The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-06-24
ST. PIERRE'S LAST DAY
Eyewitness Tells How the City
Was Blotted Out.
ATMOSPHERE FILLED WITH FLAME

Thrilling Experiences and Marvel
Gus Escape Of Two French Travel
ers Who Were In small Boat when
thc city Was Destroyed-saved
Their Lives by PIunEiuE Into the
Sea.
Comte de Fitz-1ames. who. with
Baron Fontenllliat. witnessed the de-
structlon OF 81. Pierre. Martinique es.
Gaping destruction in most marvellous
manner and by the display OF great
fortitude and presence Of mind. de-
scribed his Impressions the other day
to a reporter for the New York Herald
Both these French travellers realize
now how favored they have been by
fortune, aud each shows In his appear
ance the hardshlps he endured. They
arrived In New York on the Red ID
line steamship Caracas from san Juan.
Comtc de Fitz.James says
From boat ia the roadstead in
front OF St Pierre Baron Fontenillint
aud ! witnessed the cataclysm that
came upon the city. We saw the ship
ping destroyed by a breath of Dire. We
saw the cable ship Grapplor keel over
under the whlrlwind and sink ns though
drawn down Into the waters OF the
harbOr by some force from below. The
Roraima WIS overcome and burned at
anchor. The Roddam. tribe more for.
tunatc was able 10 escape like strick.
en- moth which crawls from a flame
that has burned ~, wings. nd left IL q
cripple TO suffer until death relieves
"Our own danger was sreat. and had
II not been Tor the bravery and the
courage OF tln' l-ron would have per
ished. was stunned. unall@ to lift q
hand TO assist myself BARON dc Fon.
tenllliat dragged me from the boat into
the water, where he supported mo IN
I'll ! was 50 far recovered as 10 be- able
TO care FOR myself.
III you will permit mo to relate the
remarkable circumstances TINT took
us TO Martinique and TO St Pierre 10
time 10 be witnesses OF this great rag
cry. will give ns best I can the pic
ture which will never leave ms mem.
ory. Baron de FOntenlllint and / had
oeen In French Guiana on "A business
TIP relating to some mining property
iinwhich we are interested We learned
upon our arrival at Cnrbct that an
eruption OF Mont Peleo had destroyed
part Of the village of Prechour 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 10 take us
across the bay. and II was the fact
that we made an early start the next
morning that saved our lives
AS we made our way across the wa.
Ter we more than half faced Mont Pc.
lee, which was throwing or 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 wuter 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.
The rumblings from the bowels OF
Nl' AhNhAAAAAh WIZ MA lAaAHA AAA ANAAts
l cannot tell you just how they sound.
ed, but perhaps you can imagine
mighty hand playing upon the strings
OF a harp greater than all the world
The notes produced were deep and full
of threatenings. There was a Earring
sensation, and every now and then
there was commotion Of the waters
that caused 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
II TO n shot from a mammoth cannon.
Rbe breath Of fire swept down upon
the city and water fr0nt with all Of
the force that could have been given
70 II 10y such a cannon.
'tIhe explosion was without warn.
ing and the effect was instantaneous.
Cinders Were Hhot into our faces with
stinging effect, The air was filed WITH
fame. lnyoluntarily we raised our
hands TO protect our faces. When the
explosion came, our two boz ,tmen were
either thrown from tue hoot or with
a quick Impulse. y 40 snrnnq over.
pouru ~ N%s W e one thing to have
~. aoae ~ s 49, cir lives; but, unfortu'
anae naoe'' " ',.'s lem. they lost their pres
Sn lind and instead Of staying
~ N.s' side Of the boat they swan
~ in the direction OF Precheur,
= lich we were approaching when the
disaster came. II was impossible for
them to land at Precheur, so they
were compelled to put back. They then
struck out across the bay, evidently
hoping 10 reach Carbet. We saw mel
ther OF them again. and have nc
doubt they were drowned
"My brave companion had the same
smpulse that actuated the negroes III
sprang into the water, and when h'
saw that did not move he reached NJ
aud. catching me 10y the shoulder
dragged me from the boat wa