The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-21
RED HOT LAVA
POURS INTO SEA.
British Warship Hastens Out Of
the Harbor Of St. Pierre.
WITH THE BODY OF CONSUL
AMERICAN SAILORS BRAVE TIE
DANGER AND ESCAPE.
WITH The BODY OF CONSUL

MORT DE FRANCE. Monday. May
1s.-The expedition sent TO re-
cover the bodies Of the American
and British consuls at St Pierre. today
nearly resulted in a fearful horror. The
vessels taking part in the expedition
were the United States steamship Po-
tomac and the British cruiser Indefat-
igable. The Potomac. under the com
mand of Lieutenant Benjamin McCor-
mick. arrived there first at IL O'Clock
in the morning, and landed working
parties.
One party went to the site of the
American consulate, and the other,
headed by Lieutenant Mccormick,
went to the north end Of the town, to
the spot where the British consulate
stood, from where the lieutenant could
see Mont Pelee and noticed that huge
column of smoke and gas was pouring
out Of the crater, in a manner similar
TO the big eruption.
He thereupon rushed to the site of
the American consulate and ordered
all hands to the boats. The Ameri-
can sailors picked up a heavy metallic
coffin in a wood case, containing the
remains Of the United States consul,
Thomas T. Prentiss, and carried it to
a boat The American party was in
imminent danger.
In the meanwhile the Indefatigable
had arrived off ST. Pierre. but left the
shore, heading for the sea, blowing his
siren. At that time a huge stream OF
molten matter was pouring into the
sea, and the whole sea was hideous,
having turned a yellow green color.
while what was apparently smoke was
rushing from the mountains. The de-
donations were continuous and were
accompanied by a fearful storm of
lightning. thunder and rain. The
flashes were Of terrific violence and
during the storm new craters opened in
Mont Pelee.
Fortunately the wind kept the clouds
Of smoke and gas from enveloping the
American and British warships, or the
working party. The GOODNESS and cour-
| age of the American sailors were most
/ noteworthy.
The body Of Mr.. Prentiss is now
here. There will be a funeral service
on board the United States cruiser
/ Cincinnati tomorrow, the 10Th. There
win be no special ceremony.
/ The volcanic mountain is apparently
] al 6ANfNNNA cNNNAfANg anu AAAC NoNcANE "a
/ the war vessels, and, particularly OF the
| shore party, was exceedingly narrow.
Fort de France, May 20.-The cloud
which issued from Mont Pelee this
/ morning was composed Of cinders. II
is estimated that 10000 people rushed
out into the streets of the town, Shrek
/ ing and praying A tidal wave has de-
! stroyed a portion Of the village of lie
/ Carbet. A number Of the inhabitants
/ Of Fort de France have embarked on
/ the available vessels OF the harbor and
/ intend to seek refuge on the island OF
| Guadeloupe, TO the southwark.
The rain of stones this morning last
ed twenty minutes and was accom-
panied by loud detonations. -
AS the people hurriedly embarked OF
the vessels in the harbor a number OF
small craft capsized. No one, however
/ was drowned.
i 1t was learned later that a whirlwin6
/ Of fire descended on lie Carbet, and
fears are entertained for the lives OF
the troops who were supposed to be If
that village.