Gilpin observer., 1902-05-22

Inhabitants of the city awoke to find
heavy clouds shrouding the Mont Pc
lee crater. All the previous day loud
detonations from the volcano had been
heard. SO loud that the reverberations
echoed from st. Thomas on the north
to Barbados on the south. The fear
ful crashing sound ceased and there be-
gan shower OF fine ashes, which fell
like rain over the city. The inhabitants
became alarmed. but Gov. Mountet,
who arrived at st. Pierre the evening
before. did everything possible to al
lay the panic. They partly succeeded,
but scarcely had the fears Of the peo-
pie been allayed when there came the
explosion. and in an instant st. Pierre,
its people. It's houses, had been blotted
out of existence.
After search of three hours in the
ruins found no trace of the American
consulate. Consul Thomas T. Prentfs.
his wife and two daughters, are un
doubtedly dead. That quarter of the
city is still vast mass of blazing
ruins. Nor has any trace Of James
Japp. the British consul, been found
Mr.. Japp had large family at st.
Pierre.
From everything 1 saw I feel conf
dent that 10000 is not too great an
estimate OF the loss of life. Every one
in the city perished. and suburban
towns added thousands to the number
of victims.
Plantations and small villages have
been devastated by the ceaseless rain
OF ashes and fire which has poured
from Mont Pelee
Ihese survivors have taken refuge
In the hills, away from the danger of
the lava flow in the valleys, but still
menaced by the showers of fire. Tbey
must be relieved. taken to places of
safety. fed and clothed. The work
must be done quickly. Hundreds and
even thousands of them must perish
as 1t is before help can reach them.
The work of exploring the ruins OF
st. Pierre. Of bringing away the refu-
gees In the hills in the northern part
of the island and of burning the bodies
OF the victims is progressing as rapidly
as circumstances will permit.
Fort de France is crowded with refu
gees and food is already SO scarce that
alarm is felt that 1t will be exhausted
before supplies can reach here.
AS result of the relief work the
people who had fed to the hills be-
hind the village OF lie Precheur. nearly
1000 in number. have been brought
here.
They are in most ritiable condi-
ton. Hundreds of them are frightful-
ly burned and In most urgent need OF
medical care. All the doctors and
nurses in Fort de France are working
night and day among the injured and
they are assisted by scores Of volunteer
nurses. many women of the wealthiest
families of Fort de France giving their
services.
A number of steamers. including the
government vessel Rubis. started from
here for St. Pierre. They carried gov
ernment delegates. a number of gend-
armes, a detachment of regular in
fantry and several priests.
The vessels also carried a quantity
of fire wood. petroleum and quicklime,
for use in the cremation of the bodies
OF the victims of the terrible volcanic
outbreak. Large quantities of disin-
fectants and stocks of clothing for the
refugees were also shipped to St.
Pierre.
The refugees had, as a rule. assem-
bled at lie Carbet and Case Pilote. not
far from st. Pierre, and. 1t is reported,
since the fearful stream of lava poured
down Mont Pelee.
The sea for miles round was covered
with the wreckage of the vessels sunk
of ST. Pierre at the time of the dis
aster. and ashore only few trees. all
bent seaward by the force of the vol
canic shower. were left standing.
When nearing St. Pierre the Rubis
met a number OF tugs towing lighters
filled with refugees.
The heat from the smoking. lava
covered ruins at St. Pierre was suf-
locating and the stencil from the
corpse-strewn streets was awful. Only
few walls were standing. The re-
port that the hospital clock was found
intact with its hands stopped at 1880
was confirmed, rs was the statement
that the Offices OF the cable company
had entirely disappeared.
On all sides were found portions OF
corpses. which were gathered up by
the soldiers and gendarmes and burned
on one of the public squares.
Not a drop OF water was procurable
ashore. The darkness caused by the
clouds OF volcanic dust shrouded the
town. and continuous subterranean
rumbling added to the horror OF the
scene.
The fort and central quarter OF the
town were razed to the ground and
were replaced by beds OF hot cinders.
The iron grill work gate OF the gov
ernment offices alone was standing.
There was no trace OF the streets.