the crew who were
still living. They gathered these in the
steerage and all who were able Joined them
in nghting the flames back, and managed
to keep the FIRE confined to the after part
of the vessel until the French cruiser
suchet came along and took them on"
r Eruption is violent.
FORT DE FRANCE. Island Of Martinique
May 21.-Yesterday's eruption from Noun
Pelee was violent in the extreme. Colossal
columns OF volcanic matter were elected
from the volcano. which rained huge, rec
hot boulders many feet In diameteT In tho
ruins OF ST. Pierre and the country. and
: from an enormous elevation and with fear,
, full velocity. The volcanic clouds advanced
to Fort de France.
4 The spectacle was appalling and beyond
description. The whole population OF For
2 de France was thrown into a frenzy o