Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-05-15
ST. VINCENT Is DELUGED.
British Island Wear Martinique Half
Destroyed by "a Volcano.

British island Near Martinique Half
Destroyed by "a Volcano.
Kingston, Island of st, Vincent, B.
w. l., May 10.-After numerous earth
quakes during the preceding fortnight,
accompanied by sub~terranean noises in
the direction of the Soufriere volcano,
on the northwest part of the island, a
loud explosion from the crater occurred
Monday last, and the water In the
crater lake assembled in a ~stupendous
cloud Of steam and exploded heavily.
The noises grew louder continu-
ally till Wednesday mor'ing, when the
old crater, three miles in circumference,
and the new crater, formed by the last
eruption, belched smoke and stones
forcing the residents OF Wallibou and
Richmond Valley, beneath the volcano,
to flee to Chateau Belair for refuge.
The ~thunderous noises, which were
continually increasing, were heard In
~neighboring islands two hundred miles
away. At midday the craters elected
enormous columns of steamy vapor,
rising majestically eight miles high and
expanding into wonderful shapes, re-
scmbling enormous ~caulihowers, gigan-
tic wheels and beautiful flower forms.
all streaked up and down and crosswiss
with vivid flashes of lightning,
awning the BehOIder
| and impressing the mind with fear. The
mountain labored to rid itself Of a mass
Of molten lava which later flowed over,
in six streams, down the side of the
volcano, and the greater noises follow
ing united in one continuous roar all
evening, through the night to Thursday
morning, accompanied with black rain.
falling dust and favilla ~snorial, attend
ed with midnight darkness all Wednes-
day. creating feelings of fear and anx-
ious suspense. On the morning OF FRI
day there was a fresh eruption and
elections of fiery matter, more dust
covering the island, in some places two
feet deep. The crater Is still active as
this dispatch is sent. and great loss OF
life is believed to have occurred.
The lava has destroyed several dis
tricts, with their livestock. People are
fleeing to this town, streams are dried
up, and in many places a food and
water famine is threatened. Several
districts nave not yet been heard from,
and the scene of the eruption is unap-
proachable. Every hour brings sadder
news, The nurses and doctors are over
worked. It is impossible TO give fun
details at present.
Worse News IL Feared.
London, May 12,-The latest reports
received here say that the loss of life
at ST. Vincent will exceed 800. The
state of affairs at st. Vincent creates
grave alarm, especially as dispatches
from the Island of Dominica, forwarded
Sunday, reported hat the Soufriere
volcono in st. Vincent was still In
| active eruption. Four small boats
loaded with refugees from Grand RI
Were, Martinique. ave arrived at
Dominica in a pitiable condition. They
report that six other boats left that VII
lage at the same time. 1t Is not known
what became Of them.
This very slight discrepancies I'm the
various accounts OF the volcanic out
break in the West Indies which nave
reached London leave only a shadow
of hope tina the latter details win
! greatly minimize the extent of the cat
astrophe and the fear is beginning TO
seize the British papers that even
worse news may come.