The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-06-18
WITNESS TELLS OF ST. PIERRE'S LAST DAY
Thrilling Experiences and Remarkable Escapes " 0p "
the Day the City Was BIotted Out. Some OF the
Inhabitants Plunged into the Sea-


Baron Fontenilliat, witnessed the de
struction of st. Pierre, Martinique. es
Gaping destruction in most marvellous
manner and by the display OF grea'
forttude and presence OF MIND, de
scribed his impressions the other day
to reporter for the New York Herald
Both these French travellers realize
now how favored they have been by
fortune, and each shows in his appear
ance the hardships he endured. They
arrived in New York on the Red u
line steamship Caracas from San Juan
Comte de Fitz-James says:
From a boat in the roadstead in
front of ST. Pierre Baron FontenilliaI
and / witnessed the cataciysm that
came upon the city. We saw the ship
ping destroyed by breath Of fire. We
saw the cable ship Grappler keel over
under thewhirlwind and sink as though
drawn down into the waters or the
harbor by some force from below. The
ROraima was overcome and burned at
anchor. The ROddam, trifie more for
tunate, was able to escape like strick'
en- moth which crawls from a flame
that has burned it's wings and left it
cripple to suffer until death relieves
"Our own danger was great, and had
it not been for the bravery and the
courage of the baron l would have per-
ished. | was stunned, unable to lift
hand to assist myself. Baron de Fon-
tenilliat dragged me from the boat into
the water, where he supported ne I'M
til was so far recovered as to be able
10 care for myself.
eff you will permit me to relate the
remarkable circumstances that took
us to Martinique and to St Pierre in
time to be witnesses of this great trag
cry. will give as best l can the pic
ture which will never leave my mem
cry. Baron de Fontenilliat and l had
been in French Guiana on a business
trip relating to some mining property
iii which we are interested. We learned
upon our arrival at Carbet that an
eruption OF Mont Pelee had destroyed
q part of the village of Precheur, on
the other side of the harbor. That was
the eruption of May 3. We made i'm
mediate arrangements to visit the
scene Of the disaster. Two negro
boatmen were employed to take US
across the bay, and it was the fact
that we made an early start the next
morning that saved our lives.
LAS we made our way across the wa
Ter we more than half faced Mont Pc
lee, which was throwing off a heavy
cloud of smoke, steam and ashes. No
flames were to be seen. On shore the
inhabitants could be seen making their
way about the water front. The city
was to our right | should have said
that the calm of the morning was al
most abnormal. Not ripple was to
be seen on the face of the sea.
1.-THE rumblings from the bowels Of
the mountain were majestic in tone
] cannot tell you just how they sound
ed, but perhaps you can imagine a
mighty hand playing upon the strings
of harp greater than all the world.
The notes produced were deep and full
Of threa Jennings. There was a Earring
sensation, and every now and then
there was commotion of the waters
that caused a swell without making
the surface break.
while we were talking there came
an explosion that was beyond any that
ever before happened. | can only liken
it to shot from mammoth cannon.
TIE breath of fire swept down upon
the city and water front with all Of
the force that could have been given
to it by such cannon.
1.-THE explosion was without warn
ing, and the effect was instantaneous.
Cinders were shot into our faces with
singing effect. The air was filled with
fame Involuntary we raised our
hands to protect our faces. When the
explosion came, our two bOatmen were
either thrown from the boat or, with
a quick impulse, they sprang over
board. 1t was the one thing to have
done to save their lives; but, unfortu-
nately for them, they lost their pres
ence Of mind and instead of staying
by the side of the boat they swan
away in the direction of Precheur.
which we were approaching when the
disaster came. 1t was impossible for
them to land at Precheur. SO they
were compelled to put back. They then
struck out across the bay. evidently
hoping to reach Carbet. We saw nei-
Their of them again. and l have no
doubt they were drowned.
my brave companion had the same
impulse that actuated the negroes. He
sprang into the water, and when he
saw that did not move he reached UP
and. catching me by the shoulder
dragged me from the boat. l was
stunned at first. and. though it was MOI
a physical injury. could not move
of my own volition until the cool wa
ter restored my senses.
1T was so that we could see all thai
happened about us. The Grapplel
rushed through the water as far as heI
anchor cable would permit. Then she
seemed to rise by the bow. and whei
l. II .s.lr n